} 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