The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-12-29

Mr. Clevland's course in sending 20
Congress his war message regarding tho
Venezuelan matter Is 10 be ranked as
worse than a blunder. This IS very
serious statement. and we viii state our
reasons for making it.
If he had simply sent the correspond
ence between Secretary Olney and Lord
Salisbury to Congress without comment
for Congress to look deliberately into the
matter and take such action as the
case called for. ne would have done the
thing that was exactly right. In That
case. every word from him calculated
10 interfere with the fullest inves'isa-
ton and deliboration would have been
word OF folly, but nothing more could
have been said of il. But this he did
not do. lie sent the correspondence TO
Congress. accompanied by message
which prcjudgcd the merits Of the con-
troversy between Great Britain and
Venezuela. and carrying with it neces-
sarily TO the minds OF the American
people the idea that Great Britain was
wantonly expressing Venezuela in de-
dance Of the Monroe doctrine. This
was worse than folly, and for several
reasons First. the message, as he Of
course knew it would, reused the pas
sions Of the people and made it i'm
possible for body Of tme-serving poll
ticians. as Congress is. to make calm
and deliberate investigation of the case
before Il took the action that he rec
commended.
Second. Lord Saisbury's second note
to Mr.. Olney set out Great Britain's
title TO the territory in dispute
between her and Venezuela. ana II
his statement OF the claim made by
Holland to Spain. in 1863, and SPANS
action on the statement were true. it
showed that Great Britain had a good
TIE &c the land. lie made no reference
whatever in his message to that claim
OF title. and showed thereby that he
believed Lord Salisbury to be certifying
TO this Government az facts what were
not facts at all. No reasonable man.
who understood what he was doing.
could have done this without a reckless
disregard Of consequences No reason
able man could believe that the Prime
Minister OF England would officially no.
tify this Government, IN controversy
Of this sort, that the records Of Holland
contained "A certain document. and the
records OF Spain contained another docu-
-.
them. But the whole OF this case turns
upon the question whether those records
contain those documents or whether they
do not. a reasonable man. understand
ing tho case would not disregard these
statements OF fact In Lord sallsbury's
note. II acting wisely and in good faith.
he must needs have called the attention
Of Congress TO them. and have advised
It that II was necessary to look into the
matter. and ascertain whether the state
ments were or were not true. for II true.
Great Britain's case appeared TO be a
good one.
II Mr.. Cleveland had pursued this
course. which was the obvious and nat
ural one OF a man dealing frankly and
candidly with the case. the correspond
ence between Olney and Salisbury would
have been referred 10 the Foreign AT
fairs Committees OF the two houses, all
OF Salisburys statements OF fact would
have been looked into. SaiisDurys case
would have been stated 70 the people
before any opinion was made up by
them, and an intelligent public Judgment
would have been formed at the begin
ming. But. by suppressing Lord Sails
bury's statement OF Englands title. and
bv declaring TO the people Of the United
states that England was wanton ag-
eressor In South America. MIR. Cleve-
land forestaled all investigation Of the
case IN Congress. he swept that body Of
,,ms-servers OF its feet. and rushed II
into the most foolish action. and he put
out before the people of America as the
basis on which TO form their opinion IN
m. case. a statement OF 1t that omitted
lts most important facts. when those