The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1895-10-16
Monroe Doctrine to be Up
held.

The firm determination Of the ad-
ministration to stard By the Monre dcc-
trine iu the Venezuelan bouudry line
dispute, was the Que important subject
of discussion in all quarters here to-
day.
It cannot be said that the announce
; ment caused surprise 10 official and d.
plomatic circles, for the Herald had pre-
viousy made it clear that mportant
developm ments iu this matter might soon
be expected, and it had been generally
known for the past six months that the
President and Secretary Olney were
giving mature and serious considera-
ton to this subject. There is no ex-
aggeration in the statement that in the
recently proposed instructions to Am
bassador Bayard there is declara-
ton in the most positive language
that the United Ssa.es will never
consent to British occupation Of
the disputed territory until that
nation right there is first determined
by arbitration. and that it is positive
and practical application Of the Monroe
doctrine in its broades: sense.
The President will, of course, treat
of the subject IN his annual message,
but the full text of the correspondence
will probably remain in the secret ar-
chives Of the State Department until
i CONGRESS calls for it, Even then the
President may consider it nccm pa;ible
with the public interest to make i: prb
lie Secretary Clney positively de-
cIines to discuss the subject 10 any way.
He read the Herald article this morn.
ing, bat to all questions he replied =
II have nothing to say. I cannot dis
cuss the matter" Other officials of the
State Department have also suddenly
taken on an air Of extreme secrecy. and
discussion Of the Venezuelan question
in apy way is practically tahooed at the
State Department.
There is nothing sudden il the deter
mi0aiion Of the State Department to
bring the long pending controversy to
an issue The late Secretary Gresham
made vigorous efforts to induce Great
Britain to submit the matter to arbitra-
ton, and when the British Foreign
Office finally replied expressing will
linsness to arbitrate as 10 the territory
west Of the Schombrrg liue and re-
fusing to submit the region east of that
line to such adjudication. i: was fully
determined 10 press tee matter again IN
a more vigorous way.
MR.. oLxEYs INVESTIGATION
At the request of President Cievc-
land Mr.. Olney. while still holding the
office Of Attorney General, and before
Secretary Greshar,'s death. began an
exhaustive legal investigation Of the
various boundary lines 10 dispute. He
made a most exhaustive reror; on the
subject, which, while i; IN no 6eA
changed the policy Of the admioistra-
ton, thoroughly convinced the Presi-
dent aud other members Of the Cabiuet
that the admission by this country of
Great Britain's claims to Venezuelan
territory vest Of the Schomburg line
would be complete abandonment Of
the Monroe doctrine.
This conclusion once reached, the
question then arose as to the proper
way of impressing upon Great Britain
the determination of the administration
not to permit violation of this tradl
tiopal American principle After ma
ure consideration the conclusion was
finally reached as stated 10 the Herald
this morning, to take a bold and firm
staod which would briag matters to a
head by convincing Great Britain that
the administration is 10 earnes: il its
determination to preveD; any eDcroach.
men, by Great Britain ou Venezuelan
territory in violation Of the Monroe
doctrine.
It is probable that the recent activity
Of the administration 10 this matter is
due to desire to Offset antagouism Of
the Administrations foreigu policy from
a republican Congress. out whether
politics had anything to do With it or
not it is certain that the President has
taken very firm stand 10 this matter,
aud tina, the Venezuelan question will
be the most important diplomatic topic
for some time to come. The autbori-
ties are not by any means confident
that any satisfactory agreement can be
reached before Congress meets, but the
President wants to be in position 70
show Congress that he has gore to the
extreme 10 carry out It's instructions TO
induce Great Britain tn submit the
dispute to arbitration aad to leave With
that hcdy the responsibility for direct
lug what future course shall b" pursued
New York Herald