Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-01-03
The Venezuela Commission.

The Venezuela Comm issiOn.
The commission appointed by fresi-
dent Cleveland under an act o. congress
20 ascertain for the information OF this
.overnmeut the true divisional line be-
tween Venezuela and British Guiana
&c composed of men well known here ana
abroad. and whose judgment VIII COLI
mand respect. They are all men OF
calmness. learning. and experience II"
public affairs. and were selected De-
cause of supposed fitness for the Worh
they have to do.
The President has ignored sectional
lines I'm making these appointments. The
South gets no member nor does the II"
cifc Slope, nor does New Engiahu'
though Justice Brewer is the son OF Mas
sachusetts parents, and Professor Gilman
of Johns Hopkins University, was born
In Connecticut New York has two APP
continents, Maryland two. and kar-
sas one.
We should have rejoiced much II the
President had put a good old Confederate
on the commission and there would
have been a peculiar propriety In such
an appointmenD. but, in his judgment
more available material was TO be found
elsewhere. Here. we think. he erred.
However we shall make no complaint
on this account. Our only wish is that
the work in hand shall be well done.
for II is of incalculable Importance.
II the commission find that Venezuela
really has no title TO the territory in
DISPUTE. then there has been 10 contempt
of the Monroe doctrine, and this coun-
try has no ground of complaint against
England. But, on the other hand. should
our commission report that Venezuela
mas a good title to the territory in ques-
ton. then we shall have TO seek set
Element with England. That country.
then. must agree TO submit the contro-
vcrsy to arbitration, or consent TO let
things remain in statu quo, or-there will
be war.
or course. we all hope, and most of us
believe, that there will be no war. but.
still 1t is one of the contingencies that
we must contemplate.
We feel quite sure that the country
Mill not accuse the President of pam
dcring to the so-called lingo spirit in
the appointment Of the commission. In
decd, there IL likely to be complaint that
.he has stood up so straight. that he
has leaned backwards as the saying is.
We take II that Justice Brewer will
= be made president OF the commission. No
other commissioner holds a position as
high as his, and his judicial experience
ought to fit him for the duties OF pre-
siding officer. Whether the work OF the
commission can be all done In this coun-
try remains to be seen. We doubt 1t.
Ii is for the commission to decide At
any rate. maps and public documents
will have to be copied and brought to the
commission from Venezuela, Holland. and
spain. So. many months will elapse be-
fore a decision can be reached.
Unless the commission goes 10 work at
race-horse speed. we do not see how il
can make a thorough investigation and
careful report to the President during
This session of Congress. And 1t is not
beyond the bounds of reasonable suppo-
sition that questions may arise which
will delay the report until the presiden-
tial campaign is over.
England. doubtless. has papers I'm her
possession that would be OF great SER
vice to the commission in arriving at
speedy and impartial conclusion as TO
the rights OF the disputants. How Will
the commission get these? Could II
request England to furnish them? Hard
H. But England might offer them:
though we should be surprised If she
we're to do so. inasmuch as she looks
upon our commission as an eX parte.
II not actually hostile. body. and might
not care to disclose her case TO IL. or
TO any other body of men, except TO
q tribunal clothed with power 10 enter
final judgment as TO what Is the true
line between Venezuela and British
Guiana.
So far our government has made no
mistake in the treatment OF this Vene-
xueian question. We courteous,y offered
England arbitration and she refused II.
Then we determined TO appoint a COM
mission to ascertain and report facts
needed for our future guidance. This
commission has been made up OF men OF
ability. who have not been active In
politics recently. 1t is SO nearly u non
partisan body that We are not quite
sure whether the Republicans or the DEM
ocrats have majority OF the members.
In this way the President recognizes and
emphasizes the fact that. IN neither house
Of Congress was the commission made
party question. but that I'm both
houses the resolution was passed unani-
inousiy. Three OF the five commissioners
have heretofore been cIassed as Republic
cans. though we believe that one OF these
three has been Cleveland man OF
late. Certainly Il cannot be charged