The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-04-15
Whv Cleveland Hesitates.

An interesting explanation of the ad-
ministration's hesitancy in taking for
ward action on the Cuban question is
advanced conjecturally by gentleman
whom the Washington Post describes
as thoroughly versed in international
law and experienced in diplomacy. In
his judgment anything like an aggres-
sive course by the executive in behalf
of the Cubans would precipitate a war
with Spain, but 1t Is not that alone
which causes Mr.. Cleveland to move
cautiously. A war with Spain would
be bad enough, especially If provoked
needlessly; but this diplomatist fore
sees that in the event of such q COM
plication Great Britain would imme-
diately recur to her Venezuela tan
trums, and we should be confronted
with the unpleasant predicament of
having to fight Spain and England SIM
ultaneously, with perhaps Austria,
Italy and Germany thrown in-for
England has, it Is reported, just COM
pleted an alliance with the driebund--
or else Of having to abandon the Mon
roe doctrine incontinently, swallowing
all the emphasis in the presidents Ven-
ezuelan message.
The gentleman in point continues:
american newspapers, as we'll as Eng
lish newspapers, have been so filled
Swith rumors Of negotiations in regard
to the Venezuelan controversy that
they have given the impression that the
whole matter has reached a satisfac-
tory conclusion. No such thing is true.
OF course there have been negotiations.
Great Britain has submitted her case,
but she has not taken one step toward
the recognition Of the Monroe doctrine
as laid down by President Cleveland,
and she has not given the slightest
intimation that she expects to do other
than maintain her present position in
Venezuela. There is no matter which
gives this government more concern
than the stolid and Indifferent posi-
ton which Great Britain has taken in
regard to our Monroe doctrine. Public
men here seem actually to have for
gotten that II the present position of
Great Britain continues, that If the
Venezuelan commission finds that
Great Britain has a poor case, as it
probably will, this nation may be COM
PEELED to declare war on Great Britain
or else back down. England has done
absolutely nothing which would lead
to the idea that she intends to give up
one inch Of her claim in Venezuela"
This. to be sure, is only one mans
opinion. It is, however, somewhat
plausible. No one familiar with Lord
Salisbury's characteristics can readily
believe that he has been suddenly in
fuenced by mere newspaper discussion
to recede far from his original position
with reference to the Guiana boundary
line or that he is the kind Of man to
relish a compulsory dose of American
fed crow. At the same time, it Is un-
deniable that public opinion in Great
Britain has since President Cleveland's
spirited message moved conspicuously
forward, and would now tolerate war
with the United States only upon in
dubitable moral grounds. Taking all
these facts into consideration, we are
inclined to doubt whether a war with
Spain, reached without fault on our
part, would necessarily mean q war
also with Great Britain, But II such
q double misfortune should in any con-
tingency befall, 1t would by no means
appall our people. They would in such
an emergency rise to the critical occa-
sion and meet it like brave men.