Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-12-19
TIL. N.s,age-The Monroe Doctrine.

PRESS.
The Messaae-The Monroe D"''"'
I,nuestonably Mr. Cicveianus '"eSS's
a. CONGRESS touching the pending bouhu-
airy controversy between Great hi''''"
and the republic of Nenezuela 7" wv
ablest and most carefully worded paper
,,at has proceeded from his pen UP "
,hss sime There can be no DOUBT th"'
il was thoroughly discussed IN tue az
no, before the attention OF Congress was
called 10 IT,.
Rut what is the Monroe doctrine MI
cleveland states II IN admirable terms
8, language. indeed. that cannot De iu'-
n,oved mon. Before, however. we COM
ment further upon 1t. we VIII res'a'e -
as IL was stated by Mr. Monroe '''''S
in 1879. In his annual message 10 'Vi'-
eress. in December OF that year. ne saiu.
.'The occasion has been luueeu piopes
for asserting a principle IN wilion ,ns
rights and interests OF the Ih''e" 80
- involved that the American conu-
-, ~, the free and Independent con-
dItion which they have assumed ana
,naintained. are henceforth not 10 pe cor
sidered as subjects for future coionizauoii
by any European Powers. s
GIN the wars of the European fo"eiS,
In matters relating TO themselves VIC
have never taken any part, nor uoes /,
.omport with our policy TO do so. 1. -
only when our rights are invaded Vi
seriously menared that we resent INJURIES
or make preparation for our deleice'
win the movement III this hemisphere
connected. and by causes wnich mus
no obvious TO all enlightened ana I'M
partial observers.
eve owe IL. therefore, to candor ana u
tho amicable relations existing between
The United States and those Powers 10
declare that we should consider any at
temrtt ON their part to extend their sys-
tenn TO any portion OF this neihisph.ie
as dangerous TO our peace anu saiets.
With the existing colonies or dePenue"N'e
of any European Powers we have moi
snterferad and shall not interfere. But
with the governments who have deciafeu
tbe,r independence and maintained IL, anu
whose independence We nave, on great
consideration and on just principles, nc
knowledged, we could not view any ihter-
position for the purpose OF oppressihe
Them. or controlling in any other manner
their destiny, by any European rover
in any other light than as the manifesia
ton of an unfriendly disposition toward
the United States.
So. all the world had due notice IN
1922. that IL ever II became necessary
the doctrine set forth by Mr.. Monroe
would be acted upon. IT has fallen to
The lot of President Cleveland to act
upon that doctrine. And. as we have SAID
.fr ~ al Ia r1Tl
our case for the consideration OF the
world. A novel position is assumed py
Great Britain-nameIy. that the present Is
a new and strange development or tue
Monroe doctrine. But that government
cannot maintain that position. a new
question might be raised every year, or
oftener. il a new one may properly b.
raised now; but Mr.. Cleveland declares
in plain language that the enforcement
OF the Monroe doctrine. as IL Is UNDER
stood by the United States, is important
10 our peace and safety as nation. IL
was intended TO apply 10 every stage OF
our national life. and cannot become OBJ
soletc while our republic endures." He de-
clares that the Monroe doctrine Is TO
be enforced as IL is understood in this
country. Here let us remark that the
Dispatch has from the beginning taken
the ground which it now holds. 1t has
not atttmpted to beittle the Venezuelan
question. nor TO explain away the Mon
roe doctrine.
Mr.. Cleveland recommends commits
sion to be appointed to settle the ques-
lions In dispute and then adds:
when such report is made and accept
ed. IL will. i'm my opinion. be the duty or
the United States TO resist. by every
means In its power. as wiifui agrees
sion upon IT'S rights and interests, the
appropriation by Great Britain CT any
lands. or the exercise Of governmental
jurisdiction over any territory which.
after investigation. We have determined
OF right belong to Venezuela"
That language may be interpreted &c
mean war; but we do not understand IL
70. 1t means. however. that Great Britain
Is not to be allowed to trire longer with
the Venezuelan question. Uncle Sam. so
10 speak. submits an ultmatum when ne
thus declares In language so plain what
II IL the duty OF his government to do
under the circumstances. This ultimatum
may bring Great Britain to terms.
The comments OF the British press.
however. indicate that the people OF
that country viii sustain Lord Salisbury
in his position as solidly as the people
Of this country will sustain Mr.. Cleye-
land In his. But, az yet. In London.
there Ii little excitement over the cues
ton. No doabi this is because Il IS
believed there that MIR. cievejands pro-
position to appoint commission to as
certain and report what is the true boun.
dary-line between Venezuela and British
Guiana will give both countries cool
ing time" And 70 1t may; but. II our
commission finds that England Is claim
ing territory that does not belong TO her.
and England still persists in her claim.
this country win then be more than ever