The Wichita daily eagle., 1896-12-15
UNGRATEFUL VENEZUELA.

The civilizations Of South America
ale not the most stable or reliable in the
world There is the hereditary Spanish
irsincerity and the treachery of the In
dian in them all. We call them all Of
the Latin, but they are all mixed race,
and badly mixed. The world at large
viewed with satisfaction the result of
behalf of Venezuela. Everybody at
least conceded that it was very favora-
BILE for Venezuela. Now it is reported
that Venezuela is giving new point to
the old saying about the behavior of
beggars on horseback by Objecting to
the terms of settlement far more ad
vantageous than any which the little
state could have hoped for if the United
States had not interfered in its behalf.
There seems to be good ground for fear
ing delay by Venezuelan folly, but, of
course, notbing serious can be permitted
to result from such interference with
the arbitration of boundary dispute
which at one time threatened war be-
tween two of the most powerful nations
of the earth.
So-called Statesmen in Venezuela
are quoted as saying that their country
would better go to war about the from
tier than lose any Of the territory
claimed by arbitrat ton. They assert
that it will never do to let the United
States and England decide the terms
Icy which the boundary question is to be
settled. One paper, at least, in the cap
ital of Venezuela is wiser. 1t calls the
terms agreed upon very good for its
country and expresses the opinion that
the United States has taken the position
of a sentinel warding off danger from
the smaller states of Latin America.
A sentinel this republic has indeed
made itself. but there is nothing that
may so quickly change its attitude as
the unreasonableness and vainglorious
ignorance Of the men in control of Span
ish American countries. Let Venezuela
persist in her attitude of obstruction
and the United States will very soon be
mercies of the British Lion. If the peo-
pie of Latin America think that they
can count on the United States to de-
fend them in whatever quarrels with
European powers they may bring about
and support all their pretensions in
such disputes, no matter how unreaSon-
able, the inevitable result will be to de-
prive them Of the shield which they seek
to misuse.
The opinion has often been expressed
in Europe, since the famous Venezuelan
message of President Cleveland was
made public, that the United States
would be compelled to withdraw from
the position of semi guardianship as
sumed towards the little states of Latin
America by the intolerable follies and
pretensions of the ignorant, impulsive
and turbulent nations treated as wards
1t remains for the countries of South
America and Central America to deter
mine the accuracy of this unfriendly
forecast. If Venezuela should refuse a
settlement by arbitration which could
not injure her, and run blindly into a
hopeless war instead. it would seem
that the most unfavorable predictions
of European authorities might be justi-
lied.
Americans are ready 10 do much and
venture much to prevent the despoiling
and oppression of the weaker states of
this hemisphere. but they certainly viii
not interfere with whatever measures
European powers may take for punish
ing presumption that rejects the kind
Offices OF generous friends and supports
unreasonable demands by foolish blus-
ter and talk of violence