The Washington times., 1901-08-21
The south American EmbrosIio.

The South American EmbrogIio.
Continental European papers are
needlessiy exciting themselves and their
readers about the intention of the
Washington Government ultimately to
send war vessels to the two sides of the
Isthmus of Panama and from those sta
lions to watch events on shore. The
| Incompetent management of the Navy
Department has rendered it impossible
to get ships on the ground heretofore,
but they will begin to put in an APP
pearance some time next week, and
after that will come stringing along at
intervals.
Our foreign contemporaries are con-
cerned for fear these sinister prepara-
tons portend a grandstand Monroe
Doctrine play. and they are urging their
respective Governments to rush their
fleets across to stop the game by over
awing the players. German editors see
in tire situation a menace to the inter-
ests of their countrymen in Venezuela.
and they may have some reason for
such view. If it happen that Ger
mans hold concessions to work asphalt
tum deposits in that country. then they
have ample cause for uneasiness, and
might well ask the protection of their
Government; because, should the An
drade rebellion against President Cas-
tro and the Liberal rule at Caracas sue
coed. the Asphalt Trust would be GER
tain to monopolize every square foot of
the Bermudez field But probably there
81 ..afx- hi r.fg-
interested in that subject, while Ger
man commercial interests generally
might suffer as a result of civil war.
1t is this apprehension that is causing
anxiety in Berlin newspaper offices. and
there is reason to believe that it also is
causing the imperial Government to
keep an eye on the Washington author
tiles. On all hands ii is recognized that
the Administration will make its APP
pearance at the isthmus as the friend
and partisan of Colombia. European
Cabinets are not uniformed concerning
the basis of the friendship. Marroquin,
if supported and encouraged to carry
out his plans, perhaps would be able to
crush liberalism in both Colombia and
Venezuela, and, in the latter, to eXpel
Castro and place the asphaltic Andrade
in power as dictator There is no nues-
ton that such an eventuality would be
pleasing to our officials; the doubt is as
to whether or not they would venture
to take active measures to bring it
about What Europe sees in our atti-
tude is an intention to prevent outside
interference with the designs of Marro-
quin and Andrade. If permitted and
helped to press forward with them,
these reactionary leaders would un-
doubtedly plunge the two Republics in
war for the next year. If not aided by
the United States, the Colombian die
tator is likely to be in exile and the
Venezuelan rebel in Jail before many
weeks.
AS we remarked above. many of the
European papers are looking for an ar
rogant and Irritating application Of the
Monroe Doctrine to the isthmian situa-
ton. Something of the kind might hap
pen were any foreign Government to en-
courage Castro in his defence of liberty
and free institutions, or Tribe Tribe in
his efforts to restore constitutional gov
eminent in Colombia. Oh the other
hand, it is quite probable that any
power might lend passive or active aid
to Marrouuin and Andrade. without
producing the least sign Of displeasure
at Washington. No one of the CONNER.
cial nations would be apt to take such
a course. 1t is the common interest of
the civilized Powers to promote the es-
adjustment of good order and good
government in South America. Castro
and Tribe Tribe represent the ele-
ments Of intelligence and progress in
Venezuela and Colombia, while An
drade and Marroquin are opponents Of
personal despotism and loot 1t does
not seem conceivable that these men
who are plotting and striving to reduce
the people. of both Republics to ignor-
ance and a state of serfdom under a
medieval tyranny should have any
friend among the nations whose ships
are or will be gathering at the isthmus
of course, for business reasons, ex-
cepting the United States.