The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-02-02
TWO PRECEDENTs.

In spite of all the assurances to the con-
trary, IL would be useless TO deny that
there is, even among prominent men i'm this
country. considerable apprehension to
the designs of the allies in the Venezuelan
affair. The remarks of Secretary Root at
Canton last week. the passage of the army
bill and the discussion in the Senate are
indications of a feeling which finds action
in readiness for any emergency. The con-
tinued expressions of good will by the Ger
man Emperor will and should have weight:
nevertheless. the sentiment of the country
is the Importance OF readiness for any
emergency.
This government has been forced 10 stand
by the Monroe doctrine at time when IL
was not so well prepared to do so as at the
present time. When the civil war was at
it's height Louis Napoleon induced Great
Britain and Spain to join him in debt
collecting expedition against the Republic
of Mexico. Then, as now, Great Britain
joined the movement under formal profess
sions Of its being confined to the collection
of debts. When it was subsequently made
set up an imperial system in Mexico both
Great Britain and Spain abandoned the en-
terprise. Those powers did not wait for
a protest from the United States, but Lord
John Russell recognized the principle ad-
vocated by the earlier British minister,
Canning, who may be said TO have been one
Of the first to suggest the Monroe doctrine.
90 II
and his allies started the United States
was in no condition TO protest, even If this
government had desired. Even when the
purpose OF Napoleon had become known
the most this government could do was to
wait and watch. Long before the civil war
was ended the Lincoln governments agents
were watching the developments in Mexico
and planning to assist the Republic of
Mexico. When the civil war was ended
time was lost in showing Louis Napoleon
that his scheme to establish monarchy
in Mexico would not be tolerated. Sheridan
was sent to the Rio Grande with large
army. and Napoleon was notified that his
army must retire from Mexico. This was
the most impressive affirmation of the Mon
roe doctrine that could be made, and to
that precedent the United States will stand
in the event the allies should undertake to
destroy the sovereignty of Venezuela.
The American people do not believe that
the Emperor of Germany is the faithless
Napoleon III. They cannot see how a man
with his faith-keeping lineage can repu-
date his emphatic assurances to the United
States that he had no designs upon the
territory of Venezuela. They have faith
in him even If his acts are not altogether
assuring. Assuming, however, that Will
liam will break faith with us, what then?
What will England do? Will she regard
the precedent of Canning and of Russell
and separate from an infringement upon
the sovereignty of Venezuela? If Great
Britain thought it prudent to keep out of
an alliance which meant the abrogation of
that, with the present close relations with
the United States and the apparent ill-will
between the British and the German people,
England will forget it's own precedent?
will close her West India islands to the
ships of Germany as coaling stations, which
would make it impossible for Germany to
maintain much of war If her ships must
be coaled from Germany. These and like
considerations would seem to make the at
tempt of the allies to seize the territory of
Venezuela very remote possibility.