The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-12-29

| Though devoid Of a criminal intent ne
IS Just as criminal in fact as the man
who rccklossly fires a gun into crowd
when in the very best Of humor And
so the American people have made up
their opinion IN this case upon par
tial and perverted. 81 not false, state
ment Of f.. and the real facts must make
their way out into a prejudiced public
mind as best they can.
IN THE NEW YOEK sun, ruT Nof So
Every one knows that the New York
sun flies flag with this legend: III
YOU see II IN the Sun. IL Is so. Gen
orally il is so. We had never supposed
therefore. that it would make. such
pcrvorsion OF facts as we have seen IN
am editorial to bolster up its theory that
England SIS wanton aeglessor upon
Venezuela I'm SIS issue Of Friday last
It has al editorial article upon Lord
Salisburys statement Of Great Britain
title 10 the territory in dispute, from
which we copy the following. 1t says:
THO last official statement from the
| British Government regarding England
| title mp TO the Schomburgk line D. COM
| tanned in Lord Salishury's letter 90 the
| British Minister at Washington, accom-
| panying his reply to Mr.. Olncy. We
will take from that letter the reasons
why England thinks she owns 10 the
4 Schomburgk line, and why she would
have the United States think so. There
! IS a bare statement that the British
4 q H... fI-
! ives Of Holland and Spain The re-
naming quotations from Lord Salisbury
note show what the Schomburgk line is
based on
II is based on exploration and informa-
ton obtained from the Indians;
ON THE evidence Of local remains as
at Point Barima',
on local tradition as on the Cuyuni
ON "the ground that the natural houn-
dairy included any territory through which
flow rivers which fan into the Essc-
quibo"
This was all.
"Thls was au"Ni Did the Sun sup
pose that rs statement that "this was
all" would 90 unchallonged? Now, we
say TO the sun. "this was not ALL" and
it was in fact small part. We VIII
quote from Lord salisbuiy's note a most
important passage. which is about as
material an addition as any important
document ever contained. Ie says TO
Mr. Olney.
"Bu0 of the territories claimed and
actually occupied boy the Dutch, which
were those acquired from them by Great
! Britain, there exist the most authentic
declarations. Ir, 1883 and again 1903,
the States General OF Holland addressed
! formal rcmonstrances TO the Court of
Madrid against the incursions of the
| Spaniards into their posts ana settlements
I'm the basin OF the Cuyuni In these re-
monstrances. they distinctly claimed all
the branches of the Essequlbo river. and
especially the Cuyuni river as lying with
| in Dt.ch territory. They demanded I'M
mediate roparatiOn for the proceedings
| of the Spaniards. and reinstatement OF
! the posts said to have been injured hy
| them. and suggested that "a proper de-
| Hneation between the colony of Esse-
| duibo and the Rio OrinOcO should De
| laid down by authority.
ITO this claim the Spanish Government
never attempted TO make reply. Bat
it Is evident from the archives, which
| are preserved i'm Spain. and 10 which, Joy
the courtesy of the Spanish Govern
mont. reference has been made. that the
| Council of State ala not consider that
! they had the means of rebutting IT, and
| that neither they nor the Governor OF
Cumana were prepared seriously 10 main
tain the claim. which were suggested ~
Reports from his subordinate officer. the
commandant OF Guiana. These reports
were characterized boy the Spanish Min
istcrs as insufficient and unsatsfac-
tory. as processing to show the province
of Guiana under too favorable light.
! and. finally by the Council Of State. as
appearing, from other information, TO Doe
very improbable
II is the territory on the borders Of
the Essequibo and Cuyuni rivers and
their branches that is in dispute and
here we find Holland claiming in SPANS
teeth. in 1862 that all of this territory
was hers, and We lind Spain practically
| conceding the claim. We find her say
ing TO her officers I'm Venezuela. who at
tempted TO meet the Dutch claim. that
their reports were insufficient and UNI
satisfactory" and that they tried 10
show Venezuelan Guiana under too ia
vorable a light" and that their claims
seemed 10 the Spanish Government from
other sources OF information it had, as
Every improbable"
Now we submit that IL the title TO the
territory in dispute here were being tried
in an ordinary action Of eiectment, be-
tween private parties and one side show
ed their paper title and proved occupa-
ton of the territory from 1863 tin now,
the Court would instruct the jury that
that party had made out a clear title TO
| the land. which must stand until the
othen party overthrow IL by proving
something further that nullhed the ef-
feet Of that case. Any lawyer viii tell
the New York sun that this is element
AIRY law.
VII the sun revise and correct its
statement. or will 1t let it go at thaty
| low CONGRESS CAME 40 BE De
MtNIflt.