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About The frontier. (O'Neill City, Holt County, Neb.) 1880-1965 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 26, 1895)
} WARNING TO BRITAIN. MUST KEEP HER HANDS OFF VENEZUELA. A Matter In Which the Monroe Doctrine Hold. Good—Principle. Involved In the Venernela Dl.pnte Declared to be of the Graveet National Importance—A Menace from President Cleveland. ¥ - America*! Firm Policy. , Washington, Deo. IS.—Soon after (>oth houses of Congress met to-day, the President sent, by Executive Cleric Pruden. the expected message in re gard to the Briti&h-Venezuelan com plication. It was at once read in both houses, as follows: To the Congress: In my annnal message, addressed to the Congress on the 3d inst., I called attention to the pending boundary controversy be tween Great Britain and the Republic Of Venezuela, and recited the sub stance of a representation made by this government to Her Britannic Majesty’s government suggesting rea sons why such dispute should be sub mitted to arbitration for settlement and inquiring whether it would be so submitted. t The answer of the British govern tt ment, which was then awaited, has since been received and, together with . the dispatch to which it is a reply, is hereto appended. ■ Such reply is embodied in two com munications addressed by the British prime minister to Sir Julian Paunce fote, thp British ambassador at this capita!.' It will be seen that one of these communications is devoted ex clusively to observations on the Mon roe doctrine and claims that in the present instance a new and strange 'Q extension ancl development of this doc trine is insisted on by the United States, that the reasons justifying^in appeal to the doctrine enunciated by President Mnnroe are generally inap piieapie “to the state of things in which we live at the present day'’and , especially inapplicable to a controversy involving the boundary line between Great Britain and Venezuela. TUB MONROE DOCTRINE UPHELD. Without attempting extended argu ments in reply to these positions.it may not bo amiss to suggest that the doctrine upon which we stand is strong and sound, because its enforcement is important to our peace and safety as a nation and is essential to the integrity of our free institutions a’nd the tran quil maintenance of our distinctive form of government. It was intended to apply to every stage of onr national life and cannot become obsolete while our repabiie endures. If the balance of power is justly a cause for jealons anxiety among the governments of the old world and a subject for our abso lute non-interference, none the less is an observance of the Monroe doctrine of vital concern to onr peoDleand their government. Assuming, therefore, that we may properly insist upon this doctrine without regard to “the state of things in Which we live,” or any changed , conditions here or elsewhere, it is not apparent why its application may not he invoked in the present controversy. If a European power, by an extension of its boundaries, takes possession of the territory of one of our neighbor ing republics against its will and in derogation of its rights, it is difficult to see why, to that extent, such Euro pean power does not thereby attempt to extend its system of government to that portion of this continent which is thus taken. This is the precise action which President Monroe de clared to bo “dangerous to our peace and safety,” and it can make no dif 1 ference whether the European system is extended by an advance of frontier Or otherwise. CLEARLY INTERNATIONAL LAW. It has been suggested in the British reply that we should not seek to ap ply the Monroe doctrine to the pres ent dispute, because it does not em body any principle of international law which “is founded on the general consent of nations,” and that “no statesman, however eminent, and no nation, however powerful, are com petent to insert into the code of inter " national law a novel principle which was never recognized before, and which has not since been accepted by the government or any other country.” Practically the principle for which we contend has peculiar, if not exclusive, relation to the United States. ' It may not have been admitted in so manv words to the code of international law, but since, in international coun sels every nation is entitled to the rights belonging to it, if the enforce mi nt of the Monroe doctrine is some thing wo may justly claim it has its place in the code of international law as certainly and as securely as it has if it were specifically mentioned, and when the United States is a suitor be fore the high tribunal that administers international law the question to be determined is whether or not we pre sent claims which the justice of that code of law can find to be right and valid. CONCESSIONS MADE BT ENOI.AND. The Monroe doctrine finds its recog nition in those principles ot interna tional law which are based upon the theory that every nation shall have its rights protected and its just claims enforced.. Of course this government is entirely confident that under the sanction of this doctrine we have clear « rights and undoubted claims. Nor is this igcored by the British reply. The prime minister, while not admitting that the Monroe doctrine is applicable to present conditions, states: "In de claring that the United States would resist any such entetprise if it was . contemplated,President Monroe adopt ed a policy which received the entire svmathy.of the English Government of that date " He further declares: -xnough the language of President Monroe is directed to the attainment of objects which most Englishmen would • agree to be saluta-y, it. is impossible to admit that they have been iuscribed by any adequate authority in the code of international law.” Again he says: "They (Her Majesty’s government) finally concur with the view which President Monroe apparently enter tained, that any disturbance of the existing territorial distribution in that hemisphere by .any fresh acquisitions . . ’ -c.•. . .. • 1 on vne pars ot any European state, would be a highly inexpedient change.” . ESQI.AXD DECLINES ABBITBATIOX. In the belief that the doctrine for which we contend was dear and de finite, that it was founded upon sub stantial considerations and involved our safety and welfare, that it was fully applicable to our present condi-1 tions and to the state of the world’s {>rogress, and that it was directly re sted to the pending controversy and without any conviction as to the final merits of the dispute, but anxious to learn.in a satisfactory and conclusive manner whether Great Britian sought under a claim of boundary to extend her possessions on this continent with out1 right, or whether she merely sought possession of territory fairly included within her lines of owner ship, this government proposed to the government of Great Britain a resort to arbitration as the proper means of settling the ques tion, to the end that a vexatious boundary dispute between the two, contestants might be determined and our exact standing and relation in re spect to the controversy might be made dear. It will be seen from the cor respondence herewith subinitted*'that this proposition has been declined by the British government upon grounds, which, under the circumstances, seem to me to be far from satisfactory. It is deenly disappointing that such an appeal actuated by the most friendly feelings toward both nations directly concerned, addressed to the sense of justice and to the magnanimity of one of the great powers of the world and, touching its relations to one compara tively weak and small, should have produced no better results. The course to be pursued by this government in view of the present condition does not appear to admit of serious doubt. Having labored faith fully for many years to induce Great Britain to submit this dispute to im partial arbitration, and having been now finally apprised of her refusal to do so, nothing remains but to accept the situation, to recognizeits plain re quirements and deal with it accord ingly. BOUNDARY INQUIRY AND FIRMNESS. Great Britain’s present proposition has never thus far been regarded as admissable by Venezuela, though any adjustment of the boundary which that country may deem for her advan tage and may enter into of her own free will cannot, of course, be objected to by the United Staten Assuming, 'however, that the attitude of Vene zuela will remain unchanged, the dis pute has reached such a stage as to make it incumbent upon the United States to take measures to determine with sufficient certainty for its justi fication what is the true divisional line between the republic of Venezuela and British Guiana. The inquiry to that end should of course be conducted Carefully and judicially, and due weight should be given to all available evidence, records and facts in support of the claims of both parties. In order that such an examination should >bc prosecutod in a thorough and satisfactory manner, . I suggest that Congress make adequate appro priation for the expenses of a commis sion to be appointed by the Executive, who shall make the necessary investi gation and report upon the matter with the least possible delay. When such re port is made and accepted,it will; in my opinion, be the duty of the United States to resist by every means in its power as a willful aggression upon its rights and interests, the appropriation by Great Britain of any lands or the exercise of government jurisdiction over any territory which, after in vestigation, we have determined of right belonging to Venezuela. NO SUI’INR SUBMISSION TO WRONG. In making these commendations I am fully alive to the responsibility in curred and keenly realize all the con sequences that may follow. I am nevertheless firm in my conviction that while it is a greyious thing to contemplate the two great English speaking people of the world as being otherwise than friendly competitors in the onward march of civilization 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 submis sion to wrong and injustice and the consequent loss of national self re spect and honor, beneath which is shielded and defended a people’s safety and greatness. Grover Cleveland. Executive Mansion, Dec. 17, 1895. OLNEY’S DECLARATIONS. The Contentions of the United States Set forth by the Secretary. Accompanying1 the President’s mes iage in regard to the Venzuela com plication is the correspondence on the subject. It 6tarts with Secretary Olney’s note reopening the negotia tions with Great Britain, looking to the arbitration of the boundary dis- I pute. This bears date of July 20 last« and is addressed to Mr. Bayard. The duty of America is summed up as follows: “In these circumstances, the duty of the President appears to him unmistakable and imperative. Great Britain's assertion of title to the disputed territory, combined with her refusal to have that title investigated, being a substantial appropriation of the territory to her own use, not to protest and give warning that - the transaction will be regarded as inju rious to the interests of tho people ol the United Stated as well as oppres sive in itself, would be* to iguore an established policy with which the honor and welfare of this country are closely identified. While the meas ures necessary or proper for the vindi cation of that policy are to be deter mined by another branch of the gov ernment, it is clearly for tho Execu tive to leave nothing undone which may tend to render such determina tion unnecessary.” Mr. Bavard is directed to read the communication to Loru Salisbury and | ask a definite decision regarding arbi- i tration. Plotting to Kill tho can Bsblix, Dec. l<i.—A special dispatch ! received here from Moscow says that a conspiracy against the life of the I czar has been unearthed there. The 1 dispatch adds that a number of bombs , have been seized and that several men I and women, including a prominent nihilist leader, have been arrested in connection with the plot. I I Western interest IRRIGATORS GATHER IN STATE CONVENTION. Third Animal Session of the Association at Sidney—Export of the Secretary— Remits of Efforts That Hare Been Pat Forth—Number of Claims Filed for Public Waters—Ah Educational Society Irrigation In Nebraska. The third annual Nebraska state Ir rigation convention opened at Sidney, Neb., under magnificent auspices, with nearly 1,000 delegates and visitors. The convention was called to order by Jo seph Obcrfelder, president of thef local executive committee, who in a brief ad dress, stated the object of the gather ing and the hope that the auestion which would be presented wcrold meet with a hearty co-operation, not only locallyvbut of the entire country. The address of welcome by Mayor Pease was a masterpiece of bumor and characteristic of a 'true western wel come. After the report of the committee on credentials the chairman, on motion, appointed a delegate from each oounty on the committee on resolutions The rftport of the secretary was pre sented, from which the following is taken: One year ago, by the gracious cour tesy of the representatives of this asso ciation, the writer became invested with the powers and duties of secreta ry. The only records accessible were the books, papers and documents con taining the report of the second annual convention, and these have been care fully preserved, The history of the first year of our organization, though familiar to all officers and many mem bers, lias not been committed to my official care. “No regular printed report of the last convention has ever been made, for the reason that no funds whatever were at hand to defray the expenses Many calls have been made for copies of the official report, hut aside from condens ed newspaper sketches of the conven tion, the demand has remained unsup plied. Such literature as has been furnished has been distributed at my own expense. Every letter of inquiry has been answered during the year, and no week has passed without cor respondence. All expenses for post age. telegrams, stationery, eta, hewe been paid by the secretary personally, except only such stationery and post age as has been furnished by the con vention committee in connection with preparations for this meeting. “The treasurer, Hon. James White head, writes me that he has not re ceived a cent of funds during his entire term of office, and it goes without say ing that the president and secretary, as all officers of our association, serve without salary. If the work that has been performed during the past year and during the past two years by your president should seem to you to* merit public approval and support, it may not be out of place here to suggest that the actual necessary printing and postage bills at least should be assured and paid by this organization. "It would not be strange, under ex isting circumstances, if little had been accomplished during the year's admin istration just closed, liut fidelity to history requires that a few things be set down to show the effort that has been put forth. The president, Hon. I. A. Fort, has carried on an agitational and educational campaign, extending over every congressional district in this state, and has gone forth as a mis sionary for the cause of irrigation to Illinois. Indiana and other states. He has kept the public press alive with irrigation information and interviews on the progress of the movement at home and abroad. • Every member of our state executive committee favored and worked for the passage of the pres ent Nebraska irrigation law, intro duced and championed in the legisla ture by Senator William R. Akers, no* a member of the state board of irriga tion. The resolutions that were adopted by the Kearney convention re lating to the passage of the district and general irrigation law have been an swered by legislation in accordance therewith Under the new code of irrigation law, pronounced by eminent critics to be one of the most carefully framed and practically adapted statutes of recent years in irrigation develop ment, the face of our state has been changed in many places as if by the hand of a master magiotan. Before one year has passed since the law went into effect forty-five counties have irri gation works of some kind under oper anon, ana oeiore tne spring' seed time •has come again the record will most certainly show the scientific applica tion of wuter to the soil in more than sixty of our pighty counties of the state. "Somewhere between 800 and '.too persons have filed their claims to the public waters of the state with the State Hoard of Irrigation and the com ing year will show a large increase i over this number. Over 9u0,000 acres ! of Nebraska productive soil have been placed under ditch, reservoir or wind mill irrigation. The cost of the works already constructed amounts to nearly SI.300,000, and the total cost when com pleted will be not less than $2,500,000. The result has naturally been a large increase in \lie value of the land brought under the beneficial opera tions of the new system. Careful esti mators now place the increase in land values already apparent from $8,000, 000 to $30,000,000. If one year of ac tive work can produce such prodigious results, only the realm of the reckless | dreamer can undertake the unfoldment I of the coming decade in the advance ! ment of scientific agriculture in the j new empire of the west | "A delegation of eleven, five of whom were appointed by the governor, rep resented Nebraska in the fourth Na tional Irrigation convention at Albu querque, N. M., last September. The resolutions adopted by the second an nual convention of our state associa ’ lion relating to future legislation by , congress relative to the supervision and | control of interstate waters was urged | by our delegation and adopted by con I gross The congress also adopted a 1 resolution asking an appropriation of j $250,000 for the purpose of paying the | cost of a thorough and systematic irri gation survey of the arid and semi-arid t areas of the United States, and calling < for legislation providing for said sur vey under the direction of governmen I tal efforts. - i “Nebraska waa honored by the presl dent of the National Irrigation con gress, who appointed your secretary one of the fire delegates to represent the congress in the Trans-Mississippi Commercial congress at Omaha last month. The last named organization adopted unanimously the resolutions on irrigation presented by tlio Nebras ka delegates and increased the recom mendation to the United States con gress for an appropriation of 9500,000. "This organization of ours has ex erted a tremendous educational effect during the past year in spite of all its difficulties. Greater undertakings and far more important duties are before us for 1800. The decisions of the courts are. not at all discouraging and the out look is constantly brightening. “As yet there are thousands who have little or no information on the subject of irrigation and the objects for which our association was organ ized, the development of the arid and semi-arid areas of Nebraska were never so important and pressing as now. The secretary desires, personally, to thank every officer of the association and every irrigator with whom he has come in contact during the year, either at long or short range, for their uniform courtesy and unfailing patience in con veying information and assistance ren dered in what has been confessedly on your humble servant’s part a weak, but honest effort to serve the common cans* of all. Fraternally submitted. "A. G. WOI.FENB AUGER." . THE MESSAGE APPROVED. II Created a Great SeniatIon In VuMir ton. Washington, Deo. 10.—The message of President Cleveland to Congress transmitting the correspondence be tween Secretary Olney and Lord Salis bury relative to the Venezuelan boundary dispute created a real sensa tion in Washington. Nowhere was there'a voice lifted in dissent from the doctrine so firmly laid down by the President, but on the contrary there was an outburst of patriotic feeling that must have been highly gratifying to the chief executive. On the streets, the message was dis cussed and old veterans of the late war talked exultingly of what they Were prepared again to undertake at the call of their country. In the great hall of the pension building, the employes gathered and sang with great gusto the “Star Spangled Danner,” and “My Country, ’Tis of Thee.” At the White House messages poured In from every qimrter of the country, congratulating the President upon his message. They came from men of all parties and station. The matter, of course, was of the greatest interest in diplomatic circles, and the general impression, on a sober second consideration of the notes, was that the matter has not reached a stage where war is imminent, and that the hint of Great Britain’s pur pose to reopen negotiations with Ven ezuela, looking to settlement of the dispute between themselves, perhaps may be regarded as the indication of how the whole matter will end. Minister Andrade of Venezuela secured a copy of the message early in the day, and cabled it, by way of Cuba and Hayti, to his government. The time of transmission is eight hours, and it is felt that its reception at Caracas will he the signal for an enthusiastic demonstsation. Mr. An drade's satisfaction was almost be yond the power of expression. “The message is superb,” he said with much enthusiasm. “It is even a surprise to me in its vigor, in the nobility of the sentiments expressed, and in the mas terly exposition of the Monroe doc trine. There can be no doubt or mis construction of its meaning. In my country it can not but arouse the keenest appreciation on the part of the government and the people for tliis powerful expression of friendship from a strong country in behalf of a comparatively weak one. ” Mr. Andrade was asked what the next step of Venezuela would be. “There is nothing further for us to do. We have announced our policy, and in that we have the co-operation and support of the United States. We are a little more than spectators now.” “Is the plan of a commission to investigate the question and fix the line feasible?” the minister was asked. “Periectly so,” he replied. “The evidence can teadily be furnished, so far as Venezuela is concerned. It will be a laborious work, as the documents and maps are very voluminous, and from many sources, including those of Holland, Spain and other countries, as well as those of V»nr»7n«»l».” POLICE GUAku CARS. Philadelphia Street Railway Service la Dad Shape. Philadelphia, Dec. 19.— Last night not a street car of the Union Traction company was running, though that company controls every line in the city with the exception of two com paratively short cross-town lines. The police were, absolutely unable to con trol the mob violence during the day and the company concluded to shut down at nightfall. Five hundred ex tra policemen were sworn in by Mayor Warwick last night, and added to the regular force of J.100. This morning all of the branches were in effect tied up. although cars with formidable escorts of police made their circuits nearly everyone of .them without molestation. While this enabled the officials to declare that the lines were ••open” it did not help the situation much as far as the convenience of the riding public was concerned. The officials of the company declare that they have plenty of men to run the cars if they can get protection for them. On the other hand, the strikers dcclaro that enongh skilled men to take tlicir places cannot be obtained. The strike has proved a windfall of considerable magnitude to the single independent line in the city, which re sisted the pressure when the big con solidation of all the other lines was recently affected. The company runs its cars to West Philadelphia on Arch and Vine streets, and in its endeavor to accommodate all the people who wish to patronize it, pressed into ser vice every summer car and even resur rected some which had been perma nently sent to the hospital. Every car run is packed to the roof. The men have almost universal sym pathy—not only from conservative eitizens who, while deprecating vio lence, declare that the strikers have right on their side—but from labor uniona throughout the country. ENGLAND’S WHEAT. BUYS MORE PROM RUSSIA AND ARGENTINE THAN US. Nit DtentM In the Quality That Ear land Import* bat She Inin Other Market* Than the United State*—Thl* Country No Imm Important. England increased her imports of wheat in 1894 by 9,800,000 bushels over ; her 1898 imports, but bought 17,000,000 bushels less from the United States and Increased her purchases from Russia by 23,000,000 bushels, from the Argentine by 18,000,000 bushels and from Austral asia by 3,500.000 bushels. In 1894 she bought leas wheat from Chile, Turkey, Roumania, Egypt, India and Canada. France grew more of her own wheat supply in 1894 than in 1892, buying less from all countries, except Russia, and Northern Africa. She bought upward of 25,000,000 bushels less from the United States, practically the total amount of her diminished imports. Oermany also bought about 8,000,000 m PI y-\ V*' n from- ’"■n I **» UnitfdHtlM*^ U)Wi& Ctpluring llu Ultiiot kerkil «j En3l0nd.lt bushels less wheat in 1894 than in 1892, taking 12,000,000 bushels less from the United States, but buying considerably more from Roumanla, Russia and Ar gentina, her purchases from Argen tina increasing by nearly the same quantity that her purchases from the United States decreased. Don’t Be Deceived. The free-trade papers are starting their old war-cry that tariff agitation will unsettle business. That depends upon the kind of tariff agitation it is. Tariff that will afford proper protec tion has never checked or injured busi ness in any respect. It is the threat of a free-trade tariff that unsettles mer cantile and industrial conditions. When the people know that a protective tar iff will be passed, they know that there will be more factory fires lighted, more work for labor, more demand for goods, more general trade and more prosper ity. When the people know that a free-trade tariff is to be passed, they know that the factories will be working abroad, that labor here will be Idle, that wages here will be lower, that the de mand for goods will be less and that business will be at a standstill, pro tective tariff talk does good. Free trade tariff talk does harm. The busi ness of the country to-day is notr so ac tive as the free-traders promised it would be and they are looking round for an excuse. They are trying to shunt it on to the talk of a tariff for protec tion. It is one of the regular shuffles of these “placid old fogies.” Don’t be deceived by it. The Condition of Farmers. The demand for the products of our factories is not as good as it should be, articles of manufacture are not passing freely into consumption. Thus with the greater influx of foreign goods it is Im possible that the conditions of our home industries can be a healthy one. As for agriculture the frauds practiced by the Free-Trade party upon our farmers have been exposed time and again. Farmers are deeply in debt and with out money. The demand for their pro ducts has dwindled away under the present administration almost to noth ing, and the outlook for our agricultur ists is possibly more gloomy even than it is to those interested in manufacture. “Between Seasons" Is Good. The volume of general trade for two Weeks has hardly reached expectations and now assumes the character of be tween seasons.—Bradstreet’s. Yes; “between seasons." Between the season of prosperity and of Protec tion in 1892 and the season of prosper ity that will follow the absolute con trol of National administration by the friends of protection In 1897. . Mi, Indutifal Kvolntloa of tha tepn«% Lands In America. Learns Our Language. Enters Our Factories. Studies Business Methods. Return* to Japan. GETTO HEDDIO fi/wuncnno MM OUlfl'O Becomes a Manufacturer. •0* A BAY SKILLED LABOR IW£ GOODS fP&ES EMAjfe fROM JAWM w- eg 1 And Supplies Our Market »«’j Democratic Opinion. Ridiculous as It sounds for the United States at this period of their existence, we are on the straight road to bank ruptcy. The situation is such that with congress in Republican control, a president of the opposition must ac cept the revenue bill which Is laid be fore him. There Is a deficiency In the national revenue, and we must have money. It Is a condition whteh con fronts us, not a theory.—The New York. Sun. v» • V