The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-12-26
FRIDAY. DECEMBER 2s. 1902.
EMPEROR WILLIAMS, DIPLOMACY

It Is the habit of some of the editori-
a. writer's OF the leading newspapers OF
the United States to speak OF the ~
peror of Germany as the crazy empsr-
err or the "erratic kaiser" TN's
comes from ignorance IT animosity. The
emperor OF Germany is as far from
being crazy as any ruler In Europe
and ne is a much more astute polIti-
elan thar a treat many of them. While
he does some things which we in Amer
lea do not understand and from our
viewpoint class as cratic, no one
review his reign without admi-at'or
OF the mans thorough loyalty to his
country. his energetic cndeavors to ad-
vance its position among the nations
Of the world and his seemingly tn ~ gin
acquaintance with the politic"1 ""r-
ditions In the different countries with
which his government comes in conta..t-
He seems to be a born diplomat and
politician so far as is his intercourse
with other nations. He has been the
moving spirit in this Venezuelan af-
fair. He has taken the lead, while
England has been more of \ passive
follower or imltator of the German
government thar is usual with her IN
cases where she feels that her dignity
has been offended or her interests Ia
yaded by a foreign nation. England
has perhaps been purposely keeping IN
the background in this affair and allow
ing GERMANY to take the lead in all ag-
gressiye measures in order to turn
against the latter the odium and hostil-
ity expected to be aroused in the United
States by their attack on Venezuela.
but she allowed herself to be drawn
into the matter by the emperor. He
seems TO have engineered the whole
movement and he showed great
astuteness in securing the back
Ing Of England in a proceeding to test
to what length our government and
people would go in maintaining the
Monroe doctrine. Our government was
prompt in laying own it's position
most explicitly. Emperor William soon
learned what to expect from the United
States should he attempt to establish
an imperial colony in any of the Ameri-
cas-.
In the mean time the affair in Vene-
xuela took a turn different from what
he expected. The peaceful blockade did
not bring Castro's government to terms
and the last alternative of Selling ter
ritory in Venezuela would evidently
bring on some kind of unpleasantness
with the United States. Their the EN-
peror's a%stuteness showed itself. Cas-
that our minister at his capital. Mr..
Bowen, be delegated to settle all
h matters in dispute. The foreign
powers say they will accept arbitration.
with the necessary safeguard" that
Is. some responsible guarantee thar
the Venezuelan government will pay
any award adjudgcd by the arbitrator.
Dur government is quick to announce
1t will not become Venezuela's guaran-
tor Then Emperor William makes an
other NOV He personally suggests
that President Roosevelt become the
arbitrator n the whole matter be left
to him 10 settle. A Berlin press dispatch
SHOWS this means. Tt says Presi-
dent Roosevelt's acceptance would be
considered as a sufficient guarantee
that Venezuela would pay if she lost"
and. further, that "if President Castro
evadesp payment under President Roose-
velt's award the people of the United
States would with positive pleasure see
the allies compel him to pay up" IN
other words, President Roosevelt and
h American people are to be fattered
into the former accepting a position in
this dispute which will tie the hands
of the American government as to any
future action these powers may take to
enforce their demands against Ve7e-
zuela. 1t would be very unfortunate
were President Roosevelt to accept this
position of arbitrator and place our
government in a position which would
very likely either bring on a rupture
with Germany and England or force
Us to back down from the position on
the Monroe doctrine recently
ed by President Roosevelt in this very
matter.