The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1895-12-20

teoted by Force, ir Necessary
No Calamity So Great as Supine
Submission to Wrong Tho Mon.
roe Doctrine Applicable Recon-.
mcnds tho Selection OF n Commits.
sion to Ascertain tho boundary
Lord saiisbury's Note.
Washington, Dec 1s.-The following
Is the full text of the message sent to
congress yesterday by President Cleve-
land in connection with the Venezuela
correspondence:
"To the conRress-In my annual
message to the congress on the Sd inst.
j called attention TO the pending boun-
dary dispute between Great Britain
and the republic of Venezuela, and re-
cited the substance of representation
made by this government to her Bri-
tannic majcsty's government, suggest
ing reasons why such dispute should be
submitted to arbitration for settlement
and inquiring whether it would be so
submitted. The answer of the British
government, which was then awaited,
has since been received, and, togetht-
with the dispatch to which 1t is n re-
ply, is hereto appended. Such reply is
embodied in two communications ad-
dressed by the British prime minister
to Sir Julian Pauncefotc, the British
ambassador at this capital. 1t will be
seen that one of these communications MS
is devoted exclusively 20 observations
upon the Monroe doctrine and claims
that in the present instance new and
strange extension and development Of
the doctrine is insisted upon by the
United States; that the reasons justify
ing an appeal to the doctrine enunci-
ated by President Monroe are gener-
ally inapplicable 'to the state of things
in which we live at the present day,
and especially inapplicable to ccntro-
versy involving the boundary line be-
tween Great Britain and Venezuela.
Monroe Doctrine Sound.
"Without attempting extended argu-
ment in reply to these positions, it
may not be amiss to suggest that the
doctrine upon which we stand is strong
and sound because its enforcement is
important to our peace and safety as n
nation and is essential to the integrity
of our free institutions and the tran
quill maintenance of our distinctive
form of government. 1t was intended
to apply to every stage of our national
life, and cannot become obsolete while
our republic endures. If the balance Of
power is Justly a cause for jealous anx-
iety among the governments OF the
old world, and subject for an abso-
lutte non-interference, none the less is
an observance of the Monroe doctrine
of vital concern to our people and their
government. Assuming, therefore,
that we may properly insist upon this
doctrine without regard to the state
of things in which we live or any
changed conditions here or elsewhere,
it is not apparent why its application
may not be invoked in the present con-
troversy. If European power, by an
extension of its boundaries, takes pos
session of the territory of one OF our
neighboring republics against It's
will and in derogation of its rights, IL
is difficult to see why to that extent,
such European power does not there
by attempt to extended its system OF
government to that portion OF this con-
tinent which is thus taken. This Is the
precise action which president Mon
roe declared to be dangerous to our
peace and safety and it can make no
difference whether the European sys-
tenn is extended by an advance OF IRON
tier or otherwise.
Exclusive American Principles
at is also suggested in the British
reply that we should not seek TO Apply
the Monroe doctrine to the pending DIS
pute, because il does not embody any
principle of international law which is
founded on the general consent OF ma
tions,' and that no statesman, however
eminent, and no nation, however pow
erful, are competent to insert INTO the
code of international law novel prlh-
ciple which was never recognized De-
fore. and which has not since been ac-
cepted by the government OF any oVher
country Practically, the principle for
which we contend has peculiar, II no.
exclusive, relation to the United ita
States. 1t may not have been admittea
in SO many words to the code OF inter,
national law, but since in international
counsels every nation is entitled 10
rights belonging to it, II the ehloreo-
ment of the Monroe doctrine Is sonno-
thing we may Justly claim, it has its
place in the code of international law
as certainly and as securely as II IL
were specifically mentioned, and when
the United States is a suitor before the
high tribunal that administers interna-
tional law the question 10 be deterl
mined is whether or not we Prese2.
claims which the justice of that CODE
law car find to be right and valid
Monroe doctrine finds its recogi
in tinese principles OF INTERNAL
l.. IncaA mr. the tl.JOIH