Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1896-01-22
Remarks ontle Venezuelan OHestof.
Address by Arthur }. Balk3ur. First Lord
Of the Treasury. or England.


At meeting in Manchester, Eng
Land, last Wednesday night, presided
over by Mr.. Arthur J. Balfour. First
Lord of the Treasury, in the address
he delivered, he alluded to the Yene-
zuelan difficulty, and we publish his
remarks as reported and cabled to the
n. Y. Herald as follows =
Touching upon the Venezuelan dis
pute, Mr.. Balfour said the people Of the
United States of America appeared to
suspect treat Britain of running coun-
ter to the Monroe doctrine. He dilased
upon TINS doctrine, constituting it to the
effect that the American continent
must not DO regarded as a field for Eu
ropean colonization, and that European
nations were not entitled to interfere
in the domestic affairs of the new world.
and said that the United States and
Great Britain concurred in this con
struction. He was not aware, he con-
tinued, that there had been any change
of mind, and did not believe it would
be possible to find 40 individual ia the
country who was desirous of what is
known as Il forward policy in America.
Great Britain was content and always
had been content to do the best for the
colonies she possessed there. and did
not wish to interfere with other States
or TO acquire more territory. He be
lieved that ii the Venezuelan govern.
ment had requested British protection
the honor would have been declined
py every statesman nameable.
VENEZUELAN QUESTION DISCUSSED.
He referred respectively to the long
duration of the boundary dispute. to
Lord Salisbnry's despatch, to the prog
ress OF compiling documents relating
to the matter here and to the appoint
| ment of a United States Commission to
| determine the boundary, and added it
would be hard indeed if the Anglo
Saxon race was unable to settle any
dispute without war. (Cheers.)
MI. Balfour said he had been deeply
and painfully impressed with the diff
ferent manner in which war is regarded
IN England as compared with the view
apparently taken of it by some sections
| OF the American population. War with
the United States of America appeared
to himself and, doubtless, to his hear
ers also, to be enveloped with the un-
| natural horror of a civil war, which
with any nation is terror to be avoid
| ed at all costs except dishono Beyond
their common ancestry, language and
civilization, he believed, he said, that
! the British people had pride of rec
ord which embraced every English
speaking community in the world and
| an Anglo-Saxon patriotism
He admitted with sorrow that such
feelings, judging from the newspaper
articles on the subject, were not shared
hvy-a Iar ocff - L.
pie, who appeared to regard a war with
England as thing to be lightly in
dulged in, an eXhilarating exercise.
gentle stimulus. This distressing and
horrible view, he declared, he could not
believe was the permanent adoption of
| any large section of the people OF the
United States. Mr.. Balfour dwelt at
length upon the sentimental aspect of
| the question, aud said he trusted and
believed the day would come when bet
ter statesmen in authority. and more
| fortunate than Monroe. would assert
| doctrine between English peoples un
der which war would be impossible.
He deprecated the pessimist view tax
en- of the future by some, and asserted
his unbelef that public opinion on
either side of the Atlantic or in Europe
would permit the outbreak.
ENGLAND READY.
Moreover, he could not see that Eng
land had cause for quarrel with any
nation on the face of the world. Eng
land, Mr.. Balfour said, did list, desire
anybody's territory and had no wish to
interfere with any existing interests,
but il war must come he did not think
she had any reason to be afraid. He
did not believe there had been mo
ment in the recent history of the empire
when it was better fighting machine
than it is at present.
In concluding his speech, Mr.. Balfour
alluded to the increase in the navy, and
said he believed that it would not be
called into action; but if by any mis-
chance the people of England should.
be called upon to fight for their coun-
! try he did not believe that the issue of
| the conflict would be diminished glory
or diminished power for the British
Empire. Upon the conclusion of his
| speech Mr.. Baifour was enthusiastical-
ly and repeatedly cheered by the hear
ers.
| THE SPECTATOR AT HALF THE FOR