Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1896-01-01
Go slowly-A Time for Sober Reflection.

mourning?
Go SlowIy-A Time for Sober Reflection.
The strong sentiment aroused by the
events of the past few days, says the
New York Herald. shows that when
ever any foreign Power shall attempt
to make on this continent any agrees
sion dangerous to our peace and safe
ty" or subversive of our rights and in
terests as a nation the American peo-
pie will meet it with solid front and
a single mind. The expression of that
sentiment is proclamation to the
world that the United States will main
tain the principle of the Monroe doc
trine and enforce it against attempted
violation.
But has it not been too hastily as
snmed that the vital principle Of the
Monroe doctrine has been menaced by
the boundary dispute between Great
Britain and Venezuela? Is there any
thing in that controversy, which has
been going on for more than half
century, to indicate any aggressive at
tempt dangerous to our peace and
safety or subversive of the rights and
interests of the United States?
These are momentous questions
which the American people must sober
ly ponder before blindly and recklessly
entering upon course which may
plunge the nation into needless and
calamitous war. Within its rightful
grand national principle, and will ever
be supported by unanimous national
sentiment. That sentiment will right
ly demand it's enforeeMentagafnst any
conquest Of American territory by a.
foreign monarchical Power or any ex-
tension of such Power dangerous to
our peace and safety" The force and
justice of this principle are recognized
by Great Britain itself when, in the
words of Lord Salisbury, she declares
that "Her majesty's government fully
concur with the view which President
Monroe apparently entertained, that
any disturbance of the existing terri.
torial distribution in this hemisphere |
by any fresh acquisitions on the part of
any European State would be highly |
change"
But an intelligent public has only to
reflect in order to realize that it is
and mischievously stretching !
the Monroe doctrine to extend it to a I
South American boundary controversy |
which was started long before the doc
brine was proclaimed and has never
its vital principle. If the
doctrine is to be applied to every boun
larry dispute over few miles of terri
,ory which any European nation may
ever have with any South American
country it will cease to be a grand ma
;ional principle for the protection and
glory of the United States and become
! constant menace to the peace and
prosperity of the nation by proving a |
eady means of fomenting foreign en-
against which Washing !
on so earnestly warned his country !
nen. 1t will thus defeat its very pur- {
lose and be made far more dangerous t
O our peace and safety than the for
ign encroachment which it was in =
ended to prevent. tx
Congress and the country should a
therefore, go slowly in the crisis which :
as been precipitated. Give England s
IL the time she wants and every oppor- s
unity she can have amicably to settle p
er dispute with Venezuela She has =
y no means yet exhausted the field of v
iplomacy or the opportunity for t
eaceful settlement demanded by the
lterests of all parties concerned. 1t g,
I'LL be time enough to enforce the tt
lonroe doctrine when England makesl
ny aggressive attempt to violate it.
AS for the proposed commission to ;.
lvestigate the boundary line. it is a b.
range anomaly in international deal "
lgs. II it's object were to obtain need 6
q information and light to enable the f.
'vernment and people to ascertain all ty
lie facts and see whether the affair is az
~ concern of ours before rushing in -
war on the representations of only a,
le side, it might serve useful pur- tie
'se. But to send an American com W
lsslon to draw boundary line of -
cir own between Venezuelan and ~
Irish territory and then notify Eng pa
nd that she must accept that arbi IA
ary line or fight would be a proceed Tn
we'll calculated to invite war from FL
y self-respecting Power, and a pro- je.
eding which the United States would tri
.uuick TO recount If nronosoa ia,