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


toral distribution In that hemisphere
by any fresh acquisitions on the part Of
any European state would be q highly
inexpedient change
"In the belief that the doctrine for
which we contend was clear and def
mite, that IL was founded upon sub.
stantial considerations and involved our
safety and welfare, that it was fully
applicable to our present conditions
and to the state of the worlds progress
and that it was directly related to the
pending controversy and without any
conviction as to the final merits of the
dispute, but anxious TO learn in salts
factory and conclusive manner whether
Great Britain sought, under a claim of
boundary, TO extend her possessions on
this continent without right, or whether
she merely sought possession of terri.
tory fairly included within her line of
ownership, this government proposed
to the government of Great Britain q
resort TO arbitration as the proper
means Of settling the question, to the
end that vexatious boundary dispute
between the two contestants might be
determined and our exact standing and
relation in respect to the controv versy
might be made clear.
England Refuses to Arbitrate.
ut will be seen from the correspond
ence herewith submitted that this prop
osition has been declined by the British
| government, upon grounds which, in
the circumstances, seem to me to be far
from satisfactory. 1t is deeply disap-
pointing that such an appeal, actuated
by the most friendly feelings toward
both nations directly concerned, ad.
dressed to the sense of Justice and 10
the magnanimity of one of the great
powers of the world and touching its
relations to one comparatively weak
and small, should have produced nc
better results.
1.-THE course to be pursued by this
government, in view Of the present
condition, does not appear TO admit OF
serious doubt. Having labored faith
fully for many years to induce Great
Britain to submit this dispute to i'm
partial arbitration, and having beer
now finally apprised of her refusal tC
do so, nothing remains but to accept
the situation, to recognize its plain re-
quirements and deal with it accordingly
Great Britain's present proposition ha
never thus far been regarded as admis
sible by Venezuela, though any adjust
ment Of the boundary which that coun
try may deem for her advantage anC
may enter into of her own free will
cannot of course be objected to by tn,
United States.
Assuming, howe yer, that the atti
tude of Venezuela will remain un
changed, the dispute has reached sucl
o stage as to make 1t now incumben
upon the United States to take meas
ures to determine with sufficient Ger
tainty for its justification what is tn
true divisional line between the repub
lie Of Venezuela and British Guiana
The inquiry to that end should, o
course, be conducted carefully and ju
dicially, and due weight should b.
given to all available evidence, record
and facts in support Of the claims o
both parties.
Suggests n Commission.
I'm order that such an examination
should be prosecuted in thorough an
satisfactory manner, / suggested tina
the congress make an adequate apprc
priation for the expenses of a commits
sion, to be appointed by the executive
who shall make the necessary investi
cation and report upon the matter wit
the least possible delay.
when such report is made and az
Cepteu lG Will, III my OplnlOn, De Jn
duty of the United States to resist b
every means in its ESwer as willfr
aggression upon its rights and interest
the appropriation by Great Britain c
anylands or the exercise of government
pl jurisdiction over any territory whic
after investigation, we have deter
mined of right belongs to Venezuela.
"In making these recommendation
am fully alive to the responsibility IN
CURED and keenly realize all the const
quences that may follow.
II am nevertheless firm in my con
viction, that while it is greviou
thing to contemplate, the two grea
English speaking peoples of the world q
being otherwise than friendly compel
itors in the onward march of civilizf
tion and strenuous and worthy rivals i
all the arts of peace, there is no calan
ity which great nation can inyit
which equals that which follows q su
pine submission to wrong and injustic
and the consequent loss of nationa
Belf.respect and honor beneath which
shielded and defended peoples safee.
and greatness. ''GRoyER CLEvEAND.