The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1896-06-20


all journalists and press correspondents OF
giving summary of his personal views OF
the difficulty and its adjustment.
While it behooves the United States, as
the leading and eldest republic of the New
World. to cultivate and cement the ties OF
friendship, to encourage trade and foster
commerce, to take deep and profound
interest in the domestic affairs of her sister
republics of Central and South America,
and also to extend friendly aid and advice,
when so requested, in matters pertaining
to themselves and also foreign powers, yet
it should also be her policy to give them
a firm warning that it is not her intention
to stand in the relationship of "a big
brother" behind whom they can take
refuge in every petty disturbance that may
arise from their own indiscretion, and from
causes over which we as a nation have no
Just cause to interfere without making our
selves ridiculous in the eyes of maritime
nations by such an intervention.
A discreet exercise of diplomacy is gen
orally able to settle all minor disagreements,
and large number of important ones,
among all nations, and no government,
however powerful, will be guilty Of playing
the part of bully with weaker one,
when the latter is willing to make proper
amends that are within her resources.
No nation aoith any Distinguishing trdd
Of dignity ,oM stain her escHtcheon 'cih
the forcibIe spotiation Of n 'ceaker and
helpless po,oer.
To settle such disputes as the present
one that is now before the world, and ones
that may arise in future years, we would
suggest that the following method might
be followed with success in all cases that
might arise for such discussion
1st.-The two nations directly inter
ested should try and settle the dispute d.
rect one acih the other, and if in a direct
settlement a compromise should be effected
whereby permanent boundary could be
established by the purchase of a small area
of territory, no third power should inter
fere.
2nd.-A direct settlement failing, a
submittal to arbitration, the board Of arbi-
tration to consist of one commissioner from
each country interested, one from the
United States, and one each from two dis
interested countries, making five in all,
the verdict to be governed by majority
vote.
3d.-A direct settlement and settlement
by arbitration failing, an armed appeal of
the countries interested would be justifa-
bic. the intervention of the United States
being given only when it was the evident
intention of the victor to appropriate any
more territory than would create an equal
and Just boundary, and boundary that
would be permanent between them thence
forth, and one that no future dispute could
bring into controversy. Such are the au
thor's personal views on doctrine that is
fast becoming threatening in its aspect to
the peace of our country, especially when
it is warped and twisted from true inter
probation.
1t is question that must be dealt with
in sensible and statesmanlike manner and
with the exercise of true and keen judg-
ment
We differ from Lord Salisbury in his
contention that the doctrine has never been
inculcated into the international law gov
erning the nations of the universe, and that
we are not justified in sustaining the same,
if any power should object to its applica-
ton.
The "Holy Alliance, - received the firm
support, even to armed hterUertion, of the
leading European powers, and was dcqu-
esced to by Great Britain, and yet we have
never seen that the doctrine of their ne
farious combination was ever inculcated
into the law of nations And yet we see
that its doctrines were twice supported by
a resort to arms in suppressing the desires
of a people (Spain and her Italian Deepen
dency) for full and just government.
Can Lord Salisbury deny this charge?
Did America offer to interfere in the aid
of Spain No. The subject at stake at
that time was on European ore and ore in
which we had no direct concern, and only
when it was rumored that the ''Holy AL
lance contemplated aiding the Spanish
autocratcy in subduing the rebellious
colonies in the New World, did the feeling
of the American government and people
find vent in the famous proclamation,
review of which this article is part.
Irrespective of the dictates of interna-
tional law, the Monroe is inculcated in our
midst and will stay among our people who
will ever be ready to defend any just in
depreciation of it.
We expect, and we do not think that
our expectations are in vain, that the hon
cradle board of gentlemen composing the
Commission will prove true and capable of
the trust imposed upon them by their
countrymen, and will exhaust every source
at hand to bring the controversy to a
peaceable and honorable conclusion, and at
the same time sustain the dignity of our
government and nation.
The American nation as whole do not
desire war until every possible channel of
diplomacy is exhausted in the effort of
peaceable settlement, but at the same time
we should not let any foreign power enter
tain the idea that we are all down on our
knees praying for peace at any price 1t
is better to fight than to be Inundated
If after the Commission reports the result
of their labors, and England again declines
to make any just concessions to insure an
equal and peaceable settlement, then Eve
do not wish to threaten let the American
nation remember the spirit that animated
them from Lexington to Yorktown; Detroit
to New Orleans; Palo Alto to City of
Mexico, and fromBull Run toAppomattox--
let them as one man stand firm for the
honor of the nation-the doctrine of one
of her most honored Chief Executives
the aid of her helpless sister republic-let
the world know that we can place our bat
tleships upon every sea and that our cannon
can awake the echoes of the world
Let no nation entertain the erroneous
idea that we are sectional confederation;
secession and Its issues were submitted to
the arbitrament of the sword and the starry
banner of our republic today floats over