The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-12-18
4 Ringing Message 10 Congress
by Grover Cleveland.
MONROE DOCTRINE STILL LIVES
United States Must Enforce liz or
Lose Her Self-R espeet.
After summarizing the Diplomatic
Correspondence tho President Asks
boundary II England Il Wrong sho
Must Retire, Under Penalty OF War.

~ aHAtuAAeN NitNs tsNN- IT. aN fcAHW-
ing message from the president was laid
before congress today
To the Congress In nv annual mes
sage addressed 10 congress on the Sd inst.
I called attention 80 tho pending boundary
controversy between Great Britain and ths
republic ~ Venezuela. and recitetl the sub
stance of the representation made hy
this government 70 her Britannia Yuaies-
tvs government, suggesting reasons why
such disputes should he submitted 10 ar
oitration for settlement, and snauiring
whether II should be 50 submitted. Tho
answer Of tho British government whict
was then awaited. has since been received.
and. together with the dispatch 10 whicn
IL is reply. is hereto appended. such
reply Is embodied in two communications
addressed ~ the British primo minister TO
Sir Julian Pauncefote. British aYnhassa-
dor at this capital IL viii be seen that
one OF these communications Is devoted
exclusively 70 observations upon The Mon
roe doctrine. and claims that in thu pres
ent instance a new and strange extension
and development of this doctrine Is in
sisted on bv the United States: that tho
reasons instifyins the appeal TO the doc
trine enunciated by President Monroe ara
generally inapplicabie 70 the state OF
things in which we 1--we at the present
day." and especially inappiiCahle 10 the
controversy involving the boundary limo
between Great Britain ana Venezuela
ment to reply 10 these positions. II may
not be amiss 20 suggest thrt the doctrine
upon which we stand ia strong and sound.
hecaU~c its enforcement is important 20
our safety as n nation and essential TO tho
integrity OF our free institutions and the
tranquil maintenance Of our distinctive
form OF government. II was intended TO
apply 20 every stage OF our national life.
and cannot become obsolete while our re-
public endures. IL the balance of power
is Justly a cause for Jealous anxiety
among the governments OF the old World
and a subject FOR our absolute non-interfer-
ence. none the less is the observance OF tho
Monroe doctrine of vital concern TO our
people and their government. Assuming.
therefore. that may properly insise
upon the doctrine without regard 20 the
state OF things in which We llve," or any
changed conditions here or elsewhere. it
is not apparent why its application may
not be invoked in the present controversy.
II European power. by extension of it's
boundaries. takes possession of tho terri
tory Of one Of our neighboring republics.
against its will and in derogation OF it's
rights. II is difficult 70 see why 10 that
extent such European power does not
thereby attempt 20 extend It's system OF
government 90 that portion of this econti-
nent which Is thus taken. This is the pre-
else action which President Monroe de-
clared 10 be dangerous 10 our peace and
safety" and II can make no difference
whether the European system IS extended
by an advance OF frontier or otherwise.
IL Is also suggested IN the British reply
that we should not seek TO apply the Nom
roe doctrine TO the pending dispute be-
cause I'll does not embody any principle
Of international law which Il founded on
the general consent of nations and that
no statesman. however eminent and no
nation, however powerful. are compeient
to insert into the code of international
~ L.
ognzed before and which has not since
been accepted by the government Of any
other country. Practically the principle
for which we contend has peculiar IL not
exclusive relation 10 the United States. IL
may not have been admitted IN 20 many
words 10 the code OF international law.
hnt since I'm international councils every
nation is entitled 20 tho rights belonging
10 a. II tho enforcement If the Monroe
doctrine Is somethingwe may Justly claim.
~ has IT'S place IN tho code of iufernation-
I'll law "a certainly and as securely as II IL
were specifically mentioned, and where
tho United States Is q suitor before the
high tribunal that administers Inferna-
tioual law the question 10 be determinef
IS whether or NOT we present claims which
the Justice OF that code of law can find 20
be night and valid The Monroe doctrine
finds its recognition in these principles Of
International law which are hased upon
the theory that every nation shall have
its rights protected and It's just dues en-
forced OF course this government is en-
tirelv confident that under tho sanction os
this doctrine we have clear rights and nn-
doubtcd claims. Nor Is this ignored In tho
British reply. The prime minister, while
not admitting that the Monroe doctrine ts
applicable 10 the present conditions.
states in declaring that the United states
would resist any such enterprise If y was
contemplated that President Monroe
adopted a policy which received the entir>
sympathy Of fhe English government oc
that date. Tie further declares: ''fnough
the language Of President Monroe is d.
rected 20 tho attainment OF objects whirn
most EnFlishmen agree would be salu-
tarv, II is Impossible to admit that they
have been inscribed by any adequate au-
fhorlty IN the code OF international law"
Again he SAYS: "They fner maieafy's gov
ernmenD fully concur with the view
which President Monroe apparently enter
tanned that any disturbance of the exist
fng, territorial distribution IN that hemis-
rhere hy any fresh acquisitions on ths
p9rf Of any European state would be a
highly inexpedfept change"
In belief that the doctrine for which ws
contend was clear and definite: that 10
was founded upon substa ntiai considera-
tfons and involved our safety and well
fare. that q, was fully applicable 10 our
present conditions and TO the state Of tho
worlds progress. and that ~ was directly
related 20 the penang controversy ana
without any conviction 20 the nnat
merits OF the dispute but anxious 20
learn in a satisfactory and conclusive man
ner whether Great Britain sought. under
a claim OF boundary. 20 extend her possess
sfons on this continent without right. or
whether she merely sought possession of
territory claimed 70 bs included Within
her lines Of ownership. this government
proposed that Great Britain resort 10 ar
bltration as roper means of settling
the question. 20 the end that the vexatious
boundary dispute between the two con-
tesfants might be determined and our
exact standing ard relation in respect 20
the controversy might be made clear 10
viii be seen from the correspondence here
with submitted that this proposition has
been declined BY the British government
upon grounds whicn under the ciFcurl-
stances seem far froetaoin Jw.--bfk shrdlu
stances seem 20 me 70 be far from gatisfac-
tory. II is deeply disappointing that Huc1
an appeal. actusted by the most friendly
feelings toward both the nations directly
concerned. addressed 70 the sense Of 1us-
tice and maxnanimity C. one of the great
powers Of the world and touching its re-
latlons 10 one comparatively weak ana
small. should have produced no better re-
suits
The course 70 be pursued oy tbs govern
nlssnt ia view of the present condition.
does not appear 10 admit Of serious doubt.