Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1895-12-27
esstx County 5ltrala.
STAND Pond, VT, December "a.
An Appeal 90 Reason.

Gus, boisterous and what seemed 10 MS
TO be sensational shoutings for slaughter
and bloodshed. Even at this late day
scarcely a reference is being made to the
merits of this imaginary national con-
troversy, neither has the history nor the
origin of the Monroe doctrine, the condi-
,tious and circumstances in which il was
announced been dwelt upon so as to
show the purposes it was intended to aC-
.complish. or to what conditions, or how,
it should be applied. But the air is still
filled with war cries like "Great Britain's
attitude is an act of hostility to us.
1--WE must resist" 'If England wants
war we will have Canada" War
means the destruction of the British en-
pire."
Are our people running wild? The
great hope of self government by any
people is in the capacity of the masses
to control first themselves so as to look
quick, intelligently and caudidlv upon
every situation which affects the public
safety. We have often been told by
statesmen that the great danger OF the
republic is in the masses being moved by
partisan or personal schemes to the re-
salts of which they are blinded. While
impulse is not reason and when the
country is moved into an intolerant
frenzy by a coup detat of an adroit
without stopping to look the situation
over it weakens faith in the capacity and
safety of massive movements of TIE peo-
pie The masses have substantially de-
clared war, and as surprising as it may
seem, they are melted to it by many
eminent men. The country is being
flooded with inAammabe reading on the
subject Independence of thought and
action are lost The very fact that men
assume without moments thought to
determine these vast and intricate mat
tiers shows that the opinions they an
nounce are unreliable, even as dangerous
as the utterances OF a mob.
Let us see how the present treatment
OF the subject corresponds with the views
of those who have carefully studied the
manner of looking at such situations.
Eminent writers say that it is a very
grave question when and how tar one
nation may interfere with the matters of
another, and that what a nation may
do by way of interference must depend
upon the special circumstances of each
case. They also say that the rule is not
susceptible of precise limitations, and is
extremely delicate in the application.
Has anybody in all this noise and buster
stopped to consider the delicate applca-
ton of any rule to the present situation
Scarcely word has been said to en-
tighten the people. No analysis of the
situation has been made. No statement
of any reasons on which a warlike at
titude can be based or explanation of
why this government is to be involved
have been made or given.
4NoW VIC uIS nut W ulSStlSS
the relations of the two governments to
this boundary controversy between Eng
land and Venezuela, but we are suggest
ing that people cease this braggadocio
and tumultuous buster and seek to can
didiy know and find out the merits of
this contention. 1t may he we'll to en-
quire what relations our government
bears to those of South America. II this
country goes into a war what benefit
demnity for the loss of treasure and hui
man life is looked for? If our people win
gold mines out of it in what manner are
they to enjoy them? AS tenants in com
mon with the Venezuelans? Or is the
United States to fight the battles of an
other as volunteers having no interests
in the results? If not what relation will
exist between them when the war is
over? Will this country assume the
position of protectorate? Or is the
war to be undertaken simply to weaken
the power ola neighbor under the APP
prehension that it's further increase may
render him dangerous? Such a course is
universally condemned by writers on the
law of nations, 1t is better for a nation
to "meet anticipated danger by a dill
gent cultivation and prudent manage
ment its own resources" A little time
may be proftably devoted to considering
how much the enormous expenditure
which would be occasioned by a wal
would do i'll the way Of fortifying ou
coasts and protecting the country from
invasion. If we become morally certain
that England has capacity and intention
to injure us then fight to the bitter end
but first find out how that is. VIVA
single suggestion is being made of an at
tempt to formulate plan for a candid
honorable, just and peaceful adjustmen
of hope is in the expectation that a com
mission consisting of such men as Ec
munds and Phelps, in whom the peopl
of this country have unbounded conf
dence, may 60 beyond what seems TO b
the limited hounds of the proposed con
mission and suggest some high and hol
orable grounds upon which the contrc
versy may be disposed of. In the NEAR
time let us hope that fanaticism and pa
sion will cease. If two very ignorar
litigants should be so absorbed in col
tention as to completely lose sight of til