The record-union., 1896-02-19

committee would no more conserve
peace. therefore, than will present con-
dftions. That which will assure civil
ization the largest measure of concord
among nations is the ability to COM
mand respect for national views and
positions. The attitude of this country
upon the Venezuelan question has done
more to inspire high regard for us
abroad than anything else in the later
history of the republic Had perma-
when that question became an issue,
England could have said then, as the
Post" intimates, and as she did say
in fact: THAT is matter not falling
tee. The issue is between Venezuela
and the British Government, and does
not at all concern America, and we de-
cline to submit it," That she would
have been in a position to make good
that refusal no one can deny.
The very idea of submitting the Mon
ore doctrine to arbitration is repugnant
to every patriotic impulse and national
sentiment What we did do regarding
that national faith was to assert our
sincerity in the doctrine, and to give
England to understand that we stood
ready to defend it in arms If need be.
The result was precisely what it should
be. England has yielded, and is to-
day submitting to treatment of the mat
ter on diplomatic lines, which are being
laid down by committee of inquiry
advising the Government of the United
States as to what is exact justice in
the premises.
AS the Humboldt STANDARD" well
says, there is no need for nations going
to war on every occasion of dispute,
but it does not follow that permanent
Committee of Arbitration is therefore a
supine submission. Sentiment goes be-
yond its Office when it attempts to dis
possess a nation of its manhood, and
demand of it that it shall forego its
right to assert its independence.
When there arise issues that may
well be arbitrated and when diplomacy
fails to adjust such differences. then ar
bitration may be suggested, and, if
agreed to, it may be the wiser course.
But every such case should stand upon
it's own bottom and be fitted to the ex-
gencies of its environment; precisely
the same rule of action should obtain
when there is necessity for war because
diplomacy has failed.
We repeat, our national weakness is
not in our unarmed condition, our un-
guarded seaports. nor our extended
tidewater frontage, so much as in our
inability to automatically cope with
other nations That arm of national
strength we have failed to conserve and
develop and to comman6 respect for.
We are now asked to put it into per-
manent sling and let such muscular
vigor as it has wither and shrink.
To refuse to erect a permanent Com
mittee of Arbitration is no more a dec
laration in favor of blood-letting as the
inevitable means of adjusting issues
than 1t would be if neighbors refused
to commit their respective rights to
permanent committee to pass upon. On
the contrary the neighborhood is the
safest and most peaceful in which the
manly attributes Of the people are so
developed that none Of the group even
think of encroaching upon the rights of
another of the community. What we
need above all things else Is diplomatic
development, and assuredly the way to
that end does not lie through the erec-
ton Of a tribunal to adjudicate issues
in advance of their development.