New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-12-22
(BY CABLE TO THE TRIEuYE.l

lBY CABLE TO THE TRlECHEJ
Copyright; 1895 By The Tribune hssOe'ati0n.
London Dec. 2l.-Whatever else may be SAID
President Cleveland has come 10 the rescue OF
the unspeakable Turk The Eastern Question
has dropped out of sight The Sultan has ceased
for a week to be a prominent figure in the eyes
of Christendom. He has escaped observation and
has been left at liberty TO order additional mas
sacres Of Armenans and continue the process
Of pacifying rebellious provinces by bloodshed
and rapine. The President OF the American Com
monwealth has been transformed before English
eyes into an unspeakable Jingo-the same Presi-
dent who has been the rising hope Of the sterA
unbending Free Trader, and recognized here
eleven years as the consummate flower OF Amer
can statesmanship. Americans themselves, who
have been seendng millions every summer with
a prodigal hand among European hotels ana
shops. are changed. as by necromancers wand.
into insolent and unreasoning Jingoes. breathing
out threats and slaughter and consplring
against the peace Of the world Sir Augustus
Harris has a talent for Christmas pantomre.
but It Is beggarly compared with the resources
Of the English imagination.
For four days Mr. Cleveland's message has
been one OF the supreme topics in England. The
papers have been filled with II; little else has
been talked about 1t Is doubtful II England has
event since the Trent affair. From every Euro
pean capital have come loud echoes Of English
astonishment II 1t was Mr.. Clevelands purpose
TO warn Europe that the Monroe Doctrine was
not an obsolete "reminiscences Of one Of the earlier
Yankee notions Of diplomacy, II has been accom-
pshed Whatever may be said Of the precise
method by which he has sought to apply IL 70
the Venezuela affair." he has succeeded IN con-
vincing England that 1t is a living issue; that
Americans have not lost faith in It, ard that
no political party can afford place itself in op-
position to IT.
II Lord Salisbury had known as much about
American feeling few months ago as he does
now, the demand for arbitration might have
been rejected. but the Monroe Doctrine would
have been treated with more respect. and greater
pains would have been taken to avoid arousns
National resentment
While Mr.. Cleveland has commanded the at
tention Of Europe by his undiplomauc language
and defiant recommendation for the appoint
ment Of Commission to ascertain the rightful
boundary OF Venezuela, he has united England
In infiexible opposition to the Monroe Doctrine as
he proposes to apply 1t. The English people
knew little about either the Venezuela case or
the Monroe Doctrine, but wheE they read
deliberate proposal In the message that an
American Commission should find out where one
OF the boundaries Of the British Empire really
was and then take measures to keep British
subjects on the right side OF IT, they were
filed with wrathful indignation. The issue for
them was simple and easily understood With
one voice they declared that no self-respecting
nation could have its frontiers arbitrarily die
tated by another Power under threat of war.
Europe. through the press Of the great capitals,
has also proclaimed that this method Of applying
&c g,,1rro orffCa
The force OF the message was al first broken In
England and Europe by the accepted explanation
that Mr.. Cleveland wanted new political issue
for the Presidential canvass, and that Re-
publican leaders and journals could not afford to
allow him monopoly Of American principles.
This theory sufficed TO reconcile the English to
the situation when they had recovered from their
fierce anger on the first day; but they have been
astonished by the evidence that there is In Amer
lea widespread feeling Of resentment against
and hostility to England. They now find 1t diff
cult to believe that 1t is merely a game OF Jngo
politicians with the leader OF the demoralized
Democracy at their head pulling wires for
Presidential canvass or all the surprises of the
week this is for Engshmen the most startling.
The only offset to this unpleasant revelation
is the discovery that the French moro
friendly to them at this juncture than they were
prepared to expect. In justice to the English. II
must be said that they have not lost their self
command. During the exciting week. when they
were dazed by what they considered wantou
and unprovoked affront 10 the dignity OF the ma
ton. they have kept cool, and have waited, as
they have said, for signs of returning reason In,
America The discussion OF the question has
been, in the main. temperate and serious. They
have not been willing to admit that war was a
possible contingency. There has been no panic
In the Stock Exchange here. and no rise in the
price OF wheat. II Americans found the social
atmosphere Of London somewhat frigid on tha
first day, the mercury rose to normal point be-
fore the end Of the week. The American AM
ba assador thanks to the generous and eloquent
speech OF Mr.. Comyns Carr, was received with
cordalty and even enthusiasm on the evening Of
the first cold day.
As for the future. the English clearly discern
the advantage OF the position which they occupy
SO long as Mr. Cleveland was asking for arbitra-
ton, as in his annual message. and they were re-
fusing Ii, the Monroe Doctrine could be justified
on moral grounds. and the English attitude re-
quired defence; but when he shifted his position
and insisted upon American arbitration for tho
settlement OF the British frontier. they felt that
the ground under them was firm. They dis
cerned also how difficult II would be for him to re-
treat after he had created an impasse by com.
mitting the Government TO a self-insttuted arbi-
tratIon Apparently the appointment OF the COM
mission will defer decisive action for several
months. Meanwhile nothing will happen unless
a British ultimatum for indemnity be enforced In
defiance Of the American feeling which has been
aroused.
The immediate effect OF the crisis In the rela.
tions OF the two Governments has been to In.
crease enormously the financial difficulties OF the
currency question. American securities have
been sold in the English stock exchanges In large
blocks not because an outbreak OF war was
feared but because there was feeling OF irrita.
ton. uncertainty and distrust. Railroad securi.