The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1896-01-09

the maps. II successful, they will
give Great Britain control of the
Spanish main and make tho Carrib.
bean Sea little better than u British
lake.
He concluded as follows: eve
have seen British forces at Corinto
We know the attitude they assume in
Venezuela. They are attempting to
take land on the Alaskan boundary
They have just denounced the modus
vivendi and re-Openod in that way the
perilous dispute OF the northeastern
fisheries. 1t is not by accident that
these events have all occurred or all
come to an acute stage within tho past
year. They are not due to us, for we
have committed no aggression upon
anybody. Of all these difficulties
which are now upon us, the most i'm
with Venezuela. They toll us that
this territory Is remote and worthless.
1t is remote, perhaps, but 1t Is not
W. ,thless, for If it had been, the
Venezuelan possession Of it would be
undisturbed. But it matters not
whether it Is worthless or valuable.
Tho tea tax was trivial but our fore
fathers refused to pay it because it
involved great principle, and the
attempt to collect it cost Great Brit
ain her North American colonies.
The American people believe today
gas {usS as firmly nyti In the P"r;inoiple of the
essential to tSoir honor, their e safety ~
and thoir interests as nation and they
arc prepared to defend it when 1t is
assailed.
Mr.. President, who is responsible
! tho unhaDpily strained relations
between England and tho United
States? AS | have pointed out, wo
bave not beon the aggressors on any OF
the points now in dispute, whcthor in
Alaska or Venezuela.
what then, has strained our rcla-
tions? The poromptory refusal to ar
htrate this question of boundary.
Who gave that refusal ? Great Brit
ain. We have appointed a committee,
not to abritrate between Great Britain
and Vonezuela, but to inform us, aftor
careful investigation, what tho true
divisional line, in thoir opinion, should
in. Who has drawn an arbitrary line
OF boundary and declared that they
should not arbitrate to tho east of it :?
Not the United Statos, but Great
Britain. Ultlmatume are what strain
relations, and they have come from
Great Britian and not from us. | be-
lieve that this question will be peace
fully settled by the good sense of tho
representatives of England and the
United States, but [ am very clear
that sWch settlement can only be
reached by action on the part Of
Congress and Of tho President which
shall be as temperate as it is firm, and
which shall maintain the Monroe
Doctrine wherever it justly applies.
That doctrine is as important to us as
tho balance Of powe" is to Europe, and
| those who maintain the latter must
not attempt to break down the princi-
| pie which guards the integrity Of the
Americans and protects them from the
Interference Of foreign powor.
In tho course Of Mr. Lodges histori-
cal review of the Ven rezuoun boundary
question, he was asked by MIR. Hill
whether VeneZucla had ever, ut any
time, refused arbitration.
Never" Mir. Lodge replied.
. i" refer to that" Mr.. Hill EXPLAIN
cd, "on account Of q published inte"
Wow With NJ. Lincoln, i, II Chicago
; ncv spnpcr, IN which it was stated tina
Venezuela had refused arbitration"
81 mover met Mr.. Lodge said
with any instance in which VcnC
, zuela refused arbitration. So far as
= 4 am aware, sho has sought arbitratio
:. constantly. She has rejected ono q
. . two Of tho compromises offered b
= Great Britain. She rejected ono {
u thcm because Groat Britain insstc
. upon tho froe navigation OF tho Or
: noco. do not think that Vonezucl
), has over elected arbitration. On til
Z contrary, she has always sought it,"