The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1895-12-26
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
Upholds the Monroe Doctrine and sug-
gests n boundary Commission.
WASHINGTON, Dec. '18. - President
Cleveland's message, accompanying the
correspondence with England on the
Venezuelan boundary dispute, says:
"To THE CON GREss:
"In my annual message addressed to
, the congress on the 3rd instant, Icalled
attention to the pending boundary con-
troversy between Great Britain and the
republic of Venezuela and recited the
substance Of o representation made by
this government to her Britannia ma
jesty's government suggesting reasons
aavhy such dispute should be submitted
to arbitration for settlement and in
quiring whether it would be so sub
mitted
"The answer of the British govern
ment, which was then awaited but has
since been received with the dispatch
TO which it is reply, is hereto ap.
pended.
"Such reply is embodied in two COM
munications addressed by the British
prime minister to Sir Julian Paunce.
fote, the British ambassador at this
capital 1t will be seen that one of
these communications Is devoted ex-
clusively to observations upon the Mon
roe doctrine ana claims that IN the
present instance a new and strange ex-
tension and development of this doc
trine is insisted on by the United
States, that the reasons justifying an
appeal to the doctrine enunciated by
President Monroe are generally inap-
plicable to the state of things in which
we live at the present day and espe-
cially inapplicable to controversy in
volving the boundary line between
Great Britain and Venezula.
Without attempting extended argu-
ment in reply to these positions, it may
not be amiss to suggest that the doc
trine upon which We stand is strong
= nd. .becspse enforcement is
mother : 'e and safety as a
they retrio the integrity
standing o, I'D the tranquil
tn inctive form of
ait. 1t was attended to apply
gone 1S our national life and
time tleH
. NOT >. - X balance of pow
.sN44gNg--y.l.i ! Agovernn'ents Of the old
world, and subject for our absolute
non-interferenee none the less is an OBJ
servance of the, Monroe doctrine Of vi
tai concern to our people and their gov
ernment,
Monroe Doctrine Applicable.
Assuming, therefore, that we may
properly insist upon this doctrine with
out regard to the state of thinge in
which we live, or any changed copdi.
tions here or elsewhere. it is not appar.
bnt why its application may not be in
voked in the present controversy.
IF a European power, by an exten.
y sion of its boundaries, takes possession
Nhe territory of one of our neighbor.
cor-publics against its will and IN der.
car of its rights, it is difficult to see
few that extent, such European
on the IS not thereby attempt to ex'
the biz stem of government to that
ice Isl this continent which is thus
wallst is is the precise action which
Monroe declared to be dan
T jar peace and safety, and il
no difference whether the
system is extended by an ad
N frontier or otherwise.
~ ALSO suggested in the British
~ lat we should not seek to apply
AZ .fonroe doctrine to the pending
~ he, because 1t does not embody
V/K principle of International law
~ Ach is founded on the general con-
4 fht of nations, and that mo states
s4an, however eminent, and no nation,
= however powerful, are competent to
insert into the code of international
law novel principle which was never
recognized before, and which has not
been accepted by the government OF
any other country
"Practically, the principle for which
we contend has peculiar, IL not ex-
elusive, relation to the United States.
1t may not have been admitted in 80
many words to the code of interna'
tional law, but since in international
councils every nation is entitled to the
rights belonging to 1t, il the enforce
ment Of the Monroe doctrine is some
thing we may justly claim, 1t has its
place In the code Of international law
as certainly and as securely as II II
were specifically mentioned, and wheI
the United States is O suitor before the
high tribunal that administers inter
national law, the question to be de
termined Is whether or not the presen
claims which the Justice Of that code Of
law can find to he right and valid.
1.-THE Monroe doctrine finds its recog
milton In those principles of interna
tional law which are based upon thu
theory that every nation shall have iti
rights protected and its just claims en-
forced.
We Know Wa Are Right.
"Of course this government is entire
ly confident that under the sanction o
this doctrine we have clear rights ant
undoubted claims Nor Is this ignored
In the British reply. The prime minis
ter while not admitting that the Mon
roe doctrine is applicable to presen
conditions, states: In declaring tina
tho United States would resist an,
suoh enterprise il II was contemplated
President Monroe adopted polio.
which received the entire sympathy o
the English government of that date.
He further declares; Though the Ian
guage Of President Monroe is directe,
to the attainment of objects whicl
most Englishmen would agree to b
salutary, il is impossible to admit tina
they have been inscribed by any ade
quate authority in tho code of interna
tional law Again he says: The.
(her majesty's goyernmenD fully COL
cur with the view which Presiden
Monroe apparently entertained tina
cav dtstnrhe eHos ~ fhs AS'st'nS fsrrl