Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-12-17
America for Americana.

America for Americans.
President Cleveland's message to Congress
on the Venezuelan question submitted today
In connection with the correspondence re-
garding the boundary dispute Is one of the
most vigorous and patriotic state papers
that ever emanated from the Executive
Mansion. 1t will doubtless be severe dis
appointment to those who professed to be-
lieve that the President would not maintain
the unyielding front in defense Of the Mon
roe doctrine that the country had reason
to expect from his annual message delivered
a fortnight ago. He has disappointed his
anticipatory critics. too. by transmitting to
Congress the entire correspondence and his
ringing answer to Lord Salisbury with
practically no delay after his return to the
city from his recent welI-earned vacation
and the country Is placed in full possession
of the facts and the policy of the admins
tration at what is probably the earliest
possible moment consistent with the grave
Importance of the case.
The message and correspondence display
evidences of earnest thought and the an
swers to the British contentious are we'll
weighed and convincing. The correspond
ence in the case resembles the arguments of
lcunsel in legal proceedings The Presi
dents message is the judges charge to the
jury, composed of the members Of Congress
as representing the people of the United
States. In the light of the charge 1t is diff
fcult to see how any verdict can be render
ed in favor of Great Britain and her pre-
tence Of believing that the Monroe doctrine
does not apply to the present case. SO far
as America is concerned there is no possible
question to the result. The President
Will be commended for his firm. patriotic
tcne and upheld In his position by every
American who believes that the time has
come for insisting upon a recognition of
the Urited States in all matters affecting
territorial acquisitions in this hemisphere.
The Presidents recommendation that
commission be appointed to investigate the
boundary dispute for the benefit and salts
faction Of this country is fraught with wide
possibilities. If carried into effect 1t will
practically be a submission of the case to
arbitration by ourselves with ourselves as
arbitrators and with notice served upon the
British government that the appropriation
by Great Britain Of any lands or the exercise
of governmental jurisdiction over any ter
ritory which. after investigation we have
determined of right belong to Venezuela,
will be "a wilful aggression" upon our rights
and interests, to be resisted by the United
States by every means in its power" The
Presidents recommendations are contingent
of course. upon decision by Great Britain
to contemptuously disregard our traditional
policy and to throw the Monroe doctrine,
with its historical acceptance by Great
Britain herself. to the winds.
There Is no jingoism in the Presidents
message; neither Is there weakness, or cow
ardicc. or "supine submission" The an
swers to the points of Lord Salisbury's reply
are plain and direct and the President
wastes no words in quibbling over techni-
calities but grasps the situation in a broad,
Patriotic spirit. Going as 1t does to the
houses of Congress, composed of plain SEN
sible people, well accustomed to deal with
such matters in plain and sensible fash
ion, the message is properly stripped of use
less diplomatic verbiage and the issue is
laid down emphatically: Is the Monroe doc
trine dead letter, or is it live, vital prin-
ciple upon which the United States must in
sist if it hopes to preserve it's national
self-respect and honor beneath which is
shielded and defended peoples safety and
greatness?
America is for Americans" the President
in effect declares, and to this proposition the
millions not only of the United States but
of the Three Americas will say "Amenr'