Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1895-12-12
WASHINGTON LETTER.
wAsuISoroN, DEC. Q. 1895.

/
There has been UGH talk OF war
with England. but now for the first
time In many years there Is actual
probability of such war; In fact
unless the situation Is misunderstood
In Washington, there has got to be a
fight or back ,wn. and 1t is GER
tain that even II the administration
wished to back down that Congress
will not allow 1t to do 30. The Mon
roe doctrine has always been believed
In by the republican party, and the
Republicans In Congress can not only
be depended upon to stand by the ad-
ministration In maintaining that doc
trine, but to force 1t t0,maintain 1t,
| IL such a course be necessary. The
only portion OF Mr.. Cleveland's mes
sage that struck responsive cord in
Congress, was that clause dealing
with the communication sent to tn,
British government last July, de-
handing specific answer as to wheth-
err it propos ed to submit to arbitIa
ton the disputed boundary lines
between British Guiana and Venez-
uela, and giving notice that this
government would not allow England
to forcibly take any territory claimed
by Venezuela. Englandh as answered
that demand, and although the
full text of that answer has not been
received-it Is now on the way by
mail-it is understood that 1t con-
tains more or less positive refusal
to arbitrate the dispute. Should that
understanding prove correct, there is
nothing left but to INFORM England
that the United States will not allow
her to steal Venezuela's territory, and
in order to give that information
force, 1t is probable that it will be
sent by Congress, which alone has
power to declare war, in the shape Of
d JOluU IeoOluUiOus
Mr.. Cleveland this week sent for
Speaker Reed, and the two held a
lengthy conference. 1t is not posi-
lively known that the sub. ect of this
conference was the Monroe doctrine,
but it Is believed that it was, and
that Mr.. Cleveland sent for Mr.. Reed
In order to ascertain just where the
Republicans stood, and to arrange as
to how the matter should be dealt
with by Congress AS soon as En-
glands answer is received, it will be
sent to Congress, accompanied by
special message from the President,
and IL it be of the nature expected
England would just as well prepare
to choose between backing down and
lighting, for in the present humor of
Congress she will be allowed no alter
native.
Mr.. Cleveland's message, so far as
it related to financial matters, had
just as well never have been written,
as there isn't the slightest probability
that Congress will even consider the
retirement Of the greenback at this
time His ignoring Of the Treasury
deficit, in order to escape recon-
mending legislation for increasing
the revenue, was plainly done for the
purpose of throwing the responsibility
of amending the tariff laws upon the
Republicans. The republican party
has never shirked responsibility, and
will not do so. Congress will pro-
vide in its own way the money needed
by the government, and leave the re-
sponsibility Of accepting or vetoing
that legislation upon Mr.. Cleveland.
The republican Senators have held
several conferences si ce Congress
met, to deal with the question of re-
organizing the Senate, and, although
no programme has actually been
agreed upon, there is little doubt
that the Republicans will in due time
reorganize the Senate. There are not
enough Republicans to make a ma
jority, but it Is believed that the Pop
ulist senators, who have agreed to
vote together for a time on the or
ganization question, will eventually
divide, and that enough Of them will
vote with the Republicans to make
a MAORI y, but no inducements will
be offered them to do so.
Among the flood OF bills introduced
in the House this week, was one pre-
sented by Representative Johnson, Of
California, which ought to become
a law. 1t provides for the amending
Of the naturalization laws, so that no
alien shall become citizen, who has
not for five years preceding his ap-
plication resided within the United
States, and who can not read, write
and speak the English language.
The application of Senator-elect
Dupont. Of Delaware, for the seat in
the Senate to which he was elected,
has been referred to the Senate cleo