The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-05-08

ing to do
That kind of American diplomacy
to which have referred, and which
has heretofore controlled American
conduct, need not, and would not, if
carried out by the present admins
tration, have involved this country
in a war with Great Britain" Great
Britain has had too much experience
in past controversies with the United
States, to give rise to the serious be-
lief that a war would have been pre-
cipitated had Mr.. Secretary Gresham
notified the British ambassador that
his government would be expected to
keep its hands off Nicaraguan terri
tory.
1t is said that as there IS no inter-
national law by which England could
enforce the payment of damages
claimed by her, hence she was justi-
fled in using force to collect the
amount. But is this doctrine (enableY
think not. In the absence of such
a law, L can conceive of only two ways
by which such settlements could be
accomplished. i. e., by arbitration first,
or by war. 1nasmuch as we could not
by any means consent to the latter,
the only way would he by the former,
and in my opinion had Mr.. Gresham
insisted upon arbitration, the matter
would have been settled amicably
long since, and the United States
would have been spared the sneers
of England's press and English SYM
pathizers.
L think The Herald may be mistaken
when it assumes that England had
no intention to annex any Near
aguan territorE" We can only judge
of nations intentions by its con-
duct. England has always been, and
is today, '1and grabber." She main
tanned control of the thirteen Ameri-
can colonies so long as she could, she
seeks by degrees to acquire territory
on the opposite hemisphere, and from
her history in the past it is fair to
conclude that, if the Monroe doctrine
could be set aside without war with
the United States, she would be likely
to extend her influence and her "Sys-
tenn on this hemisphere.
! hold that our government by nom
action has tacitly consented to vlo-
lation of the letter and spirit Of the
Monroe doctrine, for certainly there
can be no doubt that by Epgland's
act in taking possession of Corinto,
noisting her flag there and attempt
ng to collect revenue thera usurped
the power to govern, exercised SOW
reignty and virtually took possession
IF territory by force of arms. After
seeing that the English government
has done all these things 1 confess
am unable to perceive by what rea-
;oning The Herald has arrived at the
conclusion that England had no in
ention to annex Nicaraguan terri
Dry
England took possession and eXer-
Used Jurisdiction for a. time forcibly;
What she could do temporarily she
night, and probably would, do per-
nanently unless interfered with.
IF, as the Monroe doctrine claims,
t be true that any attempt to eX-
end the systems of the old world on
his hemisphere would be danger
JUS to our peace and safety" l beg
o inquire whether it would be the
Iuty of those having in charge the
diplomatic policy Of the United States,
o take steps to avert the danger
threatened to the peace and safety
f this government by peaceful means
possible, but if not, then by using
orce against force?-Respectfull
ours,
HADLEY D. JOHNSON.
We give place to the foregoing out Of
aspect to an old time Democrat, who
as often spoken to the public through
he columns of this paper. The Herald
as published the views of President !
1onroe in his message to Congress.
december 2, 1923. They will be found |
/ our daily of April 80, 1895. No such
Expression as that quoted by our
riend, "or words to that effect" will |
e found in the document.
1t was declared however by President |
Ionroe, referring to the European !
overs, that 1--WE should consider any |
tempt on their part to extend their |
ystem to any portion of this hemis- |
here as dangerous to our piece and |
afety" If there had been any at |
empt on the part of England to do |
lat, in its difficulty with Nicaragua.
lere would have been occasion for the |
nited States to interfere.
What the British government did was
} blockade the port of Corinto. AS
)on as the terms demanded of Near
qua were acceded to the blockade was
used. The Monroe doctrine was not
iolated. The best papers of the coun.
y admit that now.
Both nations are sovereign powers.
ach is Independent of the United
-ates. Great Britain viewed as an
front the act of Nicaragua towards
/ officer in the service. That govern
ent demanded an indemnity. When
was not forthcoming England pro-
eded to enforce it's claim. Nicaragua
creed to pay the money. The trouble
lded. What was there for the
nited States to found an excuse upon
interfere in that temporary quarrel?
During President Lincoln's first term,
,ain, France and Great Britain joined
a demand that Mexico should afford
tier protection to their subjects re-
clined to take part in the quarrel,
It Secretary Seward, in an official
on the subject said:
The President does not question that
e sovereigns represented have I'M
ubted right to decide for themselves
e fact whether they have sustained ;
ieVances, ard to resort to war
ainst Mexico for the redress thereof.
senator Hill emphatically denies
at there was anything in the Near
uan or Venezuelan difficulties with {
eat Britain which was out of har- S
my with the Monroe doctrine. In
ither case is there any. attempt to s
reduce the British system of gov !
lment in one of those republics.
liter: