The islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1891-1899, 1895-12-26
The Official Paper Of San Juan County
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 26th, 1895
THE VENEZUELAN CONTROVERSY.

THE VENEZUELAN CONTROVERSY.
President Cleveland's special mes
sage to congress transmitting the cor
respondence with the British govern
ment on the subject of the Venezuelan
boundary dispute has the "ring OF true
Americanism." It's enthusiastic re-
ception and approval by the senate ana
house of representatives and the press
of the country proves most concluslvely
that the Monroe doctrine, interpreted
in its broadcast sense, has taken firm
root in the breasts of every patriotic
American and will be insisted upon
and maintained by the nation at all
hazards. Some weeks ago THE ISLAND
Err referred to and heartily commended
Secretary Olney's Interpretation of this
doctrine, which is in substance that no
European power shall be permitted to
extend its dominion on the American
continent by force, or shall "forcibly,
deprive any American state of the
right and power of self government
and of shaping for itself its own polltl-
cal fortunes and destinies." This con-
tention the president strongly supports
in his message and says that "it may
not be amiss to suggest that the doc
trine upon which we stand is strong
and sound, because its enforcement is
important to our safety as nation and
essential to the integrity of our free in
situations and the tranquil maintenance
of our distinctive form of government.
1t was intended to apply to every stage
of our national life, and cannot become
obsolete while our republic endures."
There remains then for consideration
only the question whether this doctrine
is properly applicable to the Venezue-
Ian boundary dispute, which dates
back more than half century. Lord
Salisbury, in his able and exhaustive
reply to Secretary Olney, frankly ad-
mits that "the Monroe doctrine in itself
is sound" but he emphatically denies
its applicability in this instance. Ac-
cording to his view "it Is not question
of colonization by the European power
of any portion of America. 1t is not
question of imposition upon the COM
munities of South America of any sys-
tenn of government devised in Europe.
1t is simply the determination of the
frontier of British possession (which
belonged to the throne of England
long before the republic of Vene
zuela came into existence" The
trouble is that the British. govern
ment insists upon the determination of
this question according to its own die
tatorial view and fatty refuses to sub
nit the merits of the controversy to
friendly arbitration, as suggested-not
demanded, by the United States.
Having recognized the soundness of
the principles laid down by President
Monroe over seventy years ago, the
technical objection of Lord Salisbury
that its objects "have not been inscrib-
ed by any adequate authority in the
code of international law" is worthy of
little consideration. The English pre-
mier wishes it to be distinctly under
stood that his personal recognition of
the merit of the principle is not to be
construed as its official recognition by
the British government. 1t matters
little to the United States that this
"novel principle" as Lord Salisbury
calls it, has not been incorporated into
the code of international law, which is
founded upon the general consent of
nations, or that it "has not been ac-
cepted by the government of any other
country" The United States simply
insists that it shall be accepted by the
government of any European power
which seeks to extend it's territorial
possessions or sovereignty upon the
American continent. Great Britain
having seen fit to reject the friendly
overtures of the United States for a
peaceful solution of the difficulty, the
inference is not unwarranted that her
claim to Venezuelan territory rests up
on foundation that would not bear
the light of honest investigation. The
course now suggested by the president
is the only honorable one now open to
the United States, and he will receive
every possible aid from congress and
the people In following out the policy
he recommends. If the commission
appointed to investigate the merits of
the controversy finds that the British
claim is just one Venezuela will re-
ceive no aid from our people or govern
ment, but if it is not a just one she NAV
rest assured that the British flag will
not be suffered to float over a foot of
her territory if the United States can
prevent it. 1t is not a question of
twisting the lions tail. There is no
jingoism or ante election buncombe
about it. 1t is plain, simple PROPOSE
ton of enforcing, if necessary, the
recognition of principle whose main
tenance is essential to the peace and
safety of the American republics.