The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-12-19
THURSDAY. DECEMBER 10. 1895.
The Second Day.

1t is pleasant to read in this morn
ing's news that the house of represent
atives promptly voted an ample sum
of money in response to the presidents
request for an appropriation where
with to meet the expense of the COM
mission to investigate the question of
the Venezuelan boundary. The presi-
dent is to appoint the commission. He
is the executive officer of the govern
ment; 1t is eminently proper that he
should name the members of the COM
mission.
The members of the house were eager
to back the president; they evinced a
patriotic spirit that finds a response in
every school district and at every
crossroads in the United States. Mr..
Boutelle. alone of all the members of
the house. was disposed to advocate
delay. He stood absolutely alone. He
made ridiculous plea against
haste" His unworthy motive was
perfectly transparent. He is a member
from Maine and a Reed boomer. He
was afraid that too much credit might
accrue to President Cleveland out of
the Venezuela incident. Undoubtedly
his unpatriotic purpose was apparent
to every member of the house of repre-
sentatives. as II is to every intelligent
reader of the newspapers. But Bou-
telle was shouted down and then unan-
imously voted down-the people of the
United States will get a great deal of
satisfaction out of that result.
Mr.. Hit was right to the front yes
terday; the general understanding is
that he is to be named chairman of the
house committee on foreign affairs.
While Mr.. Hit is no lingo. he has been
an earnest advocate of a lively foreign
policy. To our notion he is almost too
radical-he was for the annexation of
Hawaii; he is the declared friend of
Cuba. However that may be. Mr.. Hit
was the right man in the right place
yesterday. He paid no attention TO the
shallow sophistry pressed by Boutelle:
our hope is that he will get the chair
manship for which he is slated.
That was an odd comment which the
London Graphic printed on the presi-
dents message. Said the Graphic:
THE message is a document which self
respecting Americans will not read
with pride or pleasure" How mistaken
a newspaper editor can be! The
Graphic ought to have waited until IT
had received the returns from this
country. II will live to learn that the
al Of ~
good as unit in support of the mes
sage; that certainly is the conclusion
warranted by all the information that
thus far has been received from the
four quarters Of the United States.
Meanwhile, war or no war, we believe
good has already come of the declara-
tons that have issued from the admin
istration. Somehow. respecting public
affairs. a low tone was pervading.
Petty issues and petty politicians were
in full view, TO the WEAKNESS of the
public. 1t may almost be said that the
patriotic spirit seemed to lag. True
national sentiment and the American
spirit are quickened by that which APP
peals to the public heart and the pub
lie conscience. A broad principle to
which this country is fully committed
has been challenged; il is refreshing 10
notice the alacrity with which the
national feeling is awakened and the
sentiment of patriotism aroused. When
this happens. we realize that we are
apt to make too much OF trifies. and
we are gratified to realize that Ameri-
can citizenship is ready. in any emer-
gency and on every occasion. to have
its loyalty put to the test. That is not
jingoism.