The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-11-18
NEARING The CRISIS.
A STATEMENT or OUR ATTITUDE
TOWARD GREAT BRITAIN.

Bold and Patriotic Observation-Disclosures
VIII Inforcc Its Position ~-AgErcssions
on the Americas Must re Abandoned or
Upheld ny Arns-Oiacy's Ringing Lettar.
It is snfo ~ shy that tho American pco-
pie do net nc this moment fully realize the
significance az present diplomatic condi.
tions nor tho Importance OF the results TO
which they may lead within tho next few
months. Tho nation Is approaching q
crisis, compared with which, If it DO not
happily avcried, tho Chilean incident was
but a shadowy spectacle. Very close TO n
war with ENGLAND "a this administration
both prepared and determined TO go.
Whether we are 10 be pluS god into the ter
rible abyss OF an actual struggle Is n quos-
tion which the future alone can decide.
AT present, however. there is ample
foundation for believing that the pro-
grainmc for the future ~contcnplntcs n sit
uation moro ncuto and critical than any
which has confronted tho American poo
pie for many years. This statement Is not
n mere assumption. IL Is q matter Of abb
solute knowledge.
For the present purposes of the admin
istration tho situation in Venezuela Is
most opporttno.- IL Is hardly necessary 10
repeat that In that small and practically
dofenseless republic Great Britain has rom
tinued to advance tho boundary limo OF
British Guiana until less than one-half OF
Venezuela now remains rs undisputed
territory. These oAcroachments have net
escaped tho attention of the United States.
Every secretary of state for perhaps half a
century has felt il to be his duty to protest
against England's unwarranted action.
These protests, mild and ineffective rs
they hove been, have accomplished moth
Ing and have gone. UNDECIDED beyond q po-
lite acknowledgment OF thor receipt. In
the meantime there has been no cessation
OF illegal occupation, forts nave been erect
ed to command the stolen ground and
threaten further territory, and British
subjects have supplantcd the flag Of Ven.
eZuola with the cross of 81. George. In
short, high handed aggression has rcigned
supreme.
Not long ago the Venezuelan govern
ment granted TO A,orioan capitalists a
most valuable copcesvon to develop q vast
tract OF and rich In minerals and hard
woods. Upon these commercial treasures
England had already cast her obvious eyes
she had, In fact, already set her foot up
on the soil. Her countcrclaiIn TO tho val
liable territory rs against the grant issued
by Venezuela brought affairs TO n crisis.
IL afforded this government the opportu-
nifty of sounding a hoto of defiance in the
ears OF England-a note rs startling in its
suddonness and significance as was n GER
tain ratio OF musketry on tho Lexington
road one fine morning In 1875.
-rhis4s-n not -oyerS.aling The case. Sec
rotary Olney's note 10 Lord Salisbury has
not yet been mado public, but when its
ringing sentences become known, rs they
viii In due time, they will arouse an echo
In every patriotic heart. Despite The de-
mails which have neen automatically
made, there Is no doubt that Lord Sails
bury has protested that tho United States
Is carrying tho principle OF the Monroe
doctrine to an extent hitherto undreamcd
or. There is ground for such a protest.
MIR. Olncy, with tho presidents full
knowledge and appreciation, has placed
England In n position whore she must
either abandon her claim or sustain 1t with
"a show of forco. There Ia no alternative.
IL can be positively asserted that the adj
ministration Is sublimely Indifferent TO
the course which Great Britain intends
to pursue. Thore would bo glory enough
for the president, OF course, If, as the Sc
quonce to the firm position he has assum-
ed, England should quietly yield and rec
ognize the United States ms the dominant
power upon the western homisphore. This,
In truth, Is the contamination deyoutly TO
be wished, but IL it comes Motif, on the
other hand, England proposes tn leave the
question TO tho arbitrament q war-then
tho administration will be- y .dy TO meet
the issue. 1t is for this that the work
upon the ships is being hastened In all the
navy yards. that armor IL being forged
and guns completed with unusual rapid
ity. More than this, there will be, In due
course of time, az array of American war
vessels under the shadow of the Venezuelan
coast, ostensibly ~maneuvering, but IN re- |
ality emphasizing by their presence the
new, st-lwart and patriotic policy of the