The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-12-18


for their very existence. Since ln@n the
most striking single achievement 70 ne
credited 20 the rule - the evacuation OF
Mexico by the French. But we are also
Indebted 20 Il for the Clayton BElver
treaty. negtraIlzing any inferocsaaic canal
across Central America and exssucing
Great Britain from any dominion there
u has been used IN the case OF Cuba a.
3ustffying the position that, while the
sovereignty OF Spain VIII BE- respected, the
island viii not be permitted 70 become the
possession Of any other European power.
Il has been influential IN bringing about
the definite REIMBURSEMENT Of any sup
posed protectorate by Great Britain over
the Mosquito coast. President Polk relied
upou e. though perhaps erroneously. 70
prevent the transfer Of YBcatau. Cen
Grant. - the same spirit. declared that ex-
istIag dependencies were no longer subject
70 transfer from one European power 10
another. and another development -
found IN the objection 20 arbitration OF
South American controversies by a Euro
pean power. and Secretary Bayari resist
81 the enforcement OF the Pelliter claim
against Haiti, declaring that serious IN
deed would be the consequences II Euro
pean hos;iie foot should without just au-
thorify tread those states in the New
World which had enancipa:ed themselves
from European control"
American decision" says Secretary Otney,
and then. applying this doctrine IN the re-
verse. be says: IF slI Europe were sud-
feaig 10 rs 20 arms over the fate OF Tur-
key. would u not be preposterous that an
American state would fad itself inextri-
cahy involved In the uiserses and burdens
OF the contest2 What have the states or
America 10 do with the vast armies AMI
fleets OF Europe, and why should they be
Impoverished by wars tn which they can
have no concern? The moral interests OF
Europe are peculiar to her and entirely adj
verse from those which are peculiar 20
America. Europe Is. with a single excep-
ton. committed 10 the nonarch.al rrln-
ciple. America is devoted TO the idea that
every people has inal.enable right OF self
government. Any European control OF our
interests is necessarily both incongTuoas
and Injurious, and. 81 the forcihle intru-
sion OF European powers in American poll
ties Is TO be deprecated, the resistance must
come from the United states. the only
power with strength adequate to the ex-
lgency."
There can be but one answer 10 the
question whether the safety and welfare
OF the United States are so concerned with
the maintenance OF the independence CT
every American state as against any Euro
pean power as TO Justify and require our
nteTposition whenever that independence
II.
and allies. commercially and politically.
and to allow the subjugation OF any one
OF them by any European power whatso-
ever reVerses the situation and signifies
loss OF all the advantages incident to their
natural relation 10 us. But that Is not all.
The people OF the United States have a
vital interest In the cause OF popular self
government. which they have secured at
the cost or Infinite blood and treasure. The
age OF the erusades has passed, and they
ara content with such assertion and defense
or the rights OF self-goVernment as their
own security and welfare demand. It is
In that view, more than any other, that
they VIII not tolerate the political control
OF the American states by the forclble as
sumption OF a European power.
THE mischief TO be apprehended from
such source is none the less real because
not Immediately imminent IN any specific
case. The United States Is today practi-
caliy sovereign on this continent, and its
fiat is law. All the advantages OF this su-
perioriiy are AZ once imperiled IL the prin-
ciple be admitted that European powers
may convert American states into colonies
OF their own. The principle could be easily
availed OF, and any power doing so would
Immediately secure base OF military ope-
ratons against us, and Il Is not inconceiva-
bic that the struggle now going on for the
acquisition OF Africa might be transferred
TO South America The weaker countries
would soon be absorbed, and South Ameri-
ca would be partltioned between European
powers The consequences TO the United
states would be disastrous. Loss OF pres
t.ge would be the least of them. Our own
real rivals in peace. as we'll as enemies In
war. would be located az our very doors
We must then be armed to the teeth. con-
yer, the flower Of our male population into
soldiers and sailors. and thus annhilate
he I've Of .
nation. Cur just apprehensons are not to
be allayed by suggestions OF the good will
or European powers toward US. for the peo-
pie OF the United States have learned In
the school OF experience 10 what extent
the relations or states depend, not upon
sentiment or principle. but upon selfish In
terests. They Will not soon forget that in
their hour OF distress all their anxieties
and burdens were aggravated by the posi-
bttity OF demonstrations against their na-
uonal life on the part OF powers with whom
they had long maintained the most har-
monious relations. They have yet In mind
that France rushed on the apparent oppor-
tunity OF our civil war TO set up monarchy
In Mexico. and had France and Great Bril-
tain held important South American posses
sions 10 work from and benefit. the tempta-
ton 20 destroy our pred0m.nanco by flrth-
ering orr Acknowledgement might have been
Irresistible. From that grave peril we were
saved In the past and may he saved again
In the future through the operation OF the
sure but silent voice Of The doctrine pro-
claimed by President Monroe.
There IS, then" Secretary Olney con-
tinues. "A doctrine OF American public
law. well founded IN principle and abund-
entity sanctioned by precedent. which en-
titles and requires the United States 10
treat "a an injury 70 herself the forcihle
assumption by any European power OF no
Nt'cal control over an American state. The
application OF the doctrine ia the boundary
dispute between Great Britain ard Vene-
Euela remains 70 he made. ana presents 10
real difficulty" The secretary shows that
although relating 20 tho boundary line. :be
question IS one OF political control over a.
domain OF great extent. the British claim
apparently eXpending IN two years some
5000 square miles and directly involving
the command OF the mouth OF the O~l1o7o
and the whole navigation IN the interior
OF South America. lie d.smisses as value
less the contention that British Guiana
may in this controversy he regarded as an
American state Ike Venezuela. lie sur-
gests that while Venezuela might pozsihl,-
not object 10 settling the matter Directly
with British Guiana, II this contention was
once allowed every European power With
South American colony might extend is
possessions indefinitely, while other powers
might DO the same by first procuring a vol
untary cession o. a small tract OF SOL
i Is net admitted. and therefore 70. 10
hc assumed. that Great Britain is IN fa-f
usn-p.og dominion over Venezuelan soil
NA1o NenczJela charges such usuraaftan
Great Britain denies Il. and the United
States, until the merits are authorltative'v
aScertniued can take sides with neither
but Il NAV demand that the truth shall be-
asSerta ned. Being entitled 10 resent an 2