Evening star., 1901-04-02

This is the concluding paragraph of Mr.
Cleveland's second lecture on the Venezue
Ian controversy with Great Britain. which
has carried so much sorrow to the hearts
of many of the anti-imperialists:
Il hope there are but few of our fellow
citizens who, in their retrospects, do not
now acknowledge the good that has come
to our nation through this episode in our
history 1t has established the Monroe
doctrine on lasting foundations before the
eyes of the world it has given us better
place in the resDect and consideration of
the people of all nations, and especially of
Great Britain: it has again confirmed our
confidence in the overwhelming prevalence
among our citizens of disinterested deyo-
tiOn to American honor; and last, but by
no means least. it has taught us where to
loo, in the ranks of our countrymen for
the best patriotism.
The brethren were getting along very
nicely abusing the administration for its
foreign policy. They were counting Mr..
Cleveland one of them, as he is And
yet here he comes and throws a bomb
which explodes and does a great deal of
damage. They had forgotten that he had
offended them at one time almost as much
as Mr. Mckinley Las done. They had for
gotten how they had lectured and abused
him. and told him in all frankness that
he had no proper conception of the Monroe
doctrine and was making a spectacle of
himself before the world in his attitude
toward Great Britain. But here he reminds
them of it all still stands to his guns, and
tells them that those who supported him
then are the ones to whom the country
looks for the best patriotism"
Moreover, it suggests what might have
happened to Mr.. Cleveland himself. Sup
pose Lord Salisbury had been as blunt in
declining arbitration as Mr.. Cleveland had
been in demanding it. Suppose war be-
tween the United States and Great Britain
had followed as would have been most
likely Suppose the enemies of Great Brit
tain elsewhere-Russia the Indian bor-
der. the Beers in South Africa, for they
were even at that time ready; the extrem-
lists among the Irish in Ireland-seeing their
opportunity, had seized it. and become In
effect allies. Suppose Great Britain
had been conquered. Then the question OF
terms would have arisen. Should she be
left with anything on this side of the
water? Should she not be stripped of all
over here for our future security? Should
We not take Canada and the British West
Indies, both a safeguard and as rec
OmpenSe for our war Outlays?
Suppose those who had opposed the war
had then said: NO, let Canada and the
war under the pretense of succoring a
small neighbor. 1t was proclaimed as an
act of justice and humanity You have
carried the day, and now you propose to
turn the whole enterprise into a land
grabbing scheme. You We're at first fool
You are now betraying signs of being a
knave. Besides. we have all the land we
want. and that mixed population in Canada
would give no end of trouble And then
what should we do with those islands in
the West Indies?"
What would have been the war pariv's
reply to such a suggestion? A prompt and
still Il power over here after our third sue
cessful war with her, and this effort of
hers to increase her strength in South
America? The proposition would have
seemed absurd. and nothing is more likely
than that Mr.. Cleveland and his friends
obeying the popular spirit which had sus-
tained them in the war would have raised
the stars and stripes over all the British
territory on this side of the Atlantic.
1t Is but fair to say that the men who
opposed the attitude of Mr.. Cleveland in
the Venezuelan matter and that Of the
country later toward Cuba, were thorough
ly consistent. In the one case they said
1T Is none of our business" In the other
case they said. Let Spain have her way
with her own" You couldn't move them
with a derrick in a matter of national
pride or duty if any risk attached or any
serious consequences were to be expected
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