The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-01-24
Germany and Venezuela.

Germany and Venezuela. =.
The extraordinary method Germany has
adopted to secure settlement with Vene-
zuela, after agreeing to refer the matter
to The Hague arbitration tribunal, viz,
BY bombarding and destroying property
In the republic and 1mpoverishing the~peo-
pie, justifies the suspicion that the kaiser
has the purpose Of testing the fealty Of
the United States to the Monroe doc
trine. j. F. >*,..... ! -. .,-.t'.
President Castro has consented that the
customs, maritime and inland, Of Vene-
zuela shall be pledged as security for the
execution of any award which the ar
bitration tribunal may make to the three
powers who are seeking a, settlement Of
their claims. It would not be difficult to
make this pledge good and arrange for
the setting apart Of percentage Of the
customs revenues, which in peaceful times
aggregate about $1s, 100000, for the liquid
alton of the debts due the powers.
Pending such drain on the revenues,
the government Of Venez uela would, of
course have to practice some rigid
economy and cut down governmental ex-
penses, as other governments usually do
In certain contingencies. The allies have
already captured Venezuelan assets in
the shape Of ships and cargoes and many
thousands Of dollars in specie, but Ger
many has continued, even after assent
ing to negotiations looking to a settle
ment, to use her navy destructively
against the Venezuelan coast Blocka de
and bombardment and destruction of
property do not pay debts. They only
exasperate and antagonize. Great Brit
ain has stopped her aggressive acts, which
the alliance with Germany has been con-
demned, even by government supporters
like the London Mail, and is r1anifestly
distasteful to the people. Lord Rose
berry, in a recent speech, reminded his
audience of the occasion when England
joined France and Spain in a debt-col
lecting expedition against Mexico in 1861,
and had to withdraw because she found
France had the Interior purpose of seiz
ing Mexico, which England knew would
be resented by the United States as a vio-
lation Of the Monroe doctrine, France
went fatuously ahead and set up an i'm
perium, which ended soon in the Max
ing Louis Napoleon received from on,
government, which had ALREADY given
Benito Juarez to understand that his
patriotic movement against the invaders
from France would have American sup.
port.
If tho German emperor is really testins
American fealty to the policy which drove
France out Of Mexico and has for eighty
years prevented the parcelling out of Cen
trail and South America BY the royal ant
imperial land grabbers of Europe, he nee6
only so a little further and proceed t.
appropriate territory in South or Contra
America to see where this nation stands
senate committee OIL interoceanic canal:
yesterday, the sentiment Of the member:
OH the signing of the ist!1mian cana
treaty was that the treaty would .stant
as a notice to Europe that the United
States proposes to continue to assert its
leadership and wardenship Of republican
government on this hemisphere. Wher
Brazil. some years ago, deposed the house
Of Bragazza and abolished the empire o.
which Pedro II. was the head, she imme
diately fell in line with the republics Of
this hemisphere which is consecrated tt
the breeding Of republican principles
When the Cubans organized an infan
republic and engaged in life and deatl
struggle with the hoary despotism O.
Spain, which cruelty oppressed them, tn,
American nation rose and liberated then
| from the hand of the oppressor. William
| although an emperor, has much to learn
| Experientia docet stultos-even fool
learn by experience.