Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1895-12-20
The Message.


In opening his message Mr. Cleveland
says that a reply has now been received to
the note on this boundary question which
Secretary Olney addressed to the British
government last July. This reply is en-
bodied in two communications from Lord
Salisbury, the British prime minister. one
of which is devoted exclusively to observa-
lions on the Monroe doctrine, the ground
taken being that the United States is now
making a new and strange extension of
that doctrine, and that the principles
enuncated by President Monroe are e5-
pecially inapplicable to the state of things
in which we now live, and to a controversy
involving the boundary line between Great
Britain and Venezuela.
Without attempting extended argument
in reply to these positions, it may not be
amss to suggest that the doctrine upon
which we stand is strong and sound be-
cause its enforcement is important TO our
peace and safety as a nation, and is essen
tial to the integrity of our free institutions
and the tranquil maintenance of our dis
tinctive form of government 1t was in
tended to apply to every stage of our ma
tional life, and cannot become obsolete
while our republic endures.
If European power, by an extension of
its boundaries, takes possession of the ter
ritory of one of our neighboring republics
against its will and in derogation of its
rights, it is difficult to see why, to that eX-
tent, such European power does not there
by attempt to extend its system of govern
ment to that portion of this continent which
is thus taken. This is the precise action
which President Monroe declared to be
dangerous to our peace and safety" and
it can make no difference whether the Eu-
rOpean system is extended by an advance
of frontier or otherwise.
The Monroe doctrine finds its -ecogni-
ton in the principles of international law
which are based upon the theory that every
nation shall have its rights protected and
its just claims enforced. That the United
States has clear rights and claims under
the sanction of this doctrine the British re-
ply frankly admits. ItsIonly contention is
that these rights and claims do not apply
in this case.
In the belief that the doctrine for which
we contend was clear and de finite, that it
was founded upon substantial consdeIa-
tions and involved our safety and welfare,
that it was fully applicable to our present
conditions and to the state of the world
progress and that it was directly related to
the pending controversy, the proposal for
arbitration was made 1t is deeply disap-
pointing that such an appeal, actuated by
the most friendly feelings toward both ma
tions directly concerned, addressed to the
sense of justice and TO the magnanmity of
one of the great powers of the world and
touching its relations to one comparatively
weak and small, should have produced no
better results
The course to be pursued by this gov
eminent in view of the present condition
does not appear to admit of serious doubt
Having laboIed faithfully for many years
to induce Great Britain to submit this dis
pute to impartial arbitration, and having
been now finally apprised of her refusal to
do so, nothing remains but to accept the
situation, to recognize its plain require
ments and deal with it accordingly. Great
Brtain's present proposition has never
been regarded as admissible by Venezuela
Assuming that the attitude of Venezuela
will remain unchanged, the dispute has
reached such stage as to make it now in
cumbent upon the United States to take
measures to determine with sufficient GER
tainty for its justification what is the true
divisional line between the Republic of
Venezuela and British Guiana. The inquiry
to that end should, of course, be conducted
carefully and judiciously, and due weight
should be given to all available evidence,
records and facts in support of the claims
of both parties.
In order that such an examination
should be prosecuted in thorough and
satisfactory manner | suggest that the
Congress make an adequate appropriation
for the expenses of a commission, to be APP
pointed by the Executive, who shall make
the necessary investigation and report up
on the matter with the least possible delay.
When such report is made and accepted it
will, in my opinion, be the duty of the
United States to resist by every means in
its power as willful aggression upon its
rights and interests 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.
In making these recommendations | am
fully alive to the responsibility incurred,
and keenly realize all the consequences
that may follow.
am, nevertheless, firm in my convic-
ton that while it is a grievous thing to
contemplate the two great English speak
ing people of the world as being otherwise
than friendly competitors in the onward
march of civilization, and strenuous and
worthy rivals in all the arts of peace, there
is no calamity which a great nation can in
vite which equals that which follows
supine submission to wrong and injustice,
and the consequent loss of national self
respect and honor beneath which is shield
ed and defended a peoples safety and
greatness. GROVER CLEVELAND.
Executive Mansion, Dec II, 1895.