Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-01-16

mittee say Mr.. French's discovery is
the most important yet made in con-
nection with the Venezuela matter,
as it presents contemporary evidence
of the fact which Great Britain has
since forgotten, that at the time Pres
ident Monroe's message was delivered
it was accepted and even welcomed as
sound doctrine by the people of Great
Britain.
More than that the newspapers
then distinctly pledged Great Britain
to aid in the enforcement of the Mon
roe doctrine. The Chicago Tribune's
correspondent has secured this latest
contribution of the Venezuelan con-
troversy just as it was sent to Sec1e-
tary Olney. The extracts are anthem
tic.
The London Courier of December q,
1923, said:
The speech of the president OF the
United States is, in all its bearings,
document Of more than usual impor-
lance The latter part, which arrived
so late yesterday that we were forced
to omit it in a small part Of our i'm
preston, will be found in our last page
today; and waving every other topic
in the speech we direct our whole at
tention to that part the most impor-
tant of all to every European power.
The question of the independence
and recognition of the South Amerl-
can states may now be considered as
at rest. Great Britain has, as we have
repeatedly shoWa, acknowledged their
independence de facto, and the United
| States, their nearest neighbors, have
not only acknowledged it, but have
| given a bold and manly notice to the
continental powers that they shall
treat any imposition with a view 70
depressing or controlling them in any
manner as a manifestation of an I'm
friendly disposition towards them
selves and as dangerous to their peace
and safety; in other words, they shall
view it as affording them just ground
for war.
After so clear and explicit warn
ing there is not one of the continental
powers, we suppose, that Will risk q
war with the United States-a war III
which not only they could not expect
to have either the aid or good wishes
of Great Britain, but a war in which
the good wishes OF Great Britain III
she did not choose to give more eff
Gent succorl would be all on the side
of the United States.
Thus, then, we repeat, the question
may be considered to be set at rest
we shall hear no more of a congress tC
settle the fate of the South American
states. Protected by the two nations
that possess the institutions and speak
the language of freedGm-by Great
Britain on one side and the United
States N the otEel-their indepeD
dence is placed beyond the reach o.
danger; and the continental powers
unable to harm them, will do we'll tC
establish that friendly and CONNER
cial intercourse with them which they
could never have done had they re
manned under the yoke of old Spain
The clippings from other papers
were in a similar strain, the Globe anC
Traveller saying, America is united
England may be united with her." The
Liverpool Advertiser remarks that 81
sets the question at rest" and adds
that the presidents message is i'm
portant because, fearing nothing,
conceals nothing, and is totally divest
ed of all that trick, artifice, common
place jargon which renders ths
diplomacy of Europe so much more
than mere nugatory,