The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1895-12-21
IS IT CORRECT?
The Venezuelan Outlook as
Viewed by an AStOrian.
DRAWS STRONG DEDUCTIONS
He Thinks That the Monroe Doctrine
is in Certain Respects Applicable
to the Present Case.
DRAWS STRONG DEDUCTIONS
The AstOrlan is in receipt of the follow


ing communication:
Editor Astorian:-
Your publication of Mr. A. c. Cassetts
article impels me to make some crit clsm
of that gentleman's conclusions, togethcr
with some remarks upon President CleVe-
lands last message to congress:
Mr.. Cassatt rightly makes the statement
that in his famous message Pre- ldent
Monroe made two declarations. The nrst
was that the American continents were
no longer open to future colonization by
European powers, as all the territory was
possessed by free and independent states.
This principle was asserted because II
was one in which 1.-The rights and inter-
ests of the United States were involved
The second declaration of principle is
summed up in the statement that with
the governments who have declared theU
independence and maintained 1t
we could not view with any interposltlon
for the purpose of depressing them or
controlling in any other manner their des-
tiny. by any European power, in any 9TH
er light than as a manifestation of an
unfriendly disposition towards the United
States" That this declaration was made
because of the actions and purposes or
the Holy Alliance, and that 1t had direct
application to them Is undoubtr d Y true
But because the Holy Alliance has long
sinaasae9ae Sesxist and the principles OF
absolutism which 1t was seeking to ex-
tend seem to be becoming extinct, Is no
reason why the language of President
Monroe cannot be applied now II any
European power attempts to acquire
American soil by force. Yet such is Mr.
Cassatt's assertion
Not only was this declaration the state
ment of a general principle, applicable TO
all European powers, but the reason OF
its enunciation was that the rights ana
interests of the United States were involV-
ed in..the rights and interests of every
American stAte Itsis this hae's which
makes the Monroe doctrine applicable to
all European interferences on this conti-
nent. and renders 1t tenab'e and de'ensi-
BILE. as a principle of international law,
and because of this basis 1t can be main
tanned AGAINST English protests more cas-
ilv perhaps than against those of any
other nation. For England more fire.
uuently than any other power is prone
to exert her influence and power in every
part of the globe where her interests are
! involved.
In the Venezuelan affair, England has
announced her intention to take posses
sion of a certain part of the disorted ter
ritory by force, and It Is claimed that she
is already occupying 1t with troops. TO
mind not versed in legal technica'it
this looks like an act of oppression, ana
controlling the DESTINY of an American
state" in a very positive manner. The
validity of the English claim doesD mol
now enter into the question. SO fa~ as
we are concerned. Her claim may be per-
fectly good. hut her actions arc a menace
|
States included, because her claim Is en-
forced by the power of her arms ard II
defiance of the claims of her opnonent.
In European complications we do no
meddle, but on the Western hernisnher'
our interests are paramount over those
every European power. because or on
position here as the representative ant
most powerful republic. That position, II
Justice to ourselves, ard our neighhors
we are bo,nd to maintain. To allow for
eign Interference and aggression, on thi
continent would mean tine ultimate IN
volvement of this continent In the q"Sr
rels and iealousies of the European No
tions, the lowering of the dignity OF ou
position, and the weakening and imper
ling of our irfluence and of the principle
which are determination Of our prosper
ity and political life. Certainly srch con
siderations as these justify us in resent
ing such an aggression as F~0land
threatening to make against Venezuela
and England least Of oil can consistent
deny our right to interfere.
Now. a word az to the pre~iden's mes
sage. He SAYS "Havine lahcred "a thfu
for many years to induce Grea' Bri ein I
submit this dispute to impartial arb trs
ton. and having been row finally appr'i
cd Of her refusal to do so, nothing r.
mains but to accept the situation, recot
nize So plain requirements ard " y
with - accordingly" But what d'es J
propose to do? We read further. IT
dispute has reached such stage as
make II now incumbent upon the Unite
States 10 take measures to determlI
with sufficient certainty for It's t"~thci
tion what is the true divisional lire b
.~sen the republic OF Venezuela and Bri
: ,sh Guiana" Accordingly he sugges
that a commission "be appointed ny u
executive, who shall make the neceTsal
investigation and report upon the matt
with the least possible delay" And art
\. this report has been accepted we are
: resist any attempt that England mf
<, maize IN territory that our commissions
n reov mot allow her. OF course II our cor
OF rnissioners allow England all ner claim
1- she is TO take everything, The p-es'de
~ does not say this last, nut II lOl'o"s u"
v. urally from the preceding. Th's won
ry he all right II this commission had po"
TO arbitrate. But under the present G
cumstances the proposition does 10, II'e
the question at all. The questioh ioI
now Is not whether England's clam
valid or not. She has utterly refused
: discuss that question. and has decar
her intention to take what she car
The question for us to decide Is, shali
allow her TO carry out her Intention
fore she has proven to US that nef cia
Is validz
The proposed commission, unre"ognf
fy England. and possibly also ny Ven
- uela. VIII be able TO Eet NJ sarsf'c'
~ Information to form the basis OF de'
lon At the best the reprrf WI 10
necessity biased and one-sided. and NIL
easily he wholly incorrect To see
farofooI ocffon haaod ffnon the reDoTt