Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1896-01-02

From the Richmond Dispatch of
the 22nd ult., we take the following
letter written by Judge Robt. w.
Hughes, of the Federal Court, which,
just now, will he read with much in
terest. The distinguished jurist has
acted since the war with the Repub-
lican party, though not always in
dorsing its policies. He opposes Mr..
Cleveland's financial views but
strongly commends his position on
the Venezuela question. EDITOR.
Neither the American nor the Eu-
ropean press seems to have appre.
hended the real motive which in.
duced Mr.. Cleveland, as understand
him, to indite the message which he
sent to Congress on the subject OF
Venezuela.
Through his Secretary of State
(Mr. Olney) the President had ad.
dressed Letter to the English Prime
Minister, reasserting the Monroe
doctrine as the ground of his enter
ference, and suggesting arbitration
as the proper means of composing
the differences between Great Brit.
ain and the South American repub-
lie. The letter was proper, and re-
spectful In terms, and warranted by
all the circumstances Of the case.-
1t remained unanswered for more
than five months. The long silence
was, in fact, not only discourteous
but contemptuous. Finally, how
ever, an answer came. 1t has not
been made public; but from what
Is known of it there can be no doubt
that it is expressedsin a tone which,
while not in terms disrespectful, is
nevertheless, in ill-concealed inten-
tion, insulting, arrogant and insolent
throughout. This much Is certainly
true-that it is the production of the
most arrogant individual of the
most arrogant nation in the world.
There can be little doubt that the
letter Is in keeping with the well
known arbitrary temper and charac-
ter of Lord Salisbury.
To show that the President re-
sented the British Premier's long
neglect of his proposal to arbitrate,
he took leisurely trip down into
the secluded waters of North Caro-
lima. This was the mode adopted
Of resenting the British Minister'S
insulting delay in replying to the re-
spectful communication. Having
inhaled the free air of the great
Southern State, the President re-
turned to Washington. The long de-
layed document from Lombard street
had just reached the Federal capital.
It's temper and tone were such as to
necessitate a discontinuance of the
diplomatic correspondence. No re-
joinder was admissible.
The President turned to the Ameri.
can people; and stated the case and
its situation in message to Congress
1T has met the unanimous approval
of the American people. 1t is an
admirable paper; the most thor.
oughly American utterance that has
been heard for half.century. Il
does honor to its author, and com
mands for his country the respect o.
the intelligence of the world.
For one, / have not seen until now
much in Mr.. Cleveland's public &C
tion to approve. His management
OF the Hawaiian business was un
American and pro- British. His stant
on questions relating to the Nicara
guam canal and Central America has
been uncertain and unpronounced
His management of the Alaska sea
business was laundering and unsatis
factory; his money policy has beer
deeply injurious to the interests o.
the American people and thoroughly
English In spirit and effect. But 1
Is long lane that has no turn. TIL,