Evening star., 1896-01-02
SOME COM N ENT
Continued from First Page.)

taken to assemble the commission and be-
gin work.
In response to inquiries, Mr.. Brewer said
that while he could not speak with full In
formation, yet he had no doubt the ses-
s1ons OF the commission would be held In
Washington, as 1t was the most accessible
point, and moreover, much OF the docu-
mentary evidence, maps, etc, which would
initiate the inquiry were to be found here
For the present the justice will continue
his work on the supreme bench. as 1t is
felt that the preliminaries of organization
and the assembling Of evidence may con-
tinue through the present month; leaving
the more serious work Of examination by
the commission to begin about February
1, when the Supreme Court takes months
recess. This will permit the justice to hear
pending cases, and thereafter give his ex-
elusive time to the commission. If, how
ever, the commissions labors begin earlier
than anticipated Mr.. Brewer is ready at
any time to join his associates.
Justice Brewer, when asked If the COM
mission was likely to go abroad to pursue
its Investigations, said 1t might be that the
State Department had prepared certain
features of evidence regarded as essential,
and which would serve as groundWork
for the Investigation. In that event, doubt
less, this would be gone over, and then the
commission would determine what further
steps were required to ascertain the facts.
1t might be that Venezuela and England
would be asked to present their respective
cases. Certainly, in question of this
character, there would be the desire for
the fullest information from all available
sources.
all in hand. the question might then arise
as to the desirability of verifying certain
features of 1t by personal inspection of the
originals of the documents In the archives
of Spain, Holland or other countries. This
would involve a trip abroad, and there was
the possibility that 1t might become de-
sirable personally to view the locality of
contention along the Guiana-Venezuela
Tr,cti cfrof tod hiS hH,r
ferring to some of the boundary contests
over Mexican land grants, a number of
which have been decided by him, including
the Maxwell land grant case.
Tne justice says he has not given a
thought to the executive staff Of the COM
mission, and as yet no names have been
suggested. Thoroughly competent trans
lators, both in Spanish and Dutch, as dis
tinguished from German, viii be required
to examine the originals of the old Spanish
and Dutch grants, on which the respective
claims are based. The justice does not feel
that the appearance Of his name at the
head Of the list, as announced, confers
upon him any suggestion that he will in
itiate the work of the body, as the COM
mission itself may select it's chairman.
Will He Master of It's Own Procedure.
There is official authority for the state
ment that the Venezuelan commission will
be absolute master Of its own procedure,
fixing the time and place of its meetings,
and determining for itself whether or not
it shall visit foreign countries; what class
Of evidence may be taken into considera-
ton. and how interested governments may
be represented before the tribunal. This
independence of action is deemed necessary
degree of weight and respect among other
nations, that will watch its proceedings
with jealous eyes, that can be attained
only through a knowledge that the body
q n
the United States government, which has
created it. Our government will occupy
the status of an exact neutral in the pro-
ceedings. The State Department will lend
such assistance as may be required to ia
cilitate the work of the commission, in pro-
curing transportation for it on a United
States warship. If that is desired and in
supplying any records in its possession
that may be called fer. But it will not al
low itself to be placed in the position Of
taking sides as to the merits Of the con-
troversy between Great Britain and Ven
ezuela; it will not undertake to present the
Venezuelan case, nor will it even endeavor
to Offset any evidence that leans toward
the British contention. Therefore, the va
the department by individuals in this
country as to where evidence can be Sc
cured have been ignored.
Such matter is proper for the considera-
State Department. 1t is pointed out that
in this attitude the department Is exactly
consistent with its course in the past.
From the beginning Of the negotiations
with Great Britain touching the Venezue-
Ian boundary the United States govern
ment has expressly refrained from COM
hitting itself to a recognition of the justice
of VeneZuela's claim, and has limited itself
strictly to the contention that this was a
proper matter for settlement by arbitra-
ton. Moreover, the attitude which the de-
partment has assumed toward the commits
sion itself Is regarded as sufficient mega
aSSnmntiOn EnrOno fhat ho
United States government purposed con-
stituting itself the arbitrator in this dis
pute. for the commission will be as indie
pendent Of the United States government
as it will be of any other government.
Mr.. Gilman on the Monroe Doctrine.
Daniel c. Gilman, whom President Cleve-
land has appointed a member of the Vene-
zuelan commission, devotes a brief chapter
in his life Of President Monroe to the Mon
roe doctrine. The chapter is intended ap-
parently more to show the great growth
Of this doctrine and to demonstrate that
It did not originate with Monroe than to
opinions on the subject by the author. He
quotes the passages from the message Of
December, 1923. relating to foreign inter-
ference with affairs in the western hemis-
phere, and also gives extracts from the
writings Of Gov. Pownall and of Jefferson,
Madison, washington, John Adams and
others In support of a statement made by
ElmSelI TO the enect that while this doc
trine was IAN idea dimly entertained at
first 1T was steadily developed by the
course Of public events and the reflection
of those in public Hfe."
Mr.. Gilman takes issue with Charles
Sumner on the assertion that the Monroe
doctrine originated with Canning but
quotes the diary of Congressman Piumer to
the effect that the important parts of the
message of 1923 were written by John
Quincy Adams.
VERY little" says Mr.. Gilman, "has
come under my eye to illustrate the work.
ings Of Monroe's mind or to show how it
came to pass that he uttered In such terse
sentences the general opinion Of his coun-
trymen." He adds that Notwithstanding
Mr.. Monroe was not very skillful with his
pen, "he alone Of all the Presidents has
announced, without legislative sanction,
political dictum which Is still regarded as
fundamental law, and bears with it the
stamp Of authority in foreign courts as
we'll as in domestic councils"
Mr.. Gilman also says of this doctrine that
1T Is commonly regarded as an epitome Of
the principles Of the United States with re-
spect to the development Of American
states"
To these expressions he adds the follow
ing: 1T appears to me probable that Mon
roe had but very little conception of the
lasting effect which his words would pro-
duce. He spoke what he believed, and what
he knew that others believed; he spoke un-
der provocation, and awake that his views