The Democratic advocate., 1896-06-13

Having brought our article up to the
fifth part and at the same time nearing the
conclusion of our subject, we will endeavor
to cover the ground from the issue of the
Presidents s message until the present, in
as brief manner as is consistent in deal
ing with as important subject as we have
in discussion.
Upon the receipt of the reply of Lord
Salisbury to Secretary Olney, in which he
refused to consider the boundary dispute
Just subject for arbitration, it clearly be-
came the duty of President Cleveland to
proclaim to his countrymen the result of
the diplomatic correspondence between
England and America, and also to prepare
them for any denoument that might fol-
low. This he proceeded u do, and in his
able message on the 17h of December
1895, he sent forth document, the con-
tents of which proved him to be thoroughly
conversant on the subject with which he
was compelled to deal and also that he was
fully aware of the responsibility that might
accrue from its PRONUNCIATION.
The results are too well known to repeat
in detail; had sudden declaration of war
been proclaimed between the two countries
the excitement would have hardly been
any greater The press of England and
America, with characteristic promptness,
quickly responded to the views of their re-
speetive countries England contending
for her rights as laid down by Salisbury
hn,-, oHx-naaFa1 h.,
Olney. The tone of many of them, both
English and American, was bitter and
partisan; others again treated the subject
in mild and dignifed manner. In mill
tary and naval circles war spirit pervaded
to such an extent that many of our organ
izations offered their services to the Presi-
dent, and for time it appeared that all
that was wanting was the traditional spark
to fire the train and the Stars and Stripes
and the Cross of St. George would again
confront each other on the field of battle
Happily, however, the dignity of the
two nations did not suffer TO such an ex-
tent as to demand an apology by an appeal
to arms In his message the President
had made ample provision for an amicable
settlement and also made the following sug-
gestion-s' that it was incumbent upon the
United States to take measures to deter
mine with sufficient certainty for its justi-
fication what was the true divisional line
between the Republic of Venezuela and
British Guiana, the inquiry to that end to
be conducted carefully and judicially, and
due weight be given to all available eyi
dence, records and facts in support of the.
claims of both parties.
In order to comply with such request
the Chief Executive recommended that
Congress should make an appropriation
for the expense of Commission, to be
appointed by him, who should make the
necessary examination and report upon the
matter as soon as possible thereafter.
Congress sustained Mr. Cleveland in his
request and promptly passed an act creating
the Commission and appropriating $780,,
900 to pay the necessary expenses. Upon
the passage of the act the President ap-
pointed the following gentlemen to con
stitute this tribunal David j. Brewer
of Kansas, Associate Justice of the Su-
preme Court of the United States; Rich
ard H Alvey, of Maryland, Chief Justice
of the Court of Appeals of the District Of
Columbia; Andrew d. White, of New
York, ex-President of Cornell University,
and ex- Minister to Germany and Russia;
Daniel c. Gilman, of Maryland, Presi-
dent of the Johns Hopkins University;
Frederick R. Coudert, lawyer, New York.
Upon their appointment these gentlemen
Immediately entered upon their duty
duty that just report of their investiga-
ton pertaining to it may perhaps cause
war between the two leading nations of
modern times, although st is the desire Of
the two governments involved large
number of their respective statesmen, and
of innumerable organizations that the out
come of the Commission s investigation
may be such that peaceable and honor
able adjustment will result, and that the
relations that have existed between Eng
land aud America for eighty years, will
not now be ruptured
This is an honorable desire, and we be-
lieve that all honorable citizens of both
countries wish for peaceable elimination
of difficulty that is complicated in its
aspect, and requires most careful dag
nosis at the hands of shrewd and capable
men.
1t is not certain when the Commission
will make its report; they have already
handled vast amount of material and are
still investigating every source available
for their purpose.
In the interim, however, we would warn
our citizens not to be lulled into fancied
security that all danger is absolutely passed,
as the subject is still swaying in the bal
ance England has not at all given posi-
tive assurance that she will arbitrate after
the report Of the Commission is given, and
it is better to be prepared for emergencies