The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-12-18
The Presidents Message.

AS will be seen from the presidents
message and the accompanying CORE.
Bpondence yesterday transmitted to
congress, the relations of the govern
ment of the United States with the
government of Great Britain have In
consequence of the territorial dispute
between Venezuela and British Guiana
and the interpositiOn of this republic
with q request for arbitration, drawn
near to a crisis. The correspondence
reveals that in reply to Secretary Oh
hey's upholding of the Monroe doctrine
~ reason for American interposition,
the English premier, in language curt
and trenchant, utterly refuses to recog-
nize that doctrine as possessing pres
ent-day vitality, declines to submit the
claims Of Great Britain to arbitration,
Ind In substance warns this government
not to concern itself with a subject of
controversy in which it has no direct
interest.
In his comment upon this domineer-
Ing attitude President Cleveland rises
to plane Of dignifled yet determined
Americanism upon which we trust that
he will be enthusiastically supported by
his countrymen, regardless of past diff
ferences. His suggestion, in reference
10 the assertion Of Her Majestey's gov
ernment that the Monroe doctrine had
fallen by the wayside of events, is that
that doctrine is still sound and strong,
hoco =, On to opforca,nop< 10 IN, v,ortop+ to
our peace and safety as nation, and
essential to the integrity of our free in
Dtitutions and the tranquil maintenance
Df our distinctive form Of government"
and that 1t ''cannot become obsolete
while our republic endures." And this
suggestion touches the keynote of AM
erican patriotism, and will not have to
wait long for responsive proof of its ac.
ceptability.
Dignifed, too, is the executives other
suggestion, that, since Great Britain
has fatty declined to submit its claim
to impartial arbitration, he himself be
supplied by congress with funds for the
despatch Of commission to Venezuela,
to examine into the merits Of that .coun-
try's boundary contentious. to the end
that II it be found that rightful Vene-
zuelan territory has been threatened
with appropriation by Great Britain,
the United States may. "by every
means in its power" prepare to aid
Venezuela in her resistance. The mes
sage, strong and manly in every line, is
especially to be commended for its con.
cluding paragraph, in which the presi-
dent says:
In making these recommendations I am
fully alive to the responsibility incurred
and keenly realize all the consequences
that may follow. I am, nevertheless
firm In my conviction that, while 1t Is a
Grievous thing to contemplate the two
great English speaking peoples of the
world as being otherwise than friendly
competitors in the onward march OF civil
Nxation, and strenuous and worthy rivals
. IN oil the arts Of peace, there Is no calam-
S3ty which q great nation can invite which
Quals that which follows a supine sub
mission to wrong and injustice. and the
consequent loss of national self-respect
and honor beneath which are shielded and
defended peoples safety and greatness.
In view of the gravity of the issue
thus presented, 1t is earnestly hoped
and confidently expected that domestic
political divisions will be brushed aside
and the world at large treated to the
novel spectacle Of 70.O00.0O0 American
citisens standing together in complete
unison with their president and with
congress in the defense Of vital prin-
ciple Of American freedom. The issue
concerns all Americans equally, and it
(. WIN unquestionably be decided in Am
erica's favor II the American people
throw into the scales their united sup.
Z port Of this governments contention.