The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-02-25

DIR. BENJAMIN II. TRCEBLooD oil bos-
ton spoke before the Universalist club
last evening at the very enjoyable gather
ing of that body. The topic spoken to
was "Thoughts Suggested by Washing
toms Birthday" and the occasion sug-
gested TO DR.. TRUEBLooD thoughts that
he expressed with what appears to us to
little qualification.
For example, Dr. TRUEBLooD expressed
the thought that the Monroe Doctrine
"was but a special application of the
theory of self defense, but is now a
closed page OF history If DR.. TRUE
BLOOD had kept track OF the English
dispatches in THE NEWS OF recent issues
he would have learned that the American
doctrine OF JAMES MONROE is by no
means "closed page of history" any
more than it was, as the Doctor appears
to believe, temporary bluff on the part
OF President MONROE. The majority Of
the people o, the United States consider
it in the light OF an eleventh command
ment to the Declaration of Independence,
and our English dispatches have indicated
recognize it in much the same light is
likely to fall il il do.s not retire as grace
fully as possible from the bumptious posi-
tion assumed by Lord SALISBURY in the
Venezuela matter.
DIR. 1RUEBLoop advocated the educa-
tion of the rising generation in the
knowledge OF peace and arbitration as
means for the solution OF all difficulties,
and in this thought he voiced the spirit
OF the American people. 1t was in the
interests of peace and to secure arbitra-
tion that the President of the United
States pronounced the Monroe Doctrine
as still in force. and called a halt to Lord
SALIsBuRY's purpose to ignore any other
solution OF the controversy with the weak
little republic of Venezuela save that of
the bully.
DR.. TRUEBLooD said that he had tried
to conceive what WASHINGTON would
have thought and done in crisis such as
this brought about by the Venezuela
trouble. 1t may not be easy to reach an
agreement between men OF different opin-
ions on particular matter as to just
what WASHINGTON would say and
do. But one thing is clear from the
character of the "first American" and
that is that he was a very practical pat
riot who, it could not well be believed,
would allow any paltry sentimentalism
about "mother country that had never
exhibited any other characteristics OF ma
ternal concern than to as often as pos
sible try to larrup her offspring, to in
huence his patriotism. GEORGE WASH
INGToN was jingo in his day when other
men OF equal education and perhaps as
great ability i'm many directions argued
and trimmed in way to prejudice what we
now know were vital American interests.
The spirit of WAsHINoToN's jingoism GER
tainly endured long enough to be credit
ed with some influence on the opinions
OF JAMES MONROE. Indeed, we feel that
1t influences us today, and that II we err
in any particular when we stand for our
country, first, last and all the time, the
error may be forgiven for the sake of
patriotism. 1t is, ii seems to us, great
deal better for the people of q nation to
be too patriotic than too little patriotic.
Besides, as DIR. TRUEBLooD pointed out,
our disposition is to take the occasional
to let our blood boil and that
is rather wholesome, it strikes us. Boil
ing eradicates microbes, prevents slug
gishness, and is altogether healthful |
and inspiriting process.