The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-01-08
England and the United States.

Since President Cleveland sent to
Congress the message relating to the
boundary line between Guiana and
Venezuela, there has been much specu-
lational dispute. A few statements
may be necessary to an understanding
of the situation.
The Monroe doctrine is not an inter-
national law and no foreign nation is
bound to respect it.
For more than seventy years it has
been settled principle Of the United
States. 1t is not incorporated in our
constitution of laws, but is q part Of
the higher law that finds lodgment in
the hearts and minds of the people.
Since President Monroe announced
the principle in 1923, it has never been
put severely to test.
When q crisis does come and the is-
sue is squarly made, the principle will
have to be fully established and en-
forced by arms, provided other nations
refuse to recognize it as right be-
longing to the United States.
Our government is bound to enforce
the principle at all hazards, or give it
up entirely. There can be no middle
ground. If we determine to stand by
this. doctrine, the country may be in
volved in war with some greedy,
aggressive nation that desires to ac-
quire territory on this continent. If
we surrender the doctrine then we in
vite England. France, Spain and any
other nation to come over and take
possession of Mexico, the Central
American States and all the weak states
of South America. Single-handed or
confederated, those States could not
withstand the power of the govern
ments of the old world. The very day
that the United States removes her
protecting arm from the other govern
ments of this continent, that day Eng
land will begin to plan for the posses
sion of all the territory that would be,
considered valuable acquisition. The
terrible history of India would be re-
-peafeds
AS the matter now stands there Isl
hardly the shado fRaE It is simply
this. Venezuela claiHas that the line
run BY England is unjust and takes in
her territory. Fot forty years Or lon
ger, she has been asking for an bitra-
ton. England has refused at one time
and are fully evaded the matter at
anothers Our goyernment knows
nothing of the boundary line. England
refuses to give any information, but
declares tbatIthey will hold up to q
certain line known as the Schomburgh
Survey. The President asked Congress
for a commission to investigate the
matter and report. That request was
granted. The commission will be ap-
pointed at an early day. They may
not be able to report before May or
June. Longer time may be required.
When they make thorough research,
it may be ascertained that England
has not trespassed one inch on terri
tory not belonging to her. But if she
has, in her greed for enlarged posses
ions, attempted by force or fraud to Sc
cure the territory belonging to weak
and unprotected republic, then the
President will send commpnication
to the English government, submitting
all the facts. He will plead again for
settlement of the matter by arbitra-
ton. England will. no doubt, submit
to the proposition and final settle
ment will be reached.
Many people seem to think that q
war Is eminent. The good common
sense of both nations will come to the
rescue and prevent collision. Neither
country desires war. Meantime the
country will 60 on as usual and the
excitement will soon pass away and our
people will quietly wait for the report
of the commission.
The New York Sun had the follow
ing editorial in their Sunday edition
telling what the Venezuela case is in
the following words:
"a correspondent asks for state
ment of the Venezuela case.
TO the editor of the Sun-Sir: There
is immense ignorance about the Mon
roe doctrine. Please set before us just
how the Monroe doctrine is transgress-
ed in the present instance.
Your Mascot
The gist of the Monroe doctrine is in
the sentence: "Any attempt by the
European powers to extend their sys'
TEN to any portion of this hemisphere
is dangerous to our peace and safety"
There is no final knowledge on the
part of any officer of the United States
that this principle has been violated by
England in connection with Vene-
zueIa. All that we know is that terri
tory which for years has been in dis
pute between Venezuela and England,
and about which very many acts OF
England forbid the notion that she
believes her title to be unquestionable,