The Portland daily press., 1895-12-18

London, December 1.-THE Daily News
says, commenting on the Presidents
message to Congress on the Venezuelan
question:
The Presidents communication is a re-
markable document, though it's conss-
quences are not likely to be serious.
Neither Mr.. Olney nor the President
seems to realize that the Monroe doctrine
cannot be quoted as authoritative in ne
gotiations with a foreign power. Both are
certainly as far as possible, from suspect
ing that the real author of that doctrine
was Canning, and not Monroe. Great
Britain in 1898 was jealous of the Spanish
encroachments In South America. and
induced Monroe to protest against the
European aggression on American soil
The seventytwo years that have since
elapsed have entirely changed the situa-
tion. The Monroe doctrine is now purely
of historical interest. There can be no
doubt that the theory enunciated in 1898,
dealt with the acquisition of fresh terri
tory and had nothing to do with disputes
regarding the boundaries of territories
already appropriated. The definition of
the doctrine is matter for the Ameri-
cans themselves. 1t binds nobody else.
The Venezuelan difficulty must be con-
sidered on its own merits. This is what
Lord Salisbury has done in mastery
despatch. AS he refused general unre-
stricted arbitration upon which the Mon
roe doctrine is silent, it must be assumed
that he would not assent to the mode of
ascertaining the rights of parties that
Mr.. Cleveland suggests. The President in
his account of the doctrine surrenders
the whole case. It follows from the mes
age that Guiana and indeed Canada have
no right of independent existence on
American soil. Mr.. Cleve' nd begs the
whole question and misrepresents it be-
sides, when he says that this country ia
seeking to extend the limits of British
Guiana. Venezuela claims territory
that Is now British. If to resist this
claim be breach of the Monroe doo-
trine, that doctrine is an intolerable pre-
tense. We believe Lord Salisburys firm
and moderate statement of the case will
appeal to the justice and common sense
of the American people, Portions
of Mr.. Cleveland's message are not ex-
pressed in the language usually employed
by one friendly power to another. They
are aggressive; even menacing England
is threatened with war unless she per-
mits Mr.. Cleveland to adjust the bo1n-
Diary line of Venezuela. Regard ed as
party move, the message not unskil-
full 1t puts the Republicans in hole.'
The Chronicle says:
"The message will BIZ read in this
country with blank astonishment.
An American committee to determine
W hat q British colony can call its own,
nd failing our compliance with its find
ing, war by land and sea will be declared
with Great Britain! Can these be serious
words addressed to us by the descendants
of the little shipload Of English folks
who sailed in the Mayfower? 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 re-
gret at the tone of the document which
meets no argument made by Salisbury
and which applies as a threat of force
from daughter state to the mother land.
over the obscure boundary dispute in
which the United States has no real in.
terest. The message cannot obscure or
defeat the affection which subsists be-
tween the two countries or break the ties
of blood that must needs bind them in
indissouble ties.'
The Post says:
"Pr esident Cleveland has outdone the
Republicans In the effort to show a dis
like for this country, and yet has not
committed himself to anything. The
message does not make the slightest at
tempt to grapple with Salisbury's argu-
ment that the United States cannot find
any excuse in the language Of the Mon
roe doctrine, for interference in the ques-
tion. s-ssn
The Standard says:
Most Englishmen will read the mes
sage with unfeigned astonishment. The
position taken up by Mr.. Cleveland is
preposterous. No citizen of the United
States would for moment dream of ad-
mitting It's soundness in any analogous
case in which the interest or honor Of his
own country was concerned. We decline
TO humiliate ourselves, and refuse to ao-
cept the decision Of the United States
Executive in a matter altogether outside