The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-02-12
THE CLEyELAND-M DOCTRINE
AND WAR.

A writer I'm the Nineteenth Century
Ohe article Is copied into the Eclectic
Magazine for February discusses very
fully the obligations that the United
States Government have assumed IN
taking the position adopted by Mr. Cleve-
land and Mr. Olney IN the Venezuelan
case. and he comes TO the conclusion that
this country has placed itself in the po-
sition Of a protector for all Central and
South America. and that it will be i'm
possible now for 1t ever 10 recede from
that position. He says, speaking of the
impossibility of any public man in this
country ever taking the ground that the
precedent set by Messrs. Cleveland and
Olncy was a mistake:
mo politician could now say that no
party could afford to support him II he
did. The United States is practically
bound to interfere as protector. champion
and judge i'm equity whenever territorial
changes on the American continent arc
contemplated, or the rights OF American
States are mcnaced; TO intervene by III
plomacy II that will suffice by fleets and
armies if 1t will not"
This is a most serious view to take
OF the case. but we do not see how any
other can be taken. Mr.. Olney's famous
dispatch to Lord Salisbury is based
throughout upon this idea. II is the
thread upon which all that he says hangs
and sentence after sentence can be taken
from it that almost paraphrase the Eng
lish writer's statement. We have been
committed therefore by Mr.. Cleveland s
most unwise action TO assuming the
quarrel that any South or Central Amer
lean State may have with any foreign
power, at least to the extent Of seeing 10
it that the South American has perfectly
fair treatment according to our ideas
Of fair treatment.
What this will eventually lead to 1t is
impossible to foretel. Germany has
colony upon the border Of Brazil ana
France another upon the other SIDE.
Both Of these colonies are now In an
active state Of quarrel with Brazil ana
each looks to its parent country 10 main
tain its rights When matters become
involved to the extent of the parent
country feeling bound TO interfere, then
this Government must come forward ana
say TO France or to Germany or both'
that Brazil is TO be treated in way that
we think fair and equitable. And when
we say it we must be prepared 10 main
tain our position with fleets and armies
If these shall be necessary. They may
not be necessary. Germany and France
may determine TO pocket their pride and
let the United States have her way as
England did.
But England Is a commercial nation 10
whose commerce war with this country
would have been terribly destructive.
Germany and France are both military
nations with great armies and fleets, ana
both are proud and sensitive, with less
to lose in the way of commerce than We
have. They may prefer war to an ac-
quiescence in our dictation. What would
we do with a war upon our hands with
these two great military powers in our
present unprepared state?
1t seems to The Times that we should
either recede from the untenable and fool
ish position Messrs. Cleveland and Olney
put us into. or else that We should begin
to make some preparations to maintain
the advanced Don Quixote position which
We have taken upon ourselves.