The San Francisco call., 1898-04-13
THE WORLDS VERDICT ON THE
 MESSAGE.

~ ONGRESS and the people may learn much | tom the comments of the foreign press on the
 message.
 The history of Mr. Cleveland's Venezuela message is recent. He had asked England to arbitrate dis puted boundary which for sixty years had been the cause of friction between that country and Ameri can state He treated 1t as an American question: long in friction and left unsettled cause o war which might lead to the landing of an armed force from Europe within this hemisphere, and to remote consequences of great gravity to the United States by compelling this Government to armed asser- ton of the Monroe doctrine He did not demand that England yield up the territory in dispute, for that would have meant a demand for the dismember- ment of the British empire, which we had right to ask. He demanded only the arbitration and settle ment of the boundary. When England after refus ing, assented, she attacked for the concession n every Continental capital and bad feeling toward her and the United States was freely expressed That n cident began and ended on strictly American lines and gave no for any European feeling Our action was wholly in line with our traditional policy
 President McKineys message is in the same line There is not phrase in it out of which European interest be extracted. It is couched in Monroe hemisphere terms entirely, and it remains to be whether Congress will observe similar limitations.
 It must not be forgotten that Spain able to make European alliance in defense of her posi- tion in this hemisphere The Holy Alliance, so called the exciting cause of the Monroe doctrine. Eng land, having lost her North American possessions except the Canadas, foresaw that retento of their American possessions by Spain and Portugal would make the Iberian peninsula strong to disturb the European balance To prevent recovery of lost American domain by the armies of the Holy Alliance Lord Canning suggested what is called the Monroe doctrine to President Monroe and John Quincy Adams, his Secretary of State The alliance dissolved.
 Let it be noted now that the United States resisted all pressure recognize the independence of the volted Latin-American colonies until they had won independence had expelled efficiently the jurisdiction of the mother countries and established government in form fit for admission into the family of nations.
 Independence must be a fact, not hypothesis, be- fore we can recognize it. The authority of the for mer government must be at definite end, before admit its subjugation if wish to stay in the safe line of precedent.
 In England the Presidents position is intelligenty understood. On the Continent 1t is ntellgently mis- understood in Spains interest. There is in the air the shadow of another Holy Alliance. If Congress declare for the independence of Cuba will have abandoned the Monroe doctrine and turned that shadow into substance. We have no right to demand that European Government submit to dis memberment when the domain lies in this hemis- phere than we have to demand that Germany give up Alsace and Lorraine because their people cap tives held the spoils of We make the destruction of the Maine cause of war. Our in- tervention stop strife in Cuba because of cal damage the expense of patrolling our coast to prevent hlibustering, and on humane grounds, may be taken a the declaration of by Spain, and in either the issues are purely American. But if we demand the independence of Cuba the position acutey changes The question be- comes European and foresee the end.
 In such crisis deaf should be turned to the Cuban Junta They have failed to expel Spain and she has failed to overpower them Having declared that under certain conditions they will turn their against the United States, this country consid CTS them an incident in the affair.
 The President has held the issue to wise lines and all that the Continental Governments can do is to make faces at and say ridiculous things about the United States and England.
 The Holy Alliance has friends in every American newspaper office in which pretended patriotic rage about the Maine desire to help the bond selling Junta by recognizing the independence of Cuba So far the President has made no mistake and if one come it will not be chargeable to the ad- minstration.
 Of course, if Congress take the step Americans must abide by the result and stand by their coun- try The tirades against the President are help for the enemy
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