The daily morning journal and courier., 1895-12-18


 quickly settled as that in Venezuela, and the rapid encroachments of Belize on both Mexico and Guatemala would be terminated, and the title to the ter rtory of Brazil now claimed by French and British Guiana would be deter mined.
 With the bull dozing power of Great Britain nullihed he believed that her commercial supremacy would disappear and that trade would flow on north and south lines instead of east and west
 London, Dec. 1S.--The Daily News, commenting on President Cleveland's message to congress on the Venezuelan question, says:
 "The presidents communication is a remarkable document, though it's con sequences are not likely to be serious. Neither MT. Omey nor the president seems to realize that the Monroe doc Urine cannot be quoted as authoritative in negotiations with a foreign power. Both of them are certainly as far as possible from suspecting that the real author of the doctrine was Canning, not Monroe. Great Britain in 1923 was jeal- ous of the Spanish encroachments in | South America and induced Monroe to protest against European aggression on American soil. The seventy-two years that have elapsed have entirely chang ed the situation. The Monroe doctrine is now purely of historical interest.
 There can be no doubt that the theory enunciated in 1923 dealt with the acqui- sition of fresh territory and had noth ing to do with disputes regarding the boundaries of territories already appro- priated. The definition of the doctrine however, is matter for the Americans themselves. It binds nobody else The Venezuelan difficulty must be consider ed on it's own merits. This is what 1 Lord Salisbury has done in masterly dispatch As he has refused general
 unrestricted arbitration, upon which
 the Monroe doctrine is silent, it must l be assumed that he would not assent to the mode of ascertaining the rights
 of the parties that MT. Cleveland sug-
 gests. The president in his account
 of the doctrine surrenders the whole | case. It follows from the message that Guiana, and, indeed, Canada, have no
 right of independent existence on Amer l ican soil. MT Cleveland begs the whole 1 question and misrepresents it besides
 when he says that this country is seek ! ing to extend the limits of British Gui- ana. Venezuela claims territory that is now British. If to resist this claim | be breach of the Monroe doctrine that doctrine is an intolerable pretence. We believe that Lord Salisbury's firm and moderate statement of the case will ap- peal to the justice and common sense of the American people"
 | The concluding portions of Mr. Cleve- l lands message are not expressed in 1 the language employed by one friendly I power to another. They are aggressive, 1 even menacing. England is threat atened
 with war unless she permits Mir. Cleve- 1 land to adjust the boundaries of Vene-
 zuela. Regarded as 8 party move the message is not unskilful. It puts the
 republicans in hole"
 The Chronicle says: "The message will be read in this country with blank astonishment An American commis-
 sion to determine what territory a Brit
 ish territory can call its own and fail ing compliance, war by land and sea with Great Britain. Can these be l serious words addressed to us 1 by the descendants of the little shipload
 of English folks who sailed in the May
 flower? We will not take things too
 seriously. We will suppose that the president is engaged in the familiar
 work of twisting the lions tail. We can
 only express genuine regret at the tone of the document which meets no ar l gument made by Lord Salisbury, and
 which applies a threat of force from a 1 daughter state to the mOtherlandoover
 an obscure, trumpery dispute in which the United States has no real interest, but the message cannot obscure or de- 1 feat the affection which subsists be-
 tween the countries or break the ties
 of blood that must needs bind them in | indissoluble union."
 The Morning Post says: President | Cleveland has outdone the republican
 party in his efforts to show dislike for
 this country, yet he has not committed
 himself to anything. The message does
 not make the slightest attempt to grap-
 pie with Lord Salisburys argument l that the United States cannot find any l excuse in the language of the Monroe
 doctrine for their appearance on the
 scene or that if they could give the old
 presidents words any such extension
 his declaration has no authority"
 The Standard says: Most English
 men will read the message with un-
 feigned astonishment. The position
 taken up by MT. Cleveland is preposter- | ous. No citizen of the United States
 would for moment dream of admitting | its soundnees in any analoguos case l in hich wthe interest or honor of his
 own country was concerned. We de-
 cline to humiliate ourselves, and refuse I to accept the decision of the United | States executive in matters altogether outside of it's Jurisdiction. Lord Sails ! bury has effectively disposed of the de- fusion that the Monroe doctrine is in
 any way pertinent to the question of ! the Guiana Venezuelan frontier. As regards the precise cause of the differ ence with Venezuela We believe we have a stainless record. Venezuela sets up retentions which, if found valid, would involve the absorption of half our colony if not territory of our Dutch, and French neighb1rs. By the same
 rule the United States may be asked to
 submit their title to Alaska to the