New-York tribune., 1896-01-24

4 part of Senator Wolcotts speech on the
Monroe Doctrine resolution was IN eloquent
repetition of something that has been said a
thousand times in this country and England
during the Venezuela controversy. That was.
his characterization of Venezuela and the other
South American republics. He described them
aS-aftcr thrccquaricrs of century Of trial
utterly untitled for self government. Their pco-
pie are chiefly Of mixed races ignorant and I'M
progressive" Their so-callcd republican govern
mcn;s are military despotsms. based on force
and sustained by bloodshed Their Presidents
are corrupt tyrants. the suffrage Is a farce. the
people are mere scrfs. and political revolution
j. their normal state. Venezuela has had Il
revolution every year and half: and Mexico
had in thirty nine years thIrty-six different
forms Of government and scventy-two different
rulers. Therefore. Mr.. Wolcot thinks. it would
bc for the good Of civilization il England were
10 extend her dominion over as much of NeneZ
ucla as possible; and there are others who argue
that for The same reason the United States
should show no sympathy with. and seek to
cultivate no more intimate relationship with
the South American republics.
Granting. as indeed 1t must be- granted that
this description of those countries Is largely cor
rect, it by no means follows that the conclusions
quoted are also correct. Latin nations do not
in either America or Europe, manifest all the
qualifications for scf-government that their
Ango-Saxon ncghbors do. England has had
only one Government in a hundred years. while
France has had "A dozen. But surely no one
will argue that therefore England has Il right
to opprcss France and seize her territory, or
that the United States should not cultivate close
relationship with the French Republic More
over. il will be WELL before cOndemning the
South American States for their lack Of stabil
ity and progress. TO consider what has been the
attitude Of the rest Of the world. and especially
of the United States, toward them and what
moral responsibility for their condition may rest
upon us. Nations cannot any more than indi
viduals. afford to ask. scornfuy. Am Il my
brothers keeperY' II the words about interna-
tional fraternity and universal peace-which
have been uttered so much Of ntc and by no
one more cloquertly than by Mr. Wocott-are
not to perish as mere empty words and nothing
more. they must be- backed up by fratcrnal con-
duct Of II more definite and efficient type than
has hitherto generally been exercised by ,is or
by any other Power toward these struggling
republics.
The attitude of the European Powers toward
The South American republics has. as rule
been either actively or passlvcly hostile 1t has
been almost entirely selfish and unsympa thetic
This was TO be expected Monarchics are not
friendly to republics, unless the latter are so
strong as to make their friendship worth cult
waiting and their hostility thing TO be dreaded
There Is no doubt that Europe would have been
glad years ago IT, see South America fall into
chaos abandon republican institutions. ard seek
social salvation under the colonial protection
Of Old World monarchies. At the same time II
has regarded that continelt q sort Of Tom