The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-12-07
a FIT OPPORTUNITY FOR AN UNDER
STANDING

Somebody must back down." said a
well-known Indianian yesterday. land
1t must not be the United States" he
continued. And that is the sentiment of
the country. barring Few anglomani-
acs. who are not numerous enough to
demand the ayes and noes. The United
States cannot back down regarding the
Venezuela affair without subjecting this
nation TO the contempt OF the world.
Seventy-two years ago President Mon
roe declared that 1.-The United States
OF the European powers to extend their
system to any portion of this hemi-
sphere as dangerous TO our peace and
safety" and, further. that IF the gov
ernments established in North and
South America who have declared their
independence of European control
should be interfered with by any Euro
pean power. this interference would be
regarded as the manifestation OF an I'M
friendly disposition to the United
States" This is the Monroe doctrine,
but, before Monroe, it had been vaguely
held in the days of Washington. 1t
has been announced time and again
since Dec. 2, 1923. 1t is held by the
American people to-day. The President
has avowed it to the British govern
ment in the Venezuelan affair. and Lord
Salisbury, it is announced, practically
denies any such right on the part of
the United States with reference to
European acquisition of territory in this
hemisphere.
Such is the issue. On the part of this
government there can be no yielding.
having made the issue. If Great Britain
pursCes it's avowed intentions regarding
Venezuelan territory, the United States
must sustain the sister republic. Great
Britain would not permit the United
States to seize a portion of Turkey on
any pretext. and, with our declaration,
we cannot permit Great Britain to seize
portion of the territory which Ven
ezuela has had peaceable possession OF
for more than fifty years. The con-
troversy will not probably lead to war;
but, whether it does or not, the Amer
lean position must be maintained. IL
our position We're a new or a false one.
1t would be different: but being as old
as the Republic and the same as that
which European powers maintain re-
garding the Eastern hemisphere. 1t is
well grounded.
AS for Great Britain. it cannot sustain
itself by it's own precedents and it can
easily avoid the issue by letting the
matter drop. With so many troubles on
its hands just now IN Turkey and the
Orient, growing out of the aggressive
purposes Of Russia, Great Britain can
not devote its energies to grabbing a
portion of the territory of Venezuela.
1t is useless to conceal the fact that
there is a growing feeling sof resent
tating policy which Great Britain per-
mits Canada to pursue toward this
country. Canada has practically ruined
the seal fisheries, and now Great Brit
ain. having made an agreement for
resurvey Of the. boundary between the
British possessions and Alaska, has per-
mitted Canadians to exercise authority
over territory in dispute as If the boun-
dairy had been adjusted. The American
people are weary of the exasperating
conduct of Canada toward American
fishermen under the first Cleveland adj
ministration, and continued in the seal
fisheries and Alaskan boundary. They
want this bulldozing conduct To cease;
and, to that end, they demand a less
compliant spirit in dealing with Great
Britain. The American people are not
of Great Britain is not such as an HON
orable government should adopt toward
others and is not one to which fair
minded and high-spirited people can al
ways submit.