The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1896-01-02
VCLE SAM DANDER UP
6 Time Made Memorable bu
International QudrrelSin all
Quarters of the Globe.

he story Of the twelve months now
Swing to q close differs materially
nm the record of the few years preced-
~ 1t. At that time the stirring Incl
aonts which marked a business crisis
ma resultant struggle between labor
Ind cap!tal-etrikes, riots and socialistic
the leading elements of
~ narrative; now the industrial sky Ia
hearty clenr that there is nothing in
y interest the reader who loves thrill
literature. Politically, this year has
n the offset" of any during the pres
administration. There have been but
great .calamities, either on land or
sea. There have been several cases
lite celebrated in criminal annals, but
ese have not formed the central point
interest in the story.
Where is one feature that outweghs
y other: This has been year of in
Irrational tangles.
L.
|NcLD SAINTS own oVARRELs.
If there has been one phenomenon more
|arked than another during the year it
Ls been the sudden revival of National
brit. Some would call it patriotism,
bme jingoism, according to whether
hey approve or condemn it. This spirit
las grown regardless of party lines,
Democrats vying with republicans in
living it expression in party platforms
md through the press. Twelve months
)go this state of public feeling seemed
b be ut the lowest cbb. "J.ngosm" was
Entirely out of fashion, and the word as
! term of reproach, was used as n
Reapon to fight the party which was
Inspected of laundering after rash for
Ign policy, and to defend president
was supposed to represent the oppo-
ite extreme.
The revival of National spirit was first
Doticcable, when Admiral Benham was
hnde hero for firing upon Brazilian
gcbe ship which was making trouble for
American merchantmen.
The biggest chip which has found
Judgment upon Uncle Sans shoulder
Has been the Monroe doctrine. Originally
4 declaration that the acquisition of
further territory on the American CONT
nent by European powers would be re.
Ihrdcd by this government as an un-
Friendly act. the doctrine has been
Pmended in the patriotic heart IT, mean
fhnt in all disputes with foreign coun-
fries American Repuhlics must he hacked
bv our own Nation, the accepted pro-
lector of them all and that when boun-
pary cuarrels arise between an Ameri-
BAN Republic aud foreign power the
Former must he given the benefit of the
houbt. In short. the Monroe doctrine is
construed to he America for Americans
Ind against the rest of the world
For number of years there hns been
nm issue between ENGLAND and Vene-
zuela over the boundary line between
that Republic and British Guiana, which
was not brought to head
until gold was discovered in the disputed
territory. This government endeavored
10 induce England TO consent to arbitra-
ion. In reply the British offered to ar
bitrate the ownership of one small strip
pr territory to which they never urged
b POSITIVE claim, but peremptorily re-
fused 10 settle concerning the tract act
haily in dispute, except with complete
surrender on the part of the weaker ma
lion.
Venezuela undertook to enforce her
claim by cJecting party of Br,t ish 9th
GERS from the coveted lands, aud this
brought the question to an acute issue
A demand in the nature of an ultima
tum tor indemnity was forwarded by
Great Britain, the outcome of which is
still in the future. Then came President
olevela nd's already famous message,
the correspondence between
Secretary O.ney and Lord Salisbury
" hich is still fresh in the public mem
Dry and which aroused The patriotic
spirit of the country to the highest pos
sible pitch
A similar territorial dispute involving
the ownership of the island of Trinidad
is pending between Great Britain and
Brazil, but the former power doesn't
seem TO be disposed just now 10 press
her alleged rights in this case. She has
also a disagreement with our own gov
crnmcnt about the width of the long
southern strip of Alaska which lies he
tween British Columbia and the Pacific
ocean, but although the land claimed by
both parties is rich in precious metals,
the question isp't bothering our people
half SO much rs the quarrcls of our
weaker neighbcrs with the grasping ma
ton beyond the sea.
John Bull isn't the only person who
has troddcn upon the tail Of Uncle Sans
coat In the Waller episode johnny
[ irnpaud has been an offender and our
diplomacy has made 1t rather unpleasant
for him. This affair was an outcome of
the preparations Of Frnce for the con-
quest of Madagascar, Ex-Consul Wal
Ter, colorcd American citizen. had oh
tanned from the then independent gov
eminent of the island n concession TO a
large and very valuable tract of land
which the French, who claimed pro-
tectorate over Madagascar, refused to
Waller, on his part. denied
the authority of France over Madagascar
and rs he held communication with the
native government he was arrested on n
charge Of notting with the enemies Of
France. His treatment as a political
prisoner is said to have been harsh, and
he was transported to France, after n
semhlance of trial. where. though in
fragl'e health, he still remains in close
An appcal was. of course, made to the
state department nj Washington. This
elected demand upon France by this
government for n copv of tho records of
the court trial in which Waller was
convicted. so that the fairness of the
proceedings might he proved or disnroved.
with which demand France found II
difficult to comply. II the records, whom
produced, are not satisfactory to this
government the next stem will probably
be neremntory demand for the release