The age-herald., 1901-03-29
More Direct Tone.


 The more direct tone that had been given to our dispatches concerning the dispute, our more insistent and emphatic suggestion of arbitration, the serious reference to the subject in the Presi- dents message, the significant resolution passed by Congress earnestly recommend ing arbitration, all protended a growth of conviction on the part of our government concerning this controversy, which grew to pronounced disappointment and anxi- ety when Great Britain, concurrently with these apprising incidents, repeated in direct and positive terms her refusal to submit to arbitration, except on con- dition that a portion of the disputed ter ritory which Venezuela had always claimed to be hers should at the outset be irrevocably conceded to England
 MT. Cleveland further said: "Recreancy to principle so fundamentally American as the Monroe doctrine on the part or those charged with the administration of our government was, of course, out of the question. Inasmuch, therefore, as all our efforts to avoid its assertion had mis- carried, there was nothing left for us to do, consistent with national honor, but to take the place of Venezuela in the controversy, so far as that was necessary in vindication of our American doctrine. Our mild and amiable proffers of good offices and the hopes we indulged that at last they might be the means of securing a weak sister republic peace and justice, and to ourselves immunity from sterner interpretation, were not suited to the new emergency. In our advanced position sympathy for Venezuela and solicitude for her distressed condition were no long CT to be the motive power of our con- duct, but were to give way to the duty and obligation to protect our own nation al rights"
 EngIand's Subsequent Action.
 The lecture concluded with a description of the subsequent action of Great Britain in acceding to arbitration as urged by the United States, and gave an account of the final settlement, which, according to this account, was vastly more favor able to Venezuela than has been sup posed by many. He said that his hearers would very likely be surprised that this Controversy was so long chronic, and yet in the end yielded so easily to pro- nounced treatment" He added: My own surprise and disappointment have arisen more from the honest misunderstanding and the dishonest and insincere misrepre- sentation on the part of many of our people regarding the motives and pur- poses of the interference of the govern ment of the United States in this affair" After a reference to the complaints on the part of those engaged in specula- tion and stock gambling" he concluded with these words:
 "I hope there are but few. of our fel- low citizens, who in their retrospects. do not now acknowledge the good that has come to our nation through this episode in our history It has established the Monroe doctrine on lasting foundations before the eyes of the world; 1t has giv- en us a better place in the respect and consideration of the people of all na- tions, and especially of Great Britain; 1t has again confirmed our confidence in the overwhelming prevalence among our citizens to disinterested devotion to American honor; and last, but by no means least, it has taught us where to look in the ranks of our countrymen for the best patriotism"