Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-12-10
CAsTRO,s HIGH HORSE.

When under Mr.. Cleveland 8 second al
ninistratior this country showed It's teetl:
to Great Britain over the Venezuela boun-
Diary line dispute. Lord Salisbury, after
a long diplomatic correspondence. climb
ed down." as another British statesman
expressed It, The question then was one
Of British encroachment on Venezuela
territory, and the Monroe doctrine was
involved. Mr.. Cleveland took very hrm
stand, and triump1ed: and as the result
OF his triumph Venezuela climbed up.
That is to say, what with Ignorance down
there Of the scope Of the Monroe doctrine,
and the distortions of our attitude by the
jingoes OF this country, Venezuela con-
ceivcd the idea that we had confirmed
to her an enlarged charter Of license to
1out and defy and swindle all foreign
powers having relations with her. She
assumed that our interposition in her be-
half III the boundary dispute meant that
we would protect and support her in all
other differences she might have WITH
European nat ions. Buzz unless she climbs
back" again, and that, too. in a hurry.
dispelled in very rude manner. And,
for our part, we hope she will not "clin1b
back" The false notion Venezuela has
entertained regarding the obligations the
United States have taken upon them
selves under the Monroe doctrine arc
shared by other South and Central Ameri-
can States, and it were better for them
and for Us that they be dissipated in
way that these States will remember.
The present trouble between Venezuela
on the one SIDE and Great Britain and
Germany on the other. offers an excep-
tionally 5000 opportunity for teaching the
South and Central American republics q
very necessary lesson. 1t is in no wise en-
tangled with the Monroe doctrine-the
question Of territorial ACKNOWLEDGMENT In
this hemisphere by a European power
does not enter into the case even remote
y, or as a possibility. Both Germany and
Great Britain have given this government
assurances that they have no purpose Of
permanent seizure Of a foot Of land in
Venezuela. The Eatter is one Of bring
ing Venezuela to a realization Of the
rights CT British and German citizens liv-
ing on her soil, and of forcing her 10 {.
financial settlement-forcing her to be
honest. The first movement in this pro-
gramme has been made in the shape of
a naval demonstra ton, for which there Is
recent precedent in Frances naval pres
sure on Turkey, which proved entirely
satisfactory, and was recognized as legit-
innate even by the powers most jealous
as regards the little eastern issue. IN
deed, it is understood that Great Britain.
the unspeakable Turks best friend,
sanctioned the rougll-and-ready French
proceeding.
If Castro declins to climb back within
very short time, the Venezuela custom
houses will be seized by the German and
British forces in Venezuelan waters, and
their receipts applied to the payment OF
the claims involved. To that complexion.
as we have indicated. we could wisl, to
see it come, for therein would be to our
South and Central American Monroe doc
trine wards" an object lesson much
more instructive than would be yielding
before provoking some summary act
Moreover, we fear. that unless it does
come to that complexion we will, in duty
bound to foreign powers, be compelled
to take upon ourselves the discplining of
the South and Central American States
in such instances as the one under dis
cussion. And in these days Of the vogue
of the Stenuous life and benevolent as
sanitation idea-the American imperialis-
tic idea in short-there is no telling in
what that would end So We say. Cactro
could not do this country. his own ccun-
try, and some of the latters sister Cen
trail and Sous. American republics pet
ter service than by remaining on his
nigh horse" and forcing Germany and
Great Britain to resort to extremes.