The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-12-27

ings towards both nations directly con-
cerned, addressed to the sense of Justice
ana to the magnanimity of one of the
great powers of the world, and touching
| It's relations to one comparatively weak
ana small, should have produced no better
results. He goes on to say that should
venezuela OF her own free will agree to
| settle her own dispute it would be M
affair of ours. Assuming however that
the present attitude of Venezuela sfhouId
remain unchanged ne suggests that a
commission be appointed to determine the
exact boundary line with the least pos
sible delay, and resist by every means in
our power as willfuI aggression the an
preparation by Great Britain of anv lands
or exercise of governmental iurissiicfion
over any territory which after the inyesti-
cation We have determined of right be-
longed TO Venezuela Congress has now
acted upon this suggestion and appropri-
ated 100000 TO defray the expense of such
commission. Such is a brief history of
this serious controversy What IL NAV
lead to it is hard to determine The
spirit prevailing now seems to suggest
down.
But months may elapse before we have
FOUND out what is the right in the mat
ter, and the spirit that actuates men
now may nave changed when that report
is issued. From a careful reading of Sec
rotary Olney's letter cannot see wherein
IL was actuated by the most friendly
!eeilngs 1t seems to be rather imperious
IN It's tone and dictatorial in its manner
and carries with it a threat And I con-
slider Lord Salisbury perfectly justified in
refusing to accede to the demands made
upon him. He in so many words tells us
10 nina our own business, as ii is no con-
Germ of ours. The Monroe doctrine is
good in many instances. 1t is good in
having no entangling alliances with anv
foreign nation. But to say that we can
apply the Monroe doctrine TO the question
at issue is something about which DeoD1e
may dlller IN opinion Great Britain has
interests and rights there. and shall She,
be prevented from maintaining them? 1t
appears to me there was no occasion for
our getting ourselves into the position we
are. We have got the worst of the dipIo-
macy side of the question so far. and we
could easily have interceded with Great
Britain in behalf of Venezuela without so
extensively forcing the Monroe doctrine
down the British throat Can we main
tain our position? I fear not unless we
fight for it and win. It is fearful to con-
template Should such contingency
arise and victory perch upon the stars
and stripes, then Mr.. Olney need not labor
50 hard to convince the European nations
that the Monroe doctrine is international
them so recognize it? But how is This
commission to operate? Thew can only
obtain the Venezuelan side of it. Great
Britain has refused our services She COR
tainlv will not rush to our aid in furnish
Ing facts. data or other information con-
corning the disputed boundary. Suppose
the president was in possession Of the
report tom orrow, what would he do?
The whole question is fraught with diff
fculty and danger. The probability is that
Great Britain will settle this question
with VeneZuels. alone, and we shall then
be no better off than we are TODAY. The
outcome IS more than mortal can foresee
am well aware there is in our country
a strong anti-English feeling. and I dare
say that 70 per cent. of Americans would
lust as soon fight England as not It
seems from the expression of public SEN
timent drawn forth on this subject. that
they bail with delight the very prospect
of clash. I have even heard some Of
them say. Yes, fght-right or wrong: de-
fend Your country-right or wrong. This
is surely extreme patriotism. and when
the terrible consequences are conten1-
plated of such a war, is it wise to bring
suffering. misery and death 10 the homes ,
of hundreds of thousands because any
country rather than yield an inch would
adhere to an assumed attitude
right or wrong.
DAVID L. MURDOCH.