Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-04-06

States. Indeed if she is successful in the
issue raised that Uncle Sam shall have
nothing to do with her claims in Vene-
zuela and succeeds in getting her heavy
hand upon Nicaragua through enforcing
her claim of indemnity she will have
better grounds under the laws OF nations
for assuming control of the Nicaraguan
canal than the United States can have.
There is no doubt but what her intentions
lie in that direction. At least we can see
no reason to doubt it. II the latest reports
be true England has given her ultimatum
with respect to our assumption that Vene-
zueia's cause is our own. This assump-
ton on the part of the United States is
founded on the Monroe doctrine which
declares that no European powers can
extend their political system to any por-
ton of any American continent without
endangerirg our peace and happiness and
that it is equally impossible therefore that
we should behold such interposition in any
form with Indifference. That is plain
enough. England understands it well
enough. She also knows that this country
while not viewing with indifference"
English acquisitions in the territory of
Central and South America has not
deemed it advisable to resort to the con-
tention of arms to exclude her. Under
this condition of affairs she has gone on
increasing ana strengthening her posses
sions and enlarging her claims. The line
between Venezuela and British Guiana
surveyed by Sir Robert Schomburgh in
1871 has not been recognized as proper
one by either Venezuela or the United
States Now the English have extended
their claims beyond that line over country
which is now occupied by outposts of
Venezuela and of the British with
chances of collision daily imminent.
England occupies a point of vantage at
the mouth of the Orinoco river and is in
q fair way to control the vast resources to
be opened up along that river. Her greed
will never surrender such rich possession
unless forced to- Meanwhile Venezuela
believes this country will help her to
maintain her rights against English ag-
gressiop and in this belief is likely to pre-
cipitatc hostilities.
What position will tho United States
thap i,,r 70 IF Ev,nlan6fc 6pnia1
of our right to interfere? Not only is our
right laid down by the Monroe doctrine
but it has been maintained for years
Several presidents have endeavored
through the good offices of this govern
ment to bring about arbitration of this
dispute and the last Congress passed a
resolution that this government urge
England to agree to arbitration. Now
comes Epgland's refusal, point blank, If
Lord Kimberley hasn't been misquoted
and we don't relieve he has been. Is
there any honorable retreat for our govern
ment? Can we do less than support
Venezuela's demands for arbitration?
Sacrifices should be made for the sake of
peace but is this one Of them? To prevent
conflict between England and this coun-
try it might BIZ honorable to recede from
our Just demands for arbitration. But
as we have said the sequel is of more i'm
port ance than this first instalment OF
British arrogance. The manner of
settlement of this question has very i'm
portant bearing on the future of the Mic
araguan canal. Indeed it Is fair to suspect
that the dispute in Venezuela has been
precipitated in view OF the fact that opera
lions upon the canal are likely to begin
within few years at the latest. Moreover,
the attitude of the present administration
of national affairs in the United States
and the character of the man representing
this government in England may well
have led the British statesmen to regard
this the opportune time to crush out, once
for all, all pretensions of this country to
enforcement of the Monroe doctrine and
PiaCe us III d PoSloioh Wheio W. may hoo
by any tribunal short of actual force,
assert our claims to the control of the
trans Isthmian waterway between the
Atlantic and Pacific.
The question is very grave one. 1t
is not time to indulge In belligerent
boastfulness, but it is time to think war
and think very hard too. 1t is time to in
form England that we are ready to defend
tho Monroe doctrine to the bitter end.
Once she gets that idea securely lodged
in the minds of her governing men we be-
lieve there will be no trouble.