The record-union., 1895-12-24
NOTE AND COMMENT.

In this season of good will, let us not
forget the poor and the cheer that ever
so little may bring to their hearts. 1t is
not the costly gift that SO much bene-
fits them as the useful. Nor yet is it the
gift SO much as the spirit of the giver
that makes the giving and the gift
blessed to both recipient and donor.
The Tulare Register" says that it is
evident the United States cannot ap
peal to international law in justifica-
tion of the Monroe doctrine. Suppose
we admit it, what difference will that
make? International law is not an in
flexible code 1t is not written and COM
pleted. It's volumes are not closed and
finis placed at the end of any chapter.
The world moves and man and his laws
| move with it, marching abreast with
the demands of time and civilization.
So if we concede that it is not written
into international law, we can and will
insist upon the Monroe doctrine for this
hemisphere all the same. Senator Lodge
stated the whole case when he said:
81 do not think the Monroe doctrine can
be upheld as proposition of interna-
tional law, but 1 believe it should be
tion of Independence, because it is our
doctrine
An exchange of the San Joaquin Val
ley talks of the present complication,
and says sorrowfully that all Europe
is against us in our assertion of the ap-
plicabilty Of the Monroe doctrine to
the Venezuela case. Indeed? That might
have been by most of us expected, how
ever, and, if true proves anew the vir-
tue and the necessity of the doctrine.
1t would be rather stiffening in effect
TO know that all Europe is against us
in this affair. But, as matter of fact,
all Europe is not against US. We have
every reason to believe that not only
Europe are with US, but that some of
the States of Europe are in sympathy
with the doctrine
The "RecordUnion" suggested that
in case of war with England we would
be able to inf1ict greater damage upon
English interests than England could
visit upon ours. This the Fresno RE
publican" stigmatizes as a "wheezy
hurrah." Is it, indeed? But it is never
theless true, and the hurrah is not the
less ringing because it admits that we
are not armed just now for assault
upon battleships, but are prepared to
wreck English commerce and defy her
to wreck ours However, our contempo-
rary by no means disagrees with the
Record Union" concerning this "ad-
vantage" 1t comedies that America
would in this respect have very de-
cided advantage, because the man
who has something to lose is always at
a disadvantage. Because we have no
considerable number of American ships
carrying our products and supplies, we
would enjoy a purchase" upon Eng
land Whether saying as much is "a
wheezy hurrah" cuts no figure. We are
not considering sentiment now, but
cold, unsliced fact
An Indiana jurist has proposed a
fool plan of letting the State and coun-
ty offices out by contract-selling them
to the highest bidder for the official
term Some wild-eyed papers are act
ually found to support such scheme.
Was there ever a greater absurdity
born of added brains? What would be-
come of free government with the peo-
pies servants chosen by the longest
purse, or by combination of bidders
for the privilege of filling office?
The bee" last evening had column
of "slush" under the heading: STRAY
Idiotics." The heading was very appro
pirate Our neighbor should keep it
standing and use it part Of the time
over its editorials.