New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-11-29


Continent During the last fifty years maritime
Europe has been conquering and colonizing
Asia, Africa and the South Seas, and extending
its political sway over vast territorial areas;
but 1t has made no appreciate advance on the
American Continent Belize is a little larger as
a crown colony than 1t was seventy years ago
as a log cutters settlement. and British Guiana
has been encrosching steadily upon Venezuelan
territorial rights; but otherwise the European
holdings and claims upon the American Con-
tinent are what they were when the Monroe
Doctrine was proclaimed English writer's may
deny that the Doctrine has any force as Inter-
national law and the Spa nish republics may as
sumo that they their independence and eX-
emption from foreign invasion solely to their
own civic virtues: but the fact that the Monroe
principle has been upheld continuously by one
Administration after another at Washington as
the ground and bulwark If American diplomacy
has exercised a determining influence upon the
fortunes Of the Continent during a century
when European territorial raids were the order
of the day everywhere else. The Monroe DOC
trine may not have been accepted by Europe as
international law but 1t has been respected as
an American tradition.
APPLICATIONS OF THE DOCTRINE.
Moreover the collapse of the baffled Panama
Congress and the negotiation Of the Clayton
Bulwer treaty are not the only chapters of Amer
lean diplomacy The French evacuation Of Mex
leo in response to warnings from Secretary Sew
ard was direct application of the Monroe prin-
ciple in its primary form. The convention win
Colombia for securing an American protectorate
over the Panama Railway was practical en-
bodment OF the same doctrine in Its secondary
sense that America is for the Americans. The
Pan-American Congress was grounded upon Mr..
Clay's conception Of the homogeneity OF all In
terests affecting the community of republics on
the American Continent. Vigorous and effective
championship of the rights of Venezuela VIII be
q practical demonstration that the Monroe Doc
trine is still understood in Its primary sense and
that enlargement of British conquests in the d.
rection Of the Orinoco will not be tolerated even
by an Administration that sought to re-establish
monarchy in Hawaii and connived at the British
occupation of Cornto
The English writer's while declining to regard
the Monroe Doctrine as a question that enters
into "the serious diplomacy Of nations" affect
surprise that Americans should be concerned in
"a petty boundary dispute that interests Great
Britain and Venezuela alone They do not I'M
derstand the essential fact that In this instance
the Monroe Doctrine. so far as 1t relates 10 lhe
United States does not appeal 10 self interest.
The ruling motives Of European diplomacy may
be selfish advantage and territorial acquisitions'
but the action of the United States in befriending
and protecting Venezuela has been disinterested.
From a selfish point Of view Americans may be
Indifferent whether England gets little more
or Venezuela a little less Of the disputed territory;
but that is a low ideal of international action
The enforcement Of the Monroe Doctrine In
this case will be chivalrous and pnilanthroplc
Undertaking Justice requires that Venezuela
should have what belongs 10 her, ana mat Eng
land should not be allowed to bully a feeble
American State after refusing for long period
10 submit territorial claims to arbitration. Ven
ezuela is exposed 10 aggression from a powerful
Government that aims to establish Its own
boundaries ex parte and has been enlargng Its
claims decade after decade If American diplo-
macy intervenes It will be in the interest of inter
national morality.
If is also urged by English writer's that the
principal grievance against Venezuela Tor whlch
renaration Will be demanded is the arrest Of an
English marty AMI the lowering Of the British
flag on the frontier; and that this question has
notbine n do with the Monroe Doctrine. AS the
district whore the conflict arose between rival
outposts and authorities is in the very centre OF
the disputed territory. the preteXt for humihat-
ing and coercing Venezuela is shallow one.
Another demand for an indemnify followed by
naval demonstration off La Guayra, VIII COM
nlete the work of discredlting the Monroe Doc
trine which was begun al Corinto with the sane
ton of the Cleveland Administration 1t VIII be
a deliberate attempt to compel Venezuela 10
make reparation for enforcing its authority In
territory which is GAINED as rightfully its own
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