The National tribune., 1902-12-18
THE vgNEzuRLAN AFFAIR.

THE VENEZUELAN AFFAIR.
The long muttering Of several Euro
pean nations against Venezuela has sud
denly broken out into sharp blows.
combined British and German fleet ha
blockaded the principal Venezuelan ports
and, not content with that, captured tn
Venezuelan navy, sunk two of the shipi
and shelled the forts at Puerto Cabell
until they surrendered.
These last startling acts were who'll
unanticipated in Washington. Our Gov
ernment had expected, and tacitly consent
ed, to "a peaceful blockade" of the Venez
uelan ports, to collect certain claims, al
legged to be due British and German sub
jects, and which there seemed no othe
way of settling. On the face of tn,
papers it appeared that the Venezuelal
authorities were treating the Europeans il
the battling. insolent way customary t.
South American politicians in dealins
with foreigners. 1t was not undesirahi
that they should be given lesson in DIP
lomatic decency, as others Of their i'll
have been. 1t will be remembered thai
only few years ago we assented to thu
British seizure of the custom house a
Corinto, in order to collect debt from the
recalcitrant Niearaguans.
In his last message President Roose
welt said:
1--WE do not guarantee any State agains
punishment, if it misconducts itself. pro
vided that punishment does not take the
form of acquisition of territory by any
non-American power"
This is the correct Interpretation of the
Monroe Doctrine. The other American
States are not under our protection fur
ther than to prevent the alienation of theil
territory, or destruction of their independ
ence By any transatlantic nation. Since
we have no authority to make them be-
have, we should not object if somebody
else undertakes the task of giving them
merited chastisement.
The British and Germans have gone
farther, and it would seem quite unwar,
rantably. Assuming their claims to be
just, and that the Venezuelans were intol-
erably irritating in refusing settlement, it
was not out Of order for them to seize the
custom houses to force an adjustment.
But the b0mbardment of the forts was
uniustifably harsh. The pretext for it
was that a mob, incensed at the warlike
actions of the feet, had compelled the Cap
tain of a British collier lying in the har-
ber to haul down his flag, because it was
offensive to them. The local authorities
disowned the act, and sent an apology.
but the feet opened fire, and destroyed
the citadel and fort. 1t was also in Or
precautionary measure in enforcing the
blockade, and to hold it in pledge for the
payment of the claims, but there seems no
justification for sinking two Of the YES
sells. This, indeed, has been disavowed by
the British, and the responsibility placed
upon the German commander. 1t is in
line with the German sinking Of the Hal
tian gunboat recently. OF course, no one
cared particularly about that incident.
The gunboat was q maritime nuisance,
and better of at the bottom of the sea.
Probably no other navy than the German,
however, would have gone to the length
of firing upon and sinking vessel which
had virtually surrendered, and was in its
complete power. The Germans are new
comers among naval powers. They have
never yet fought sea-battle, and conse-
quently find it necessary to strenuously as
sert that they are in the naval ring. The
British, French, Americans and Dutch,
having a long list Of brave sea-battles to
their credit, are not under this necessity.
The world knows that they are willing and
able to fight, and they can exhibit more
reserve than the German naval men,
whose posture Of battle is as yet un-
known" Hence the eagerness to sink the
Venezuelan ships and FIRE on the forts.
Italy is also eager to demonstrate that
she is to be counted among the sea-powers,
and has a cruiser hastening to Venezuelan
Italians alleged to have been injured in
some of the Venezuelan revolutions"
Naturally, the Venezuelans, pretty poor
sticks at best, and distracted by .revo-
lution," which goes right along, without
reference to this foreign imbroglio, are in
a terrible dilemma, and look to us as their
only salvation. They are showing cons;d-
cradle patriotic spirit, and President Cas-
tro appears to be much more of a man
than has been supposed. While we cannot,
and should not, object to their receiving
a reasonable amount Of discipline, we
must see that the discipline is correctional,
and not yindictive. Our Minister to Car
acas, Mr.. Bowen, has shown activity and
good judgment, and Secretary Hay has
made an appeal to have the matter settled
by arbitration, (which is I eing favorably
in England.
Let US hope that Germany, having
given the South Americans an opportunity
to hear the thunder of her guns, will now
come down from her perch, and act rea-
sonably.
SOME years ago We had the Russian
thistle as an issue in Congress, with quite
a number of Northwestern Senators and
Representatives insisting that unless Con
gress undertook the work of extirpating