The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-10-28
suppositions as to Venezuela.

Should the Government conclude to
undertake the extradition OF SILvEIRA,
now supposed to have taken refuge in
Venezuela, it will enter upon n OF the
most delicate and complicated tasks it
has ever yet assumed. From first TO
last the enterprise seems beset with diff
culties. At the very threshold indeed
we are confronted by the more or less
disconcerting question whether it is any
business of ours after all. This, TO be
sure, is not necessarily a serious consid-
GRAFTON, since we have ignored it more
than once in u latter day activities,
and there seems no special reason why
we should make a mountain in one case
Of what we have treated as a mOlehill in
another. We mention it in passing
merely.
But assuming that we make it our
business, is il not evident that troubles
will spring up at every step along the
pathway? SMvEIRA, il he has COM
mitted any wrong, is an offender against
Cuba. He is accused Of %levanting with
a vast sum OF money belonging to a New
York firm, but the money was taken
from Havana, where the firm in question
conducted large banking and other oper-
atoms, with SILvEIRA as its trusted and
responsible agent. There is m reCiproc-
ity between Cuba and Venezuela and
apparently no means by which the
United States can take Cuba's place in
the equation. Perhaps the means could
l.. Loo,oroJ IN oVr d;plopoatio prorartu
room il a less wise and cautious man than
ELIHU Roof were in charge Of that very
fruitful and portentous magazine. Very
astonishing feats Of legerdemain have
been performed in this line heretofore,
and these achievements may be repeated
in the future, though not while Secretary
Roof sits at the door. We may dismiss
that interesting possibility and proceed.
Suppose, however, that the adventurous
and picturesque ~dspensatiOn, when the
United States ached to take a hand in
anything and everything that promised
action Of some kind, still endured; sup
pose that our fleets strained at the leash
every time some speculative foreigner
bit his thumb at us or some stranded
adventurer set up a bawl for help; that
the Government launched ultimatums and
hung melOdramatic scowls upon the outer
wall on pretexts so diaphanous that they
futtered in dead calm. Suppose, for in
stance, that the junta now operating in
this town were possessed Of as many pow
erful friends as in the days Of asphalt;
that another Matos waited in Curacao
or in Trinidad for ships and arms and
money; that the New York mint were
working full time somewhere along the
Orinoco and marauders could fill their
pockets for the asking suppose all this,
and more; what a very pretty squabble
the State Department could get US into,
using SILvEIRA with reasonable dex-
terity. What rich results would follow
a demand for the delivery Of the refugee,
especially il that demand were delivered
by an Extraordinary paramount delega-
ton composed, say, OF General FRANCIS
VINToN GREENE and the Hon. FRANCIS
B. LOOMS. Venezuela is no longer
friendless and forlorn; no longer harried
by thu European Powers from without
and laid waste by hired rIffians at home.
Nor must It be forgotten that CASTRO,
who, ever in his darkest days, denounced
our interference and defied u power, is
still quite as willing as he ever was to
try conclusions with any foreign foe,
however formidable.
OF course we are putting a purely
supposititious case. After reviewing the
relations between the United States and
Venezuela tho temptation to dwell upon
the present dignity and safety is alto
gether irresistible.