The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-01-18
THEY NEED A GUARDIAN
LATIS-AMERICAN STATES UNFIT
FOR sELF-GOvERNMENT.
American Resident of Venezuela Dis
cusSes the Situation from a Foreign
Business Mans Standpoint.
!. Flournoy. in Atlanta Constitution.

Spanish-America. the commercial traveller,
the civil and mining engineers and all kim
dred interests OF the United States and
Europe. I shall ask the careful considera-
ton of this article. furthermore speak as
an American. knowing the danger Of the
situation.
Our country has been on the very verge
OF a war with Europe, owing to a miscon-
ception by the people of the United States
of what is meant by the Monroe doctrine.
The people of Europe understand 1t to
mean ''hands off, on all permanent seizure
OF any port of the Western hemisphere or
any interference with the internal affairs
of anything that calls itself a republic in
America
II were to say that Europe has no wish
or desire to seize and subdue these Spanish
American republics, Brazil and Portuguese
American republics included, would not
be stating a truth. There is a desire to
conquer and subdue them. Then TO parcel
them out as Africa was. Simply one
dreadful menace has stood in the way Of
ruthless partition Poland was sub
jected to. That menace is the Monroe doc
trine. A fear of the consequences Of
general conhagration and war between the
republics of the earth and the monarchial
form of government If this doctrine is in
fringed upon has prevented an attack upon
this doctrine and upon those countries.
These Spanish-American republics have
abused the protection thrown around them
by the construction Of the doctrine as pro-
mulgated by the United States and as ac-
cepted up TO this time or, until very re-
Gently, by Europe. 1t has gone so far. In
fact. that each "de facto' President there
are no ''de Jure' Presidents in Spanish
America, excepting only President DiaZ, OF
Mexico. and neither TO him nor to Mexico
do these remarks refer, actually believes
that he wrote the Monroe doctrine and
could enforce 1t. Speaking now for the
class of people with whom 1 am in close
touch and sympathy-the foreigners of
every profession and business in Spanish
America. A civil and mining engineer 1
am, who has spent many years of his life
In those countries and five years in that
present Mont Pelee of eruption, LOS
Estodis Unidos de Venezuela" 1 have in
terests in Venezuela and 20 that country
! shortly return. Every word | write or
say and to which any publicity is given, l
will have to answer for. Whatever my pen
or my tongue says my hands have always
backed. and 1 will back up this for the
friends. / scarcely think they need any
introduction TO me. Many personal friends
I have among them: no personal enemies.
good and often impressed upon them.
They must stop that eternal fighting among
themselves.
AS TO REVOLUTIONS.
Having depressed somewhat from the sub
ject, / resume 1t. In none of these uncalled-
for revolutions in Spanish America does
sense or reason play any part. The coun-
tries involved are perfectly able to pay
all they properly owe and have bor-
rowcd from the civilized world. In
their idiotic fights they waste ten times
more than they pay to their creditors.
Foreign merchants are robbed right and
left on every occasion that is announced
as cause for change of government.
The indignities to which L have seen all for
eigners subjected in Spanish America Is a
that they have stood 1T so patiently and for
such a length Of time. Mexico was just as
bad some twenty-five. years since. If it
and stopped its internecIne strife, the
United Staes would simply have annexed it,
which think would have been bad
thing Tor both countries.
With Central and South America, any,
thing would be better for them than the
present condition of affairs. L see no hope
or any relief coming to those people from
without Their patriot, Bolivar, gave them
up In despair. They are mixture of Span
ish, Portuguese, Indian and negro-the
mass of them-with the Indian and negro
blood predominating.
The United States has been trying to do
nnbar a y wsn these es two for long
In their effort 10 convert them into good
citizens. Mexico has only Spanish and In
the lower classes do not cut much of dis
turbing figure In elections. and are held
down with an iron hand. by an iron Presi-
dent
INFLUENCE OF CAPITAL.
1t Is further held in hand by American
capital. The proximity of Mexico to the
American border puts it entirely on a diff
ferent footing as compared with Central
and South America, for we can inundate it
with troops If ever it is necessary.
We need look for no easy solution of our
difficulties with the countries farther south
The tribunal at The Hague cannot settle
the deeper trouble behind this complication.
although II may settle it, so far as this
present Venezuelan claim is concerned
venezuela will promise TO pay anything
as soon as she loses all hope of embroil-
Ing our country in her trouble She will
promise 10 pay and then will not pay
Revolutions will still go on. and she NAV
have half dozen Presidents inside of as
many months. Abuses of foreigners will
still go on, and they will Continue to be
robbed right and left.
Here Is 10 be the main difficulty.
Europe has made up it's mind that IL
the United States do not stop this abuse
OF its subjects. she will
Europe Is perfectly right in this matter,
and my country Is radically wrong
IL Is well enough to say il Europe does
not like the way her people are treated
let her get them back to where they came
from. She will do nothing of the kind
IT is a matter of trade with her. and big
trade. and she has as fine susceptibilities
OF being wounded In the pocketbook as
we have Asserting to the Monroe doc
trine that she is not to seize or permant-
~ occupy any American territory or in
terfere In its internal affairs Europe
offers no objection, not on account of
sympathy for America, but for fear of
worldwide strife, and 1t not being a vital
question with her. so long as she gets
her share OF trade and her subjects are
protected; but she can assent no longer
when her subjects are continually robbed
Is her real conclusion and she will even
go 70 war II the matter cannot be settled
on some basis that appears equitable
IL is up 10 Uncle Sam to say what as
surance tnoSe countries can give. Europe
can get It's money out OF them by tenn
porEry occupation, and making them keep
quiet and go to work, instead of ''reyo-
luting over the whole country and rob-
bling everybody they meet, excepting alone
some few Americans who won't be robbed.
not openly. at least. There Is NOT one
particle OF principle involved In these
so-called revolutions. They are merely
attempts. often successful, of one SET of
thieves VINO do not hold the Offices TO
throw out another set OF thieves who do
hold them, and then take their places and
go on with the same merry old grind.
buttons are in these so-called renuhIicS
They are no republics. They are miIitarav
deSpotiSmS-
Russia is heaven compared TO them
Friend will rob friend, and brother cheat