The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-02-02


South American Politicians - No
New Territory Wanted.
What is going TO be the result Of
President Castro's blunder in diplo-
matically ignoring NJ. oliver Taigny.
the French charge d'affaires at Cara
cas-, on New Year day? Nothing will be
the result. save a wound to vi. Taigny's
pride. And he is a very proud gentle
man. is NJ. Taigny. whom | met about
tive years ago, when he was second
secretary Of the French embassy. un-
der NJ. Jules Cambon. now ambassador
from France to the court of Spain"
so replied a diplomat a question
to him by a representative
Of The Star 1t must be said that. al
though this diplomat is not connected
with either France or Venezuela. he is
cognlzant of the situation and lives in
II Of the countries vitality interested
IN H. troublesome republic.
BUT II you ask me what will happen
because of the South American gov
erhEnents understandable action in for
piGding NJ Iaigny to return to terra
frnla to get his effects, then will tell
70 That Castro will live to regret it.
mere is no denying that such action
would nave been dangerous even from
the most powerful government: who,
then. can you imagine. will tolerate
such an insult from Venezuela Prob
ABLY. IL France will withhold her impe-
tuouslty, it is because she is truly the
greatest diplomatic nation and recog-
niZes the futility of taking to task a
little epublic which. if viewed from a
~f"2o point, has no right to be. 1t is
! causing the United States, as
or the Monroe doctrine. more trouble
than Spain did at the time of the war.
us netty ~annoyances bother. also. such
governments as the British. italian and
| German.
The Monroe doctrine will have no
effect in the imbroglio. except theoreti-
caliy. because it's purpose is to guard
against acquisition of American terri
tory by the European powers. which,
excepting German are not trying to
expand their colonies-at least in
| South America. The United States
will be merely an onlooker. inasmuch
as she is responsible for the peace of
the new world. and because, in the
ever-memorable words Of Mr.. Olney,
the fiat of the United States on this
continent is supreme The United
States is only to be host to the French,
as 1t was when Teutons n Saxons
and LatlnS met about three years ago,
Of the railway Venezuela
wished to build. But as Lord Lans-
doWne once said, the Venezuelan is
only happy When he is fighting. and
that his country has had 104 revolu-
ions in seventy years. I won't COM
ment on this. whether it is exaggerar-
ed or not. but YOU nj list agree that this
is practically so. Venezuela. like indi-
viduais, must pay the price of her own
FOLLY. and fighting is expensive. even.
in venezuela. But he Monroe doc
trlne is silent on fighting.
Interest of United States.
"America's peculiar relation to war
like occurrences in this hemisphere
makes it incumbent upon the admins
tratlOn to proceed with great caution.
There is no reason to doubt that the
administration will make the sole ap-
PIX cation 'of the doctrine which the
Venezuelan premises call for: that is
10 say, that no occupation
OF American territory be contemplated.
1t is understood that this
has received. more than once, stipula-
tons to that effect. All that the Unit
ed States is pledged to withstand-and
Secretary Root. as we'll as the Presi-
dent. declare it so-is territorial acqui-
sitions in this hemisphere by European
powers. After that this country may
think what it pleases of the justice or
injustice Of the claims made on or de-
manded Of Venezuela. This country.
l assure you remains perfectly cool
about what is going ON between
France and the little republic.
There is no u to misuse the fc-
ton Of international law, known as the
pacific blockade in this case. France
is too sensible to declare war against
Venezuela. It is only going to demand
abstraction. which Venezuela must
V ecaus it is not strong enough
TO resent it. Napoleon acted more or
less in the same manner as Castro. but
the latter has not Napoaeon's ability to
BACK up his DEGREES by force. Pacific
are over nowadays, having
been specifically condemned by the In
stlfue de Drolt international in 1874.
The United States cannot assume
to forbid foreign powers furnishing a
SOUTH American republic which has in
1ured a foreign citizen resident in its
territory. unless it is prepared to as
sumo the duty Of protecting all for
eign residents and all foreign property
from violence. spilation and insult,
either singly or collectively. The Unit
ed States. to be broader in explanation
cannot assume to forbid foreign pow
ers from collecting debts due from a
South American eDubli by the sum-
mary proceedings which are the only
ones available for that unless
it is prepared to assume such debts. In
other words. the United States canno
maintain an efficient protectorate over
these communities unless it is prepare
to the responsibilities and ex-
ercise the authority which such a pro-
tectorate necessarily involves. Presi-
dent Roosevelt has practically Said
that the United States do not care for
so much burden.
An irresponsible Politician.
1T must be remembered that weak
ness is sometimes an incentive to vex-
atious wrongdoing. Much is known
by now OF President Castro. and what
is known points him out as an IRE
sponsible and heady politician. whom
revolution has put into power. and
who cares little or nothing for the ma
tional welfare, provided. in the game
of politics. he can keep his place by
arousing 4 war fever in the population
whose interests he misrepresents.
1.-The race in itself. with its inheri-
tance Of national traits. the mixed