New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-12-04
EOPEJGN RELATIONS.

FOREIGN RELATIONS.
Mr.. Cleveland's treatment of some foreign
TOPICS is refreshing. 1t will cause, we DOUBT
not more satisfaction TO his political opponents
than to his Cuckoo friends; and it Will be gen
erous. patriotic satisfaction. too We DO not
mean that he has exhibited any high qualities
of craftsmanship, or has enunciated vigorous
foreign policy" such rs has been limited at from
time TO time Of late Bu; he has spoken some
STRAIGHTFORWARD manly words, such as his adj
mirers have assured us he would never speak;
and he has not said the base and unworthy
things his wall-eyed worshippers have geefully
predicted There is disappoint mcnt. deep and
bitter. in every CuckOo's heart to-day at the
falling Of It's idol. There is equal qualification
on the part of genuine Americans at the dis
sipation Of their worst fears and the realization
Of something for which they have scarcely dared
to hope.
The most striking feature of the Message so
far as foreign affairs are concerned, Is the dis
cussion of the dispute between Venezuela and
Great Britain Or. perhaps, we should not call
il 4 discussion. but merely a statement Of this
Nations attitude toward that dispute. There is
nothing novel in it, Mr. Cleveland merely re-
meats and confirms what has already appeared
in the public prints But in doing So he repudi-
ates the cowardly and dishonest clamor Of the
Cnckoo press. and commits himself unrescrvedly
and emphatically 10 the identical policy which
The Tribune first outlined. and has consistently
and persiseny urged upon this Government.
Our contention has been that the Venezuela
Guiana boundary question was one that should
be settled by peaceful survey and arbitration;
that both parties ought TO consent TO such settle
ment; that neither had right to draw line OF
its own across the disputed territory beyond
which arbitration should rot extend and that
for Great Britain 10 refuse arbitration and forci-
big to seize a territory 20 which Venezuela lald
claim and on which-On the face of it-she
seemed to have a valid claim. would be a fragrant
defiance of the Monroe Doctrine which this
Nation could not afford to let pass unchallenge1.
That is what we have said. and that is what the
little we-knowt-all CuckOos have most furiously
cacklcd against as wicked "Jingosm. Well,
here is what Mr. Cleveland says about it:
That the traditional anu established policy Of
this Government is firmly opposed TO a forcible IN
crease by any European Power OF It's territorial
possessions on this continent: that this policy Is
as well founded in principle as it is strongly sup
ported by numerous precedents; that as conse-
quence the United States is bound TO protest
gainst the enlargement Of the area OF Brit
ish Guiana in derOgatiOn of the rights and
against the Will Of Venezuela; that. considering
the disparity in strength Of Great Britain and
Venezuela the territorial dispute between them
can be reasonably settled only by friendly and
impartial arbitration. and that the resort to such
arbitration should include the whole controversy,
and is not satisfied If Of the Powers concerned
is permitted to draw arbitrary line through
the territory in debate. and TO declare that II will
submit 10 arbitration only the portion lying on
one side Of 1t.
That is Mr. Clevelands view Of the case He
could scarcely have adopted The TrlbuneS view
more completely. or have expressed it more eX-
actly. if he had copied one Of our editorials as
part OF his Message. That is the statement of
the which he has presented to the British
Government and TO which Lord Salisburys re-
ply Is now on It's way hither. Whatever that
reply may prove to be- we sincerely trust Mr..
Cleveland will have the courage Of his Message.
If so, he may break the hearts Of tie Cuckoos,
but he will win the appreciation and the enthusi-
astic support of the people Of the United States.
Another topic OF general interest Is Cuba.
We do not suppose any man in his senses
peced Mr.. Cleveland to favor the recognition
either Of the independence or of the bellgerency
of the patriots. There was no convincing rea-
son why he should do so. The best friends OF
Y
divided in opinion as TO the desirabty Of recog-
milton. Many think il would not be for the good
OF the patriot cause Many more are convinced it
would not be for the good Of this country either
in its ordinary commercial relations with Cuba
or In its general and earnest desire TO aid the
Cuban cause as far as international law permits
Mr. Cleveland we are happy to observe. recog-
niZes the existence of that desire. He does not
attempt 10 rebuke IT. He even leaves room for
a belief that he personally sympathiZes with it,
and he expresses a strong wish for the cessation
of hostilities and their attendant horrors and
the restoration OF peace. That, too, will grieve
his Cuckoo friends; but If it does not altogether
please real Americans, that will be merely be-
cause some mistaken timOrousness of office has
kept him from speaking more plainly in behalf
OF those who are seeking to set up free repub
lie in place Of Il despOtc monarchy
No attempt Is made by Mr. Cleveland 10 dis
cuss the Alaska boundary question 1t was, in
deed, not called for. But the announcement
which he makes concerning II will cause much
disappointment. il not dsmay The work OF the
American surveyors. he tells us remains unfn-
ished. for lack OF funds. That is dcporable We
have known all along that the British surveyors
were more numerous We're better supplied with
thoroughly than ours But this IL the first in
timatlon that our men could not complete their
work at all The agreement is that all survey
work shall be finished by The end OF this year,