The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1895-12-28
TELEPHONE SuMBERs;
Editorial Rooms sa3-, counting Room sss'
acknowledgements.
wHnELINe, DECEMBER IS, 1893.



Some of the English newspapers are
saying that II the appointment Of our
Venezuelan commission means what
Senator Gray says II means, an effort to
inform ourselves thoroughly, It Is not
only not a cause of offense but may turn
out 10 be very good thing. Import
ance is attached to what Senator Gray
says because he is understood to DO
close to the President and II is supposed
that he speaks by inspiration.
SO far as the Presidents intentions
are concerned there is no need TO take
them at secondhand. In his Venezuelan
message he tells why he asks an appro-
prlatlon to defray the expenses OF a
commission and indicates what the
commission is TO do. Great Britain
having refused to arbitrate the ques-
tion. and believing that the Monroe doc
trlne applies to any attempt by Euro
pean power to extend Its possessions on
this continent. the President says: ''The
dispute has reached such a stage as to
make II incumbent upon the United
states to take steps to determine what
is the true divisional line between the
republic OF Venezuela and British Gull
ana"
He follows this with the declaration
that when the report is made and ae-
ccpted It will be the duty OF the United
States to resist by every means in It's
power as a willful aggression upon Its
rights and interests the appropriation
by Great Britain of any lands, or the ex-
erclse OF governmental Jurisdiction over
any territory which, after investign-
ton, we have determined of right be-
long to Venezuela" OF course the work
of the commission is to inform us what
Is the true boundary line, II that be pos
sIble
II our commission reports that Great
Britain claims territory which does not
belong to her, the application Of the
Monroe doctrine begins. What kind of
resistance are we to make? In the
Presidents opinion. resistance by
every means in our power" Diplomacy
comes within this comprehensive de-
olaratlon. SO does war. That the
President had in mind the possibility OF
war is not for a moment to be doubted.
In his message he says: TN making
these Recommendation am fully alive
to the responsibilities that may follow"
In the last sentence Of the message he
says that while 1t would be a grev!ous
thing to have anything less than peace
full relations between the two great En-
gilsh-speaking peoples, he Is, neverthe-
less, arm in his conviction that there is
no calamity which great nation can
invite which equals that which follows
{ suplne submission to wrong and injus'
tice. and the consequent loss Of national
self-respect and honor, beneath which
is shielded and defended a peoples
safety and greatness"
Senator Gray can be no nearer
TO the President than the President
Is to himself. The message in
terprets itself SO far rs the
President can declare the policy of this
country, It means that Great Britain
must he fair or fight; and II Great Bril-
tain will not agree to arbitration this
country is to be the Judge Of tho fair
ness OF the thing she intends to do. This
~ tho point Of the message and II Is
clear enough for anybody to UNDER
stand
The message may be Emoothed by
subsequent utternnces, and the brlstleS
may be pulled out OF 1t, but It's unmls-
takenble meaning ls that II the Prcsl'
dent has his way John Bull will tote
fair" with the venezuclans, or Uncle
Sam will try TO take fall out of him."