Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-12-25
OF COURSE.


A few years ago Uncle Samuel was
going to lick John Bull out of his boots
and very properly-for attempting to
steal q patch of Venezuelan territory,
Venezeula was duly grateful though
doubtless its gratitude was not entirely
free from misgivings. If so, the mis-
givings will now seem pretty we'll JUS
tilted.
4 week or so ago a brief dispatch
Company. which has, or seeks, mono
poly of Trinidad pitch, had appealed to
the government at Washington to pro-
tect it against the encroachment of
wouldbe rival. Both of them are
American concerns and apparently they
might have been left to fight it out be-
tween them in the Venezuelan courts,
or With the Venezuelan executive. In
stead. note the action taken, as de-
tailed in q Washington dispatch:
1.-THE Navy Department has cabled
instructions to Commander Hawley, OF
the training ship Hartford to remain
at La Guayra, Venezuela, until further
orders and to grant whatever protec-
ton may be necessary to American in
terests in the case of the National AS
phalt Company, of New York, whose
asphalt concession has been abrogated
by the Venezuelan Government"
Protect American interests! The dis
patch continues:
'"Thc State Departments information
is that the National Asphalt Coinpany's
concession TO operate the Bermudez
pitch lake was transferred to an Amer
lean syndicate. composed of c.. NJ.
Warner of Syracuse. and p. r. Quin
Ian and p. Sullivan. of Philadelphia"
Are not Syracuse and Philadelphia in
America. as we'll as the National AS
phalt Company? Warner. Quinlan and
Sullivan are American citizens. Is it
not. therefore, an act Of supererogation
for the United States to be meddling
in their quarrel with the National AS
phalt Company in Venezuela and to be
ordering cruisers here and there to
take the part of one against the other?
But the National Asphalt Company is
one of the good things" that contri-
hutea-to the Hanna barrel. 1t is, in
fact. one of the most ubiquitous and
extortionate trusts in the country.
mere Is not al CITY III tilc IlitloIl IL mas
not held up for thousands of dollars.
Therefore. at it's slightest suggestion, a
cruiser is at it's disposal-not to pro-
tect it against the citizens of some
other country, but against Americans
who seek to compete with it,
1t is this insufferable meddling in
their internal affairs that has won for
this country the hatred and distrust OF
its South American neighbors. What
business is it Of the United States to
be interfering with the grant of fran
chises by the Venezuelan Government
to rival American concerns? Fancy
England sending n warship to New
York TO uphold the claim of one Eng
lisl mining company in Colorado
against another, or inquirinE into n
decree of n Federal court declaring an
option of one company forfeited and
sustaining the claim of the other!
We are not advised as to the facts
upon which the Venezuelan Govern
ment acted, but the chances are all
that the National Asphalt Company"
has either shamelessly abused the
privileges of it's concession or has en-
deavored to evade It's obligations to
the Venezuelan Government. Know
ing what modest and retiring and
nicely scrupulous things the trusts are
at home. 1T is easy to conjecture what
their conduct is toward a toySouth-
interchangeable.