The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-12-19
BRITJsH COMMENTS.
Views of the Leading Newspapers on the
Presidenf's Message.


Presidents Message.
LONDON. Dec. 1s.-The Chronicle says:
THE message will be read in this coun-
| try with blank establishment. An Ameri-
| can commission to determine what terri
| tory a British colony can call its own.
| and failing our compliance with its find
ing war by land and sea with Great
| Britain,
Can these he serious words addressed
/ to us by the descendants of the little
| ship-load OF English folks who sailed in
| the Mayfowcr? We will not take things
too seriously We will suppose that the
President is engaged in the familiar work
of twisting the lions tail.
There is one answer to President
| Cleveland and America. II an enlarged
application Of a neglected doctrine is TO
| be enforced with ali the might of the
| United States, at least let us be assured
Of the correlative that the United States
will make itself responsible for the for
eign policy of all the petty. impetuous
little States on the two continents Of
America. There is no international right
without corresponding duty
The Chronicle describes Lord Salisburys
| dispatch as most temperate. and refers
| TO the limitation TO the Schomburgk line
| as a concession that only a strong State
| could have granted to a weak one. ii
adds I'VE cannot abandon our settlers
any more than President Cleveland would
his"
The Daily News says:
THE Presidents communication is re-
markabls document. though its conse-
quences are not likely to be serious.
Neither Mr. Olney nor the President
seems TO realize that the Monroe doctrine
cannot be quoted as authoritative In nego-
. tot xtffh
Both of them are certainly as far as
possible from suspecting that the real
author of the doctrine was Canning, not
Monroe Great Britain In 1923 was jealous
Of the Spanish entertainments in South
America. and induced Monroe TO protest
against European aggression on Ameri-
can soil.
The seventy-two years that have since
elapsed have entirely changed the situa-
ton The Monroe doctrine Is now purely
| of historical interest. There can be no
doubt that the theory enunciated in 1873
dealt with the acquisition OF fresh terri
tory, and had nothing to do with dis
putes regarding the boundaries Of terri
tories already appropriated.
The definition of the doctrine, however.
is a matter for the American themselves.
IL binds nobody else The Venezuelan
difficulty must be considered on its own
merits This is what Lord Salisbury has
done in mastery dispatch. The ordi-
! nary American citizen cares nothing for
Venezuela. and has no feeling against
this country. He might be very Jealous
for the Monroe doctrine when II really
defended American interests, but the idea
of making himself responsible for the
| concerns of every South American repub-
lie Is too absurd for him TO regard it Sc
riously. i.|.
1T is not correct to say that Lord Sails
bury has altogether rejected the idea Of
arbitration on the contrary, he has par
TALLY accepted ii.
The Morning Post says:
president Cleveland has outdone the
Republican party in his efforts TO show
dislike for this country, yet he has not
committed himself 10 anything The mes
sage does not make the slightest attempt
to grapple with Lord Salsbury's argu-
ment that the United States cannot find
any excuse in the language of the Monroe
doctrine for their appearance on the
scene. or that. If they could give the old
Presidents words any such extension. his
declaration has no authority. The inter
national law tribunal that President
Cleveland asks the Congress TO set up can
have no more binding effect in this coun-
try than would a decision by the Supreme
Court at Washington.
The Graphic says:
Lord Salisbury has written the epitaph
of the Monroe doctrine. Self-respecting
Americans will not read President Cleve-
lands message either with pride or pleas
ure."
LONDON. Dec 1S-Despite their pub
LEGATION OF leaders assuming that Presi-
dent Cleveland's message Is merely an
election move. most OF the newspaper
print articles summing up the war
strength of the United States.
The St James Gazette publishes n ISL
of British warships nrw in American
waters. together with their dimensions,
sells composing the United States navy
giving also their capacity 'tc
The Westminster Gazette has an arti-
Gle showing the numerical strength OF
the United States army and strength,
character, and location Of the country
The Pan Mall Gazette presents a ma?
of the disputed frontiers, accompanied
by an article thereon
While the afternoon papers Eenerally
follow the lead of the morning papers,
their language is ,coarser and their IN
situations broader
German Comment.
BERLIN, Dec. 1s.-The Nossische Zei-
tung. i'm commenting on President CleVe-
lands message on the Venezuelan cues
against England and his emphasizing me
Monroe doctrine will attract the atten-
ton of other powers.
The National Zeitung says:
"Rudeness toward unliked countries Is
tho rule when Presidents seek Office. As
the Washington Government claims eN-
elusive rights in the matter OF arDitrst-
ing American affairs. the whole arbiira-
ton claim becomes a pure farce. as Is
also the demarkation commission
The Boursen Courier says that Eng
land first treated the Alabama claims,
but was afterwards obliged to accept
arbitration on the question, and that
established a precedent
The Boursen Zeitung says:
President Clevelands answer leaves
nothing 10 be desired in its outspoken-
ness England will begin 10 comprehend
that America is no longer a field for
English expansion. Mr.. Cleveland APP
pears TO intend purposely to offend otter
powers, but II must be remembered that
the elections in the United States are
near.
The Local Anzeiger says that the Presi-
dents message Is purposely aggressive.
and Will make friendly solution Of the
question harder than ever
The Freislnnige Zeitung says President
Cleveland's aggressive tone is hardly
credible. 1T seems 10 us like PLAYING
with fire." The Freisinnge Zeitung con-
cludes by expressing the hope that such
a trfe as the dispute between Great
Britain and the United States In relation
10 the Venezuela Guiana boundary will
not lead to war between the two first