Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1896-01-15
Hon. J. Ran. Tucker on the venezuela
Question.

Hon. J. Randolph Tucker, Professor
of Constitutional Law at washington
g. Lee University, and, believer IN
the Monroe Doctrine, rightly unoer
stood. has published in the Vaf9anao
Laao Register an able article on fresl-
dent Cleveland's Venezuelan message,
maintaining, as the SPECTATOR mas
done. that the Monroe Doctrine does
not apply to the dispute about 'ne
boundary between British Guiana and
Venezuela. Not having room for the
whole article, we copy its concluding
portion as follows
"The commission is well enough. In
order that the United States may be
informed satisfactorily upon the polnts
in issue: but the commission Is to de-
eide without hearing either party 10
the dispute. 1t is not probable that
Great Britain would appear oefore
this commission so constituted ana
plead the merits of her case: But no
opportunitv is given for this. The
commission is to act for the Unlteo
States. and not even to arbltrate the
disputed question between the parties.
This is not even suggested. liz might
have been proposed to Great Britain
to arbitrate the question before this
commission. but no such opportunity
is even offered.
In effect, therefore, the proposition
is, that if this ex parte commission
makes it's decision, the refusal OF Great
Britain to submit to it is casus bellI.
This seems to me to be without prece-
dent in modern international prOce-
dure.
It will be observed that nothing is
said as to Venezuela and any action on
her part contrary to the commissions
divisional line. This gives the ap
pearance, that the commission is to
act SO as to control Great Britain, but
not Venezuela; as if the United States
were assuming tie cause of Venezuela
as their ward against her opponent.
This would exclude the idea of i'm
Partially between the parties by the
action of the commission.
1t involves further, that the United
States thus entangles our country by
quasi protectorate alliance with all
other countries on the American Con
tinent that the United States as
practical sovereign on this Continent
whose flat is law upon the sub
jects to which it confines its interpo
sition, master of the situation and
practically invulnerable as against
any and all other powers" as Lord
paramount to these her vassals and
her wards, take upon themselves the
| Jurisdiction to decide upon a case,
without fair hearing by the parties,
and this country and the happiness
and prosperity of her people.
War on such an issue is not neces-
sary. The Monroe doctrine is not left
without hope, though Great Britain
does not yield to the decision Of the
commission, which decides without
giving her hearing
The Monroe doctrine has been vim
dicated with ability by the Secretary
and the President. and has been con.
ceded by Great Britain.
The error, respectfully suggest, is
not in all this. but in the issue which
has been made, and in the mode in
which it has been done.
War may be provoked because OF
this issue, when all the principles in
volved may be securely maintained by
other and peaceful means.
| recognize and accord with the
patriotic impulses of the President and
of Congress, but 1 am constrained to
say that the United States have no
just ground to present such an issue
and in so menacing a form to Great
Britain, when they would resent it if
presented by Great Britain to them
selves.
May the influences of this Season
and the doctrine of the Divine Man,
whose advent it recalls, come down
upon the rising waves of angry inter
national contention on both sides OF
the Atlantic, and speak the words:
Peace be STILL"