Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-02-26
SHOWDOWNS FOR
NATIONAL HONOR
Present Crisis Suggests Conduct of
Congress on Other Occasions.
Support of Cleveland When
War Threatened

"ITTAsH1NGToN made treaty with the
w Indians with the aid of Knox, said
Professor Taft recently in discussing the trials
and tribulations of being President. '"The
Senate made SO much difficulty that Wash.
ington said to Knox he would be damned If
he'd ever go to the Senate again. And he
never did I must apologize for putting pro-
family in the mouth of the father of my coun-
try, but if you knew the fellow feeling that
story gives me for Washington you would for
give me-"
1t isn't the Senate that's making the trouble
now; at least it's not acting so badly as the
House. The present situation, between
Congress and the President, is without prece-
dent in American history but it calls to mind
two or three interesting cases of the past
The conflicts between Polk and Congress-
johnson and Congress, and between certain
other Presidents and one or both branches of
the national legislature were mostly of
purely partisan or personal character. But
the united support given to President Grant
by the Senate during the controversy over
the Alabama claims nightly strengthened the
hand of the Chief Executive.
Cleveland had all sorts of trouble getting
along with Congress until it came to the con-
troversy with Great Britain over the Vene
zuelan boundary and the Monroe Doctrine
National honor was at stake and Congress
and Cleveland worked together. Cleveland
marked out the Governments course and Con-
gress stood behind him. After unsatisfactory
correspondence and conversations with Lon
don he sent message to Congress in which
he declared 1t incumbent upon the United
States to take measures to determine with
sufficient certainty for its justification, what
is the true divisional line between the republic
Of Venezuela and British Guiana" and
quested Congress to make IAN adequate appro-
priation for the expenses of commission to
be appointed by the executive, who shall make
the necessary Investigations and report upon
the matter with the least possible delay When
such a report is made and accepted 1t WILL In
my opinion, be the duty of the United States
to resist, by every means in its power, as a
wilful aggression upon its rights and interests,
the appropriation by Great Britain of any
lands, or the exercise of governmental jurisdic-
ton over any territory 1ohtch. after inuesti-
cation, Toe haze determined Of right to belong
to Venezuela.
Nations Worst Calamity
I'm making these recommendations I am
fully alive to the responsibility incurred. and
keenly realize all the consequences which may
follow.
"I am, nevertheless. firm In my conviction
that, while 1t is a grievous thing to contem-
plate the two great EnglIsh-speaking peoples
of the world as being otherwise than friendly
competitors in the onward march of civiliza-
tion and strenuous and worthy rivals in all
the arts OF peace, there is no calamity which
a great nation can invite which equals that
which follows a supine submission to wrong
and injustice, and the consequent loss of
national self-respect and honor, beneath
which is shielded and defended a peoples
safety and greatness"
Republicans and Democrats alike received
the message with rapturOus applause. Major
William Mckinley, candidate for the Presi-
dency, telegraphed; TT is American in letter
and spirit: and. in calm and dispassionate
manner upholds the honor of the nation, and
insures its security" The opposition news
papers Joined in similar expressions.
Apparently, the Congressman of that day
were responsive to the feeling of the public
at large and were themselves responsive to
the demands Of American honor. Cleveland
afterward wrote of the Venezuelan case, and
referred to the sublime patriotism and devo-
tion to their nations honor exhibited by the
great mass OF our eountrymen-the plain peo-
pie OF the land Though. in case OF the last
extremity. the chances and suffering OF con-
hict would have fallen TO their lot. nothing
blinded them 10 the manner In which the IN
tegrity OF their country was involved Not
for single moment did their Government
know the lack OF their strong and stalwart
support.
What Came of Firmness
II hope there are but few Of our fellow
citizens who. IN retrospect, do not now ac
knowledge the good that has come 70 our ma.
ton through this episode IN our history. II
has established the Monroe Doctrine on last
ing foundations before the eyes Of the world;
Il has given Us 3 bstter place IN the respect
ana consideration Of the people o. All nations,
ana especially q Grsaf Britalni II has again
confirmed our confidence in the 0yeFwheiH-
ine nranalanea among our elLlzens af dlsln-