The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-01-22

Coming to the portion Of his remarks 70.
lating to the Monroe doctrine, he said:
Now Is the time for the profession to
perform q great work upon the lines of
the lawyers OF tke centnrlcs In promotin9
International arbitration. The presen
dispute between the English-speaking
races which Is agitating the world calls
for both practical wisdom and legal acu-
men for its solution. There Is no dissent
in this country from the Monroe doctrine.
No European aggressions upon the Amer
icas will he permitted by the United
States which endanger our safety or sub
ject our sister republics TO European des-
potisms.
Yet anyone who studies the Monroe
doctrine will see how In each individual
case, except where there is flagrant
violation, like the French invasion of
Mexico, the applicable Interpretation of IL
should be the subject OF judicial deter
mination The presidents message to con-
gress presents novel view Of the prlnci-
pie. II there is dispute as TO boundary
line between a South American republic
and European power, no matter how In
significant, we must demand that the
two governments arbitrate the line, and X
can what the limo Is and enforce IL by war.
If, however, pending our inquiry. the two
parties agree. we have no further rights or
duties. This seems to surrender the doc
trine, II Venezuela or Brazil chooses to
sell portion OF its lands.
A slight extension OF the principle COM
pels US to assume protectorate over oil
these republics Their governments are
In almost perpetual revolution. and the
military dictator of the hour conflscates
property right and left, except that OF
foreigners. We might, at the whim or
necessities of the successful military die
tator OF Venezuela or the Argentines, OF
Brazil or Bolivia, of Paraguay or Peru, OF
Yucatan or Honduras, OF Chilli or Bolivia,
be involved in frequent wars with the
powers OF Europe. This would require an
immense navy and large standing army.
The feeling in the United States against
Great Britain is more easily aroused than
against other countries foc many reasons.
In the first place. we are blood relations,
and family quarrels are always hasty and
fierce. The attitude of her government
during our Civil War was specially irritat-
ing, and disputes about boundary lines
and fisheries have frequently arisen. But
while this feeling has not abated with us,
there has come into power In Great Brit
ain q force unknown and unheard of at
the time Of George III or the war OF 1912,
or even our Civil War 1t is the all-power-
full democracy of Great Britain which
universal suffrage has brought TO the
front and which today Is the read power
in the British islands. This force is cor
dial in its friendship for our people and
coun try. There are no obstacles in the
way-of peaceful adjustment upon n per-
manent basis OF all present and future
difficulties Id ween the democratic spirit
the people--ot the United States and the
democratic spirit--the people-of Great
Britain.
United States Position.
The United States is the only nation so
situated that 1t can with honor and safety
move upon the pathway of peace for an In
ternational court of arbitration. North Of
us lies Canada with It's vast territories.
1t seeks no war 1t wants no hostilitics
and no disagrecments with our republic.
So there Is no danger from Canada. To
the south of us is Mexico, with only ~ 000,-
coo of people, os whom 100000 arc In
dians, uneducated and degraded, We
need fear nothing from Mexico. Farther
away are the republics of the isthmus OF
Darlcn and Of South America. We have
no fear of them. And now look mt Europe.
1t Is 5000 miles across the ocean from
the nearest seaport of any European power
to any seaport OF the United States. Ac-
cording TO the census of 1890 we have
$500, 600 fighting men. The experience of
the Civil War has shown that from them
could be drafted, modified aud in
structed in three months 100000 OF SOL
diers. All the transports and navles of
the world could not land upon our shores
an army which could march 100 miles
from the sea coast, or ever return to their
ships. With oil the world in arms against
us, the vast interior of our continent, cx.
cept in its industrial and economic phases,
would know nothing Of the trouble and
never sec foreign uniform-exeept on q
prisoner Of war.
Had there been an international court
OF arbitration in the Venezuelan matter.
Lord Salisbury could not have pleaded
that there was boundary line embracing
territory so long and unquestionably held
by the British that they could not In
honor submit the question of their title to
the court.
CtCuTc III our lSOiaAloIf hupTtLio III our
resources, unequaled In our reserves, aud
free from dangerous neighbors, we occupy
among the nations of the globe position
so exalted and safe that TO compare MS
with other countries would be absurd.
The statesman or the politician who really
fears for the safety Of this country Is n
fool. The statesman or politician who
does not fear (bccause he knows bettcr,,
and who yet breaches OF our weakness and
our vulnerability, Is demagogue, and he
insults the intelligence Of the American
people. c'his great reservoir Of force for
all purposes--the American rcpublic-this
mightiest engine Of war and most bencfl-
cent power for peace on the face Of the
globe, can extend the right hand Of fellow
ship 10 warning brethren across tho At
lantic and promulgate with honor and
dignity n scheme for an international tri-
bunal and lead in the movement.
The idea OF securing at any early date
an International court representing and
embracing all the nations OF Europe and
OF North aud South America Is probably
Mt present Utopian. The tremendous war
spirit existing among the peoples Of con-
tineptal EuroOe the Office holding and