The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-12-21
The Principle at Stake.
To THE EDITOR OF THE NEWS:


SIR-In your editorial yesterday on
the subject of the President special
message TO Congress on the Venezuelan
matter, you state that, of all your ex-
changes, only two, the New York World
and the Providence Journal, oppose the
Presidents action. il is gratifying TO
learn this, because il sustains, il IL does
not even compliment, the independent,
self-confident spirit of the, people. 1t
shows that the American people, what
ever their political differences, when
brought even abruptly to face national
crisis, are true TO their traditional in
Btinct and their historic principle Of
national Independence.
The Journal takes very incompetent
view OF the whole question, and makes
statements unworthy paper that claims
TO be American or express the mind of
the thinking class of citizens upon this
subject. Ii lsbors hard TO construct
argument against the ground taken by
the President by celebrating discussion
of,matters that do not essentially belong
to the question involved. To illustrate:
The Journal says that the two great En-
glish speaking nations mnst not go to
warl The Journal does not seem to appre-
ciate that that objection is altogether
sentimental, and sentiment does not
enter into the matter. But even II II did,
the "two great English-speaking nations
have fought one or two bloody wars al
ready, and common language and
common country did not prevent the civil
war OF 1851. Then, again, The Journal
elaborates figures and tables TO show how
much greater England's military equip
ment than ours, now many more men,
ships, guns, etc, to show how soundly
we would be whipped. Well, the answer
to that is: That the same logic might
have deferred tho =Contipentals- from as
suming TO fight the red coats and their
hired tessians in 1772.
Although such Journal-argument was
against them then, we oil know how little
IL nvailed and who won the victroy. But
it is not question OF military strength.
We do not propose to match numbers
nor guns with England-it is simply a
question OF principle. 1t is not q ques-
tion of armament, but question of
principle. The Monroe Doctrine enunci-
ated by Monroe, has been endorsed by
Adams, Jefferson, Webster, Cass and Polk
as a matter of record. To hold that doc
trine for three-quarters of a centary and
now disclaim IL and throw II away, as
The Journal intimates, on the first oc-
casion of England's threat, is 10 mark the
American people forever as nation of
craven towards. Again arguments made
or attempted by stating "that those petty
South American Republics are not worth
the powder; that we do not want them,
that we should not back their quarrels
with friendly(D nations,n ETC., etc. This
is all true and generally admitted, but
how is IL to the point? The President
has taken no ground on Dehsl. of the
Venezuelsns as such, but IN defence Of n
principal avowedly American which hap
pens to he involved in their country.
Any other view taken Is out cfthe ques-
ton.
think, in view OF the expressed senti-
ment from all parts OF the country With
out regard ID party lines, The Journal and
the New York World will hardly secure a
following this year. IL viii! he amusing
as we'll as interesting 10 see, by and bye,
how they will contrive TO get over TO the
side OF the people and thus admit that
they are followers, not leaders. j.
Providence Dec. 20, 1895.