New-York tribune., 1896-10-30
BRYAN AND FOREIGN RELATIONS.
GHEAr RISKS ~ rNrRCsrING THE crRAS All
VENEZUELAN QUESTIONS To HIM.

NENELI ELAN W - ll'NF ~ hiM
To tho Editor Of The Tribune
Sir: Every one who thinks reads a. all now
knows what Bryanism means. II implies many
things oven worse than free-silver coinage. But
against this tho biggest fight has been made be-
cause II appeals directly to that most sensitive
organ-the pockct-of both rich and poor There IL
moro. however than mer" pccuniary interest at
stake. and this view has hardly had sufficient
weight in tho contest. Free silver and fiat money
nrc ,nscparably linked and the highest efforts OF
patriotism should hc given TO destroy them both In
this. lei trust. inal campaign. not only 10 pre-
serve the National honor hut also the National
credit. In tho hope that Western brethren
than whom there more feryid patriots may
give thought to this view OF the matter. let us
see what relation tho silver question has To our
foreign relations.
Before the present campaign opened Venezuela
and cuba absorbed the attention of our political
and financial world. They are apparently
forgotten as tho Mexican War and yct they are
live issues. Az to Venezuela. the situation seems
TO he this: Tho much discussed theme OF per-
mancnt Board OF Arbitration. TO which all disputes
between Great Britain and ourselves shall be
fcrrcd. hangs fire because the parties H. interest
cannot agree TO what matters shall be referred
to- and what matters shall be kept out OF, arbtra-
tion. The selection OF the odd man who shall have
the casting vote IN of an equal division Of the
court is also "A stumbling block. For the moment
the Eastern question absorbs Englands attention.
As to this agreement among the great Powers
seems In fair way to be soon reached, and then
Great Britain will have her hands free to take up
the Venezuelan matter. With Turkey of her hands.
tho all important question H. In what spirit will she
be- willing meet us In this disputc' The day ap-
proaches when our commission will make It's
mort II adverse Great Britain. some definite
action will have he taken. II no agreement has
becn reached before that. We shall be face to face
with a condition Of things which may conceivably
lead to trouble
II our Government is then, or Is soon likely to b".
In the hands OF Mr.. Bryan and the party he repre-
sents it's financial weakness and general ina ptude.
and the fierce opposition such party will have to
face in Congress will tend to mollify Britains
nrovcrhal arrogance. OF course. no real Anglo
SAXON can ina gine such thing as "a war between
the two great sections OF his mighty race, any more
than he can now believe that Mr.. Bryan has
chance of election. But neither is out OF range Of
nossiblll,,es. Equally unthinkablc things have be-
come realities.
Now as to Cuba This is the present status OF the
,psurrection in that island, according TO 'The
Saturday Review which is well informed: The
Provisional Government Of the rebels has issued
decree forbidding all cultivation Of the soil.
I-,der II any man who gathers a
crou will be shot traitor. Complete de-
struction OF all kinds of property is further
marc cnioiucd on tho other hand. General Weyer
tho Snanish commandant, promulgates order
forbidding all harvest operations. Thus both sides
officially commit themselves to the reduction Of the
entire population TO begsary and starvation. This
,s simple savagery and Chrstendom has obvious
right and an imperative duty 10 interfere and put
an end to IT, But whose duty is It? Plainly that
Of the Americrn Government as the Power
which has the ability and insists upon Its right to
interfere on this continent in such matters as
against any European Government.
Whether jirgosm IL any longer rampant or not
public opinion will sooner or later. II the war be
not ended. force whatever Administration may be
I'm power accept the responsibility of the actual
situation to what is left OF civilization In that
island This means war. Spain will and must re-
sist No Government I'm Spain could exist a day
which refused fight to retain that greatest of all
her possessions. No sacrifice would he too great
for her people make In such a conflict on scnti-
1t Is now pertinent to inquire what all this has 70
do with our present political campaign II has
everything TO do with II. A foreign IL not In
the near future an improbable or impossible con-
ngency. II the above statements have any basis Of
probability And II must be borne In mind that war
Is tho usual refuge OF a weak and harassed and
discreditcd Administration. such as Bryan's is
likely TO be. to escape the inevitable result OF Its
policies and to consolidate the Nation upon an ex-
terna issue In Its efforts to avoid Internal disaster
Such desperate and mentally unequipped mon are