Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-01-29
RICHMON VA.
Thursday Morning, January 20, 1916.

RICHMOND, VA.
| Thursday Morning, January 20, 1916.
MORE ON THE OREGON QUESTION
The public mind has been SO long and Sc
anxiously turned TO The effect Of the Presidents
Message upon Great Britain, that We may b
INDUCED in few comments upon the last intel
ligence from abroad. No message was proba
bis ever received by our own people with sucf
universal favor Many Of the political oPpo
nenis of The President forgot their party ties foi
moment, and came forward 10 90 justice tt
Mr.. Folks wisdom, firmness and moderation
In The eyes Of the whole Democratic party, and
Of respectable portion OF The Wings he had
done nothing but what was demanded oy Inc
interest. and honor of The nation. For the sake
Of peace, he had proposed 10 Great Britain com,
promise Of portion Of territory 10 which him.
self and the great body OF the people were con-
WINGED, We possessed "clear and unqueslion-
able tile" This offer was promptly rejected,
and, as in duty bound he laid before Congress
succinct and luminous view OF the whole ne
collation., accompanied by such measures as he
thought necessary 10 protect our citizens in Ore
gon, and at The same time, settle on firm basis
the long pending difficulties of his vexed qnes-
lion. He had performed, to the satisfaction Of
the country, his part oil the high responsibility,
and left il TO The wisdom and patriotism OF Con.
gress 10 devise the most proper means Tor the
unraveling OF the complex question.
While, then, the nation, generally, sustained
the manly, prudent and firm course OF the Pre-
sident, some Of the more violent Of The Wing
presses, who see nothing good in political oP-
ponen, assailed the message, as breathing
war-sprit, and as full Of insult 10 the powers Of
Europe. His low motive, they asserted, was 10
generate war fever in the people Of the United
States, 10 precipilaie the country into hosIlllies
with great Britain: and by their desolalIns inhu'
ence, 10 be upheaved into second Presidential
term. In the charitable view Of these liberal
opponents, Mr.. Polk was prepared 10 sacrifice the
peace, safety and interests Of the nation 10 his
own selfish ends. War was his object and war,
they said, would inevitably follow the reception
of the message by the people Of Great Britain.
A, the time, we ridiculed these unjust and IL
liberal sivngs on, of The Wing press. we felt
satisfied that no cause of offence could be given
by manly, respectful statement of our rights,
and our efforts al an honorable peace. Weconil-
IDENTIFY predicted, that the message, presenting
clearly The views Of the President stripped cf The
mischievous guise which The Wing press OF this
country had thrown around them, would be re-
ceived in England with far from hostile feel
ing. We, moreover, expressed our belief, that
The revenue sentiments OF the message, so loudly
called for by our own domestic harmony and
interests, would serve 10 produce kinder feel
ing in The heart Of manufacturing England. Free
Trade was to be the great peace-maker between me
nations. By a liberal interchange OF each others
products, aud by closer social and commercial
intercourse, The blessings Of civilization were 10
be dflused and more catholic spirit of good feel
ing ensendered. These were our impressions,
when The sound and luminous revenue princl-
piles of the President were scattered broadcast
over the land, and crossed The Atlantic, 10 shake
he monopolists oflhe Old World. We wele not
The extracts already laid before
our readers show that The message, taken as
whole, has been well received by the European
press. Il has been generally regarded as pacific
in lis tendency, and as we'll calculated TO extend
The peaceful and commercial transactions OF The
We will now subjoin few brief extracts, il
justification Of our position.
The London Economist, which speaks for the
an,i-Corn Law party reviewed the message al
length. We take the following passages:
"We are told thai the election Of the Speaker
has proved that MIR. Polk has large Democra-
tic majority, both in the House OF Representa-
tives and the Senate, who are in favor Of the
strongest measures for The assertion of the Anne.
rican title TO The whole of Oregon But il is all
important 10 know that that majority from the
West and Southwest will also support The Presi-
dents flee trade policy and especially that they
represent the great classes who will be most be-
nefitted BY the admission oil American produce
into this country. Under such circumstances,
we feel quite easy in placing MIR. Folks tariff
reform on the one hand and the repeal oil our
corn laws on the other hand, il honestly car
ried out. as a sci of against all the dangers OF
an interruption 10 friendly relations between
England and the United States, when these two
great acts of mutual interest shall he completed.
A repeal of our corn laws will be the most eliec-
,ual message Of peace which Sir Robert Peel can
send to the United States"
Wilmer s. Smiths Times says
aUpon the whole, then, if the Message has
not given all the satisfaction in England which
the friends and well-wishers OF America desire,
il has its favorable poinl-tbat of Free Trade;
and The pending triumph OF Free Trade princi-
pies will, in all probability be accompanied by
a satisfactory adjustment OF the bone OF conlen.
tion-,he Oregon. Polk and Peel agree as 10
The necessity ofthe frs why not OF The lest alter
nalvel"
The Manchester Guardian, highly esteemed as
commercial paper says that the Message re-
cornmends mo measures likely TO bring the two
countries into immediate or speedy collision"
Even though all lis recommendations should be
carried out by Congress, the Guardian says there
is mo serious issue 10 be apprehended.' There
commentator TO extend American jurisdiction
over American citizens in Oregon is said 10 be
one 10 which no reasonable objection can be
made BY the British Government
Upon the subject OF terminating the joint occu-
pancy the Guardian says:
"With respect 10 The notice for terminating the
Joint occupation Oh oregon, we are not sure mai
President Polk may not recetre IL from The English
Government before he can possibly be an condition
10 gre uhimseif. But, whether given by the one
side or the other, we do not conceive that it will
add materially, if al all, TO The chance OF hostile
collision Ii has been obvious enough, for some
time past, that unless the question can be ami
caby settled in very short period, say in twelve
months at the latest, hardly any thing can prevent
war; and, therefore, decisive step, like that of
giving notice for putting an end 10 the subsisling
agreement is rather favorable than otherwise.
When both Governments know that the allerna-
tive is an arrangement in year, OF war, they
will see that there is no time TO be lost in useless
discussions, and will probably hit uron some CON-
promise 10 which both can accede We are
aware iha, This opinion is rather al variance with
the viewso OF large portion OF The press, both in
England and The United States, by whom the pro-
posa to give notice to terminate The joint occupa-
lion is regarded as decidedly untavorable 10 the
preservation of peace; but we see nothing in their
arguments, 10 change our own opinions on the sub
jecr.
"But, whatever faults the Message may have
in reference to the Oregon dispute there is one
mari of IF II which will be read in this country