Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1905-11-22

3 ILhXNN1& 0QlDg Ene pOIUB OF tub6 country EVE
the past several days cruisers have
IN been At Martinique, awaiting hnal
94sF instructions from the Paris govern
ment to proceed 10 the South Amer
iCan republic mentioned and demand . settlement
OF the amount claimed by President LOubet. France
has demonstrated cOmmendable degree oi patlenc0
III dealing with the reCalcitrant CastrO patience,
in fact which few Of the other powers Of the world
would have exercised. The French people as rule
are impulsive and act with swiitnees and telling
effect, but in this instance they have agreeably sur
prsed other nations. The provoking circumstances
would have fully warranted the Paris republic In
taking drastic actions weeks ago. According to tho
best information Obtainable, Castro has wantOnly
and maliciOusly nsuIted France and apparently has
done his best to provoke international trouble Of
serious proportions. We are inclined to think that
but for the interpretation and good Offices Of this gov
ernment and it's desire to enforce the Monroe doc
trine at least in its shadow and spirit there would
have been war vessels at the ports Of Venezuela long
before now. However the fOrbearanC0 Of France In
this case s remarkable for it is to be assumed that
should that government have insisted upon immedi
ate action in just the United States could
not have In good conscience interfered Venezuelag
conduct In cutting the French cable wires was =
gratuitous and malicious insult to foreign power,
and was in itself almost belli. The severenCe
Of cable connections and several other gross and
barbaric insults we're not enough for Castro to per-
petrate; he must not decline to meet a Just and
arbitration reward. The arbitration covered
damages sustained by French citizens Ia Vene-
z1ela during revolutionary periods prior to
1903. Judge Grant Plumley, or NOrthfeld VT.
Was president Of the arbitration committee
which met at NOrthfeld last year. The Judgment
was In favor Of France, which was awarded about
$3.50 0OO and PRECEDENT Castro paid the first INSTALL
ment Of the award three months ago. The second
payment, due yesterday, was not paid. The Vene-
zuelean presidents failure to pay the installment
the ground that diplomatic relations between
France and Venezuela are interrupted. Honest men
who owe debts never resort to shallow subterfuges
in order to avoid paying just obligations but Cas-
trO typical example Of many people in this
world who resort to any method to deiraud their
creditors. This is not the first instance OF where
this sham and disgraceful head Of Venezuela has
attempted to practice his dsreputabe and deceitfal
means. He has proven recreant in his dealing With
England, Germany and United States. France end
other countries at various tines In order to maiR-
tain q respectable standing nation, like an ndi-
vidual, must be honest In it's dealings with other
countries. But Castro does not seem to care any
thing about pr0bty and integrity, If we are to Judge
from the hppant contempt he has manifested for
the demands made upon him to meet just ebliga-
tiODs. Venezuela, print facie, at least, accepted
this award made BY the arbitratOrs and paid the
first instailmeHt; but now this willy chief executive
has found an excuse and wants the world to look
upon him and bis country as martyrs being imposed
upon BY nation many tines more powerful and
resOurcelul than Venezuela. We confidently believe
the world will refuse to extend to this disgraceul
republic any sympathy and will not allow itself to
be deceived. Both Castro and Venezuela deserve the
withering contempt OF all civilized countries for
France to teach CastrOa lesson which he will not
forget and force him to be honest In spite OF himself
His methods are intOlerabe and Misconduct dis
graceful