The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-12-19
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1902.
WAR IN THE CARIBBEAN.

England and Germany lain that
they are T1I at war with Venezuela;
hat they are only conducting a peace
ful blockade for the purpns of collect
ing twD snal debts. This peaceful
blockade which these p>-wers say is not
war is followed by the seizure OF all
the warsh;ps of the o.aer power on
which h b~lockaders can lay hands
and the wanion Instructor OF some of
them; by TIL. bombardmert o. Venezue-
ban forts because Of III iI.S-lt to the
British flag ~ a rabbie. for whose con-
duct the government las not given
time TO a~poIogize or maxi and
the landing of troops who with dyna-
mite complete the ~des.ruC;-G On left un-
done by the guns OF The hlockading
fleets. Still we are told that peace
reigns in the Caribbean and that a
state of wa does not exist because
England add Germany Esve not yet
seen fit to declare war IS il a solemn
and formal declaration c" war is a
necessary PR requisite II al; actual state
Of war. Statistics SHOW that N the last
two hundrad years ~ CTer fifty per
sent Of the wars there was no formal
declaration IF war until @tter actual
war had begun.
It Is absurd for England and Ger
many to claim that they are rot at a
with Venezuela. The tuth Is these
two powerful nations are ashamed to
admit that they have brought on a war
with this weak little south American
eountry and prefer to call it a peace
full blockade" and theieEz attempt to
escape the ridicule u the civilized
world that would be brought upon them
by q formal declaration OF war. They
had no Idea of having 10 &c. more than
establish a peaceful tiuchs de when
they the Washington govern
ment and secured it's consent to proceed
in that m1nner for the collection of
their debts Venezuela unexpected re-
sistence has carried conditions beyond
the lines IF their original plans of ac-
ton and circumstances hay placed
them in positions when they did not
foresee.
That matters have tdneE Il turn I'M
expected 10 England AMI Germany as
well as to the United St@tes govern
Uent Is shown by the Increased inter-
est and watchfulness OF tbs Washin~-
ton authorities. Either the latter were
deceived by false representations of in
rentiDns made by those lowers or the
latter have gotten INTO much deeper
water than they had any thought of at
the beginning of the Undertaking. We
are inclined to believe tie latter to be
the true situation. At amy rate mat
ters have Violently gone for beyond
what was anticipated hy our govern
nent.
A blockade is an acl of war. ara
tual war fills to follow Only when the
country against which # is directed is
too weak OIL too cowafdly to resist it.
And right here is whole the mistake
was made. Non Of the interested pow
ers thought Venezuela wruId resent
this peaceful blockade" This mistake
led to further acts of var. No matter
how yehemrr<ly England anJ7Germany
may decla-e they are lot at war with
Venezuefe- the seizure and sinking of
iatter's warships and tine lombard
ment and blowing up % her forts
amount 10 billigerent acts and make
war as much a fact as II 4 formal dec
hration had been made.
When the Venezuelans state that war
- being ragged against them they
are within the rules of international law
and of common sense. An authority On
international law has said of these so
called peaceful blockadss.
when It is sought 10 sdd TO the doc
doctrine of an effective blockade n
OF a paper Of cabinet b!aClnde the doc
crime of a pacific bl9ckada. W. have tNis
singular State of things on IL ed TO us:
the nation Injured and tn neUtraIs de-
ciar5ng that there IS war. the nation
using the violence. that thcIe is not.
Surely a STATE of peace can never in
volve such Contradictions"
There is nothing for our government
60 do but To act on Inc Ccnect theory
that actual war exists be- Y cen two Eu-
ropean nations and d sister American
republic Whatever Course we are to
persue must be based Tppn this fact;
which OF curse. MAXI our position
much more delicate thLn it L bona fide
peaceful blockade" and rathing more
existed
Venezuela will not be axle to paw the
demands OF England IL Germany. I'LL
creased by the var lnuemL-ty they will
bessure to demand. Under such condi.
lions the usual course - Tor the more
powerful nation to take a part Of the
territory OF the defeated Toe. England. /
Will be remembered. would. hut for the
Intervention of our ~ovtInr.ent. have
taken a ia-ge slice OF Venezuelan ter.
ritory next 10 her GuIipa possessions
a few years Germany IS anxious
for a COLON on the south American
coast. It nay be they have these ag'
g~ressions IN view in pushing so vigor'