The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-01-28
SEATTLE. TUESDAY, JAN. IS.
ASK AND II SHALL BE GIVEN


Those newspapers-and they are so rare
that they attained temporary conspicu-
BUSINESS out of all proportion 10 their i'm
portazce-whch deprecated any display Of
intense Americanism a few months ago.
must feel themselves shrinking with pain
ful rapidly into their normal inslgnih-
canoe. They can have some conception OF
the feelings Of Alice In Wonderland when
she felt herself growing smaller and
smaller.
BY no other means short OF war could
the United States have impressed her po-
tenfiaiity as n national force upon the
slowly receptive intelligence OF England
than by the tremendous roar OF defiance
which went up from every corner Of the
land as an echo TO the chord struck BY
President Cleveland. The speech made by
Joseph Chamberlain on Saturday last is
the signal flag OF truce raised above the
distant ramparts telling us that the re-
verberations OF our patriotism. the warn
ing OF our artillery OF purpose have reached
the island shores. and that our earnest
ness will be respected. We have achieved
a bloodless victory. we have not made an
enemy by our determination. but have won
a friend by our pluck. The United States
has thrown dawn to the world the gaunt-
let Of the Monroe doctrine; the great prin-
cipie OF arbitration over questions relating
20 the American continent has scored
point: and next time the eagle screams
Europe viii listen.
Mr.. Chamherlain's pleasant remark about
Cleveand's unwillingress TO incite two kin
dred nations TO strife Is very pretty; but
II would amount 20 very little IL prcvoca-
ton were given the American people. Two
kindred peoples very much nearer In blood
fought cat a very desperate war before tho
Monroe doctrine had been formulated. and
a people very much nearer in kind than
Americans and Englishmen. as they stand
nationally today. fought out a stin more
desperate war within tie memory OF the
present generation.
IL Is ne. war We want: but this nation
Insists that e shall never he forgotten that
the presence of any foreign sovereignty on
this continent Is always to be regarded as
objectionable. and that while no efforts will
be made 70 disturb those now in peaceable
possession. any attempts at eneroachment
must bs accompanied ~ an assurance 10
this government that the claim is Just
one. sntedatiRg tho declaration % the Mon
roe doctrine. The stand had % Re taken
some time. u was taken when retreat was
easiest Cor thu encroaching power. Had
Clevelands message been delayed until
England had landed troops on the shores
Of and anchored warshlps IN the waters Of
Venezuela. size dared not take a backward
step al the behest Of any power on earth
Now IL IS easy. astoulshingly easy; few
oven among sanEuine and fervent Ameri-
osns supposed tAat EnglanGs uttered re
fasal 70 submit % arbitration under any
circumstances would 80 soon De turned -
anable admissions that diplomatic means
may 70 found - settle the difficulty
I, Is safe rule for ration. as well as
cor an individual. - ask FOR Mat 1t
warts. And the more imperative the de-
mand the more readily IS Acgulescence
usually accorded.