Delaware gazette and state journal., 1895-12-26

balply IS involved anu war IN neceA
sary? AS we have seen, we cannot take
our stand upon the Monroe doctrine.
but have we rights that are broken in
upon by the actions of Great Britain in
Venezuela? So far, you will observe,
We have presented no claims to Great
Britain resting upon our own rights.
We have simply presented ourselves to
her as peaceful third party offering
to arrange peaceful settlement of the
difficulties between her and Venezuela.
Since she has refused our help in this
peaceful settlement we at once declare
ourselves aggrieved and threaten war,
without even presenting to Great
Britain a complaint on our own account.
Have we then any complaints on our
own accountg
The answer is made that we have ;
that we have the rights in Venezuela
which our proteetorate Of Venezuela
gives us. Our protectorate Of Vene2.
uela-whence came this protectorato?
When did we ever announce to the
world that we had established pro-
tectorate over Venezuela? Ii is prin.
ciple OF international law, which you
remember is made BY the custom of ma
hAoAnf Nint llu6l us Ut-
clared before it is a protectorate, and
the United States has never declared
a protectorate over Venezuela or any of
the South American republics. In fact,
our actions in the past have been
strange indeed il we have had u pro-
tectorate over those countries. We have
allowed Spain TO mix up down there
in war with Chill. England herself
has gotten into any number of muses.
with those same states and we have
never interfered in the past and upon
the claim Of protectorate We have no
right TO interfere now,
II the protectorato theory won't work
then. if we, as protectors OF tho South
American states, have no rights that
are interferred with, what further
rights have we to put forward, what
further reasons can we give for going
to war?
And here let mo say that any talk
about the development of monarchi
cal ideas IN America through the in
strumcntality of England is entirely
foolish. We are sensible men in this
country, and we know little history
and little of politics. There is no
doubt that England, though monarchi-
cal IN outward form, is as thoroughly
republican in spirit as we ourselves,
while the Latin republics Of South
America, ostensibly republics, are in
reality thorough going despotisms. The
president Of Venezuela lived for wears
in Paris, and from there wrote to the
Legislature of Venezuela what measures
he would like to have passed, and tho
legislature passed them meekly forth
with.
Further than this, not only are we in
no danger from the monarchical ideas
which England is to introduce into the
Americas, but We are in absolutely no
danger from the threatened English
acquisition Of territory in America.
What earthly difference, worth going
to war about, can it make to us whether
or not England acquires that little strip
Of territory in addition to what she
already owns in South America? In
1870, when President Monroe wrote his
message, there was in our minds some
feeling of danger, some feeling that
the United States would be drawn into
destructive conflict with European
states, and that we might eventually
fall under the subjugation Of some
European power. To-day, however, il
England or any other European powcr
owned all South America OF all North
America outside of the United States.
our position would be Just as imprep.
nable as it is to-day. The United
States can never be conquered in war
There never was nation, not even
Rome, with all its strength in arms.
so impossible to defeat in war as the
United States.
In the event of war, what would
happen? In the first place, Canada
would be taken in a weeks time, This
would be certain. We have cities 40
large and populous in the North, where
we may gather forces to oppose 10 the
slender militia of Canada, that there
would not be the slightest question but
that Canada would succunb. In adj.
dition to this, wa might inhict some
damage upon England s commerce. The
war would be one Of privateering and
naval battles, but here the damage TO
England might not be so serious as
we suppose. The French all through
the Napoleonic wars tried this and
were not so successful as they might
have been.
In return we may expect to be heset
by England. England could never
penetrate this country nor hold il if
she should do SO; but we must face the
possibilities of war. And We must OK
poet to find shells dropping into Boston.
Ihey might drop on the State House.
Ihey might drop on the buillings Of
Harvard, and they might drop on our
heads. Let us look out that we do NOT
brlng. our name for peaeeabe methods
into dlsrcpute. England to-day has not
a diplomatic friend among the nations
OF the earth, ana that simply because
OF her bullying methods. If We adopt
the same methods, we can EXPECT the
same fate.with equal Justice Our coun.
try has always stood for peace. We have
set ourselves before the world as a re-.
public which can exist in peace and
STABILITY; and in departing from this
policy We are reversing tho policy of tho
last hundred years through which The
United States has stood as the guard
ian Of peaceful civilization.
Gentlomen, Gen. Sherman once said.
" War is hell, " and he ought 10 know.
| myself can we'll remember in my boy
ish DAYS seeing regiments return with
two-thirds Of their ranks empty. and
knew the anguish Of the mothers
and wives and sisters and Fwpethearts Of
those who were gone TO tho war. NV
mother in those days took care Of her
little flock as brayely aa she could. ana
waited with anyiuus heart for news
from tho front@-I pray God you may be
spared that.
Here is the roal situation, clearly. ad
mirably and foreibly presented. What
awful folly to talk of making such con
ditlons the preteXt for a bloody and
devastating war.
The success Of the issue, "Peace