The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-12-21

| question, the sustaining ~ the Monroe
| Doctrine, il 10 be war between this Re
public and The monarchy OF English
speaking people. Indeed, such a view
OF the purpose or possible result OF the
Presidents message has heen confined
chiefly to the few newspapers who op-
pose the Presidents declaration OF the
American principle contained in the Mon
roe Doctrine and who are disposed TO get
mp war scare with the evident inten-
ton OF discrediting the Presidents
patriotism and sound sense. To the
clearer and non.partisan vision the Presi-
dents message is, by reason OF its very
deeisiveness, peace message, and every
thing that Congress is now doing, the
providing for ships ard deienses ana
commission to inquire into the matter of
the disputed boundary, are all measures
OF peace on he principle that the surest
guatantF Of reace is to be prepared fer
war.
II is interesting TO speculate, however,
on the matter. The Withdrawals OF gold
today and the amazing Decline in certain
lines OF securities demonstrate how poorly
prepared we are for war, or any other
supreme effort. War is business. II
must have financial backing. The bank
ers and NOT tho fellows who sit on the
thrones of Europe are powerful to say
whet her or not there shall be war be-
tween any of the nations across the At
lsntic. Two years ago the United States
Government was rich. Practically out OF
debt, with a large income and surplus
burning in the pocket OF Uncle Sam and
the balance OF trade with us, we were
in capital shape to breathe defiance at the
rest o. the universe. Today, thanks to
tho Wilson, German tariff, the Govern
ment is reduced to the condition OF a
ordinary running expenses, II is in poor
shape, indeed, TO indulge in war talk.
That does not OF course mean that we
could not readily secure the sinews OF
war Our civil wsr was fought
with funds borrowed by onc-half the
country against the resources provided
by English bondholders in the support OF
the her hsli. The American people are
able to loan the Gcvtrnment sill the
money it wants, even ii ell Europe failed
to take advantage OF the excellent invest
mcnt that war bonds would offer. But as
to Great Britain, that splendid nation is
almost literally under bonds to keep the
peace with US. England has great repr.
tation for standing up for her rights,
but she hes in recent years only empha-
sized those rights when there was money
in il. The British bondhoidcr Is puis-
SAINT. The assem- bling OF British feet
and the massing OF British troops at
remote spot on the surface OF the earth ac-
companies the Investment OF British capi.
tai at such spots. The huge army end navy
are the agents and promoters OF British
investments Weaker nations arc bull.
dozed, brow.b aten or swallowed COM
pletely to open new avenues Tor British
commercial enterprise. The British flag |
protects the Briton. for 'smsrt" money |
aud revenue only.
But war with the United states? Non.
sense! British statesmen and British |
bondholders have lot OF things more i'm.
portant TO promote than any Venezuela
boundary line, even with the gold fields,
II there is going to be any serious diff
Guilty about It, Just now the Turkish
situation is all-absorbing and threatening.
The big cloud OF a general Eurpoean
war is the excuse for non.interference with
the horrible atrocities inArmonia and with
that hanging overhead England is OF no
to get tied up with anything so