The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-03-13

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4 recent article in the London Times
! treats the Venezuelan dispute between
this country and Great Britain very con-
| ndentlv as in a very fair way towards a
settlement The Times says an unofficial
understanding has been arrived at be-
tween the TWO governments that there
shall be a commission consisting OF two
upon the part Of this country and two
upon the part Of England, who are to
examine the case and report upon it,
but their report is not 10 bind either
government unless at least three Of the
commissioners agree 20 it. In case three
cannot agree. then a new commission, TO
consist of the Chief Justice Of the United
States and the Chief Justice Of England,
is TO be formed. with power in them TO
call in a foreign jurist as arbitrator be-
tween them in case they cannot agree.
and the award of this commission is TO
be binding upon both countries. The
Times says provision is made in advance
that British subjects are not to be dis
turbed in their homes in any event, and
are to remain British subjects.
Where the London Times gets the in
formation upon which it discourses with
SO much confidence we are at a loss TO
know. We do know. however, that the
London Times does not speak rashy or
incautiously on any subject, and we feel
perfectly sure that it thinks 1t has in
formation that justihcs it in making these
statements. The English Foreign Office
may allow it TO give information TO the
English people about their own affairs
that our State Department thinks too
them TO be trusted with. II is most
earnestly 20 be hoped that the London
Times information is correct. If it is,
then our Government has conceded all
that England has ever asked. ana we
don't see why the arrangement was not
made in the beginning without all the
rumpus and furore that has been raised
about the matter Englands position al
ways mas been that she was perfectly
willing 10 arbitrate all the territory in
tuany settled by her subjects. but where
settlements had actually been made by
them in good faith and under her guar
antee that she could not desert them.
This was the fair and the just position
from the beginning and now. if the Lon
don Times information is correct, our
Government has conceded It. Why, then,
did We have the Presidents war blast?
Why did not Mr.. Olney answer Lord
Salisbuiy's letter of July last by saying
that his proposition was reasonable: that
this Government recognized England's
duty to stand by her subjects that had
made their homes in tho disputed dis
irict. and that it would he satisfied with
arbitration Of the rest Of the territory
which in fact embraced the great bulk
OF II?
We can conceive of but two reasons
that prevented it, one was the sugges-
tion so current al the time that Mr.
Cleveland wanted to twist the British
lions tail as the winning card in the
next Democratic National Convention:
the other had relation TO his duck hunt.
We don't know what to say of ;fe
first reason. Many persons charged :hst
as the cause. and many persons bclievoG
it to Ice. But. for ourselves. We think
the second reason had more to do with
the war message than the first. The
probabilities are that the President was
suffering from too much duck hunt
when ne wrote his war message.
II will be recolected that he had been |
for a week or ten days in the waters Of !
North Carolina. cooped up upon small /
l0at. with only one or two companions /
and a great deal of leisure lie landed /
from his boat. went straight TO the White |
House dashed of his defiance TO Eng
land sent IL to Congress. and laid down |
10 secure natures needed repose. The |
war message was clearly. therefore a |
case OF too much duck hunt. and this is
proved by the very opposite course he
has since pursued in the case OF Spain,
for his conduct in respect 10 cuba has
been all that the conduct OF prudent.
discreet President should be-
And we must say that though the early
debates IN the Senate over the Cuban
case made a strong and almost persua-
i've appeal for the adoption OF the Sem
ltes resolutions. Senator Hale's splendid
speech has put a new face on the AFFAIR.
1ur sympathies ara ALI with the Cypress.