The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-01-13

London Truth Discusses the Venexue-
Ian situation.

The last issue of London Truth contains
a striking six-column article from the pen
Of Henry Labouchere, the Engilsn Raolcai
Labouchere analyses the Monroe doctrine
and substantially takes the American posi-
ton in regard to 1t, although ne does not
dairy dispute He scouts the idea, however,
that the United States has no right to raise
the question In good faith as to the appllca-
bility of the doctrine. and he strongly. con-
dennis Lord Salisbury for declining arbitfa-
ton. Mr.. Labouchere goes on to say:
Let US suppose that war between us ana
would take Canada; we should blockade
several American ports. Possibly we. might
levy contributions on the american seaDoa aIa
be overwhelming. Against this few Ala
bamas would slip out, and this would pc
sufficient to ruin our carving s5a fs as
ing trade of the United States. BY our
blockade we should disorganize American
oas would Ss the oe
we should be depriving ourselves OF cotton
and of food. Such a war would soon De
come a stalemate on both sides, and, after
having inflicted upon each other incalculable
injury, we should probably in the end real
ize what fools we had been, shake hands
and go back to where we were. And all TINS
zuela cannot somehow hit upon a dividing
line between our respective ownership OF
tropical jungle 30 and a 81 The I
tle-endians of Gullivers voyage did not hight
on a more. absurd issue.
What then. ought we do? We ought to
do what should have been done long ago
We ought to submit the entire question OF
this frontier line to an arbitrator IL might
be urged that the arbitrator ought 70 be nc
European power. because one European
power you'd be apt to favor another. ques-
ton whether this would be so, but TO avoid
any such possibility we might invite Japan
to arbitrate. The Japanese are sensible and
practical. and Japanese decision ought tc
satisfy ALL Once, however, admit the prin-
ciple of arbitration, and there would be nc
difficulty in finding an arbitrator.
Our LIMOGES, i know. scout the idea oil
arbitration, because they say IL il self-evi.
dent that the territory claimed by VeneZu.
ella belongs TO us, and therefore we might
| Just as we'll agree TO an arbitration as &c
our ownership of Kent. My own impress.
sion is that the jungle does not belong tc
US, but to say that our ownership of ii Is
as clear as is that OF Kent is childish. The
tone of the Presidents message is not con.
ciliatory 1t is always difficult to fall back
on the right course, when we are threat
erred IL we do not. But right is right and
such ti.reatenings ought not to lead US tc
persist IN wrong, still less ought we to risf
even If we come out the victors, by this
persistency. Throw the loss OF Canada
once said Lord Brougham, during one of oul
disputes with America, into the scale o.
beam How much more ought IL 20 do this
when we are asked to do nothing more thar
accept arbitration about the line OF delim
| itation, as to the respective rights OF pos
| session of tropical jungle in South Amer
| REHABILITATION which me wisest and the
| best of us have always urged as the onl,
| tit way to deal with International disputes
and which short time ago a deputatior
| over to Washington to urge as a rule o
universal application.