Evening Star Newspaper, December 18, 1895, Page 9

THE EVENING STAR, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1895-SIXTEEN PAGES. ~ ENGLAND'S CLAIMS: The Shifting British Frontier in South America. DIAGRAMS OF THE VENEZUELA AFFAIR AClear Statement of the Perplexing Situation. IN BLACK AND WHITE. > — which stipulates that the Orinoco colonies skould belong to tne Spanish and the Esequi- bo coloni*s to the Dutch. At the time when the treaiy was made the district which is now in dispute was uninhabited. Later, col- onies and detached settlements were posted here and there within the territory, but it continued to be a “No Man's Land.” Set- tlements in British Guiana continued to spread slowly to the westward. The Es- equibo river runs northward to the Atlantic; flowing into it from the west are large tributaries, draining thousands of square miles. Venezuela insisted, and still insists, that what was meant by the Esequibo col- onies the Dutch settlements on the nd as under- Esequibo river, and it has always insisted that the proposed boundary was the east bank of that river. Map No. 1 illustrates the situation from the Venezuelan point of view. The British government finally took the position that what was meant by the treaty was not the Esequpbo river itself but the entire watershed draining into it. By assuming this position Great Britain pushed her possessions far to the westward; but. even admitting her pretensions, the homburgk’s line; established and av nu surveyed by Sir Robert Se burgk In 1841 watershed of the Esequibo river could not extend beyond the Maroco river, which dlso flows northward and into the Atlantic ocean, fifty miles to the westward of the Esequibo. In 1841 Schomburgk line was run by Sir Robert Schomburgk. The tract included within this line is clearly shown by the white portion of map No. 2. From this it will be seen that it includes the larger part of the val of Mazaruni and the Cuyuni rivers, and that it extends far outside the wate shed of the Esequibo and to the great mo the cou rdeen in of the Orinoco. For such line there appears to have been no authority of any kind, and it is natural to conclude that the object was | to establish a post at the mouth of this great river and so dominate its commerce. Tae opposition of Venezuela to this boundary was vigorous, and finally, in INt4, Lord Aber- deen. prime minister of Great Britain, pro- posed a compromise line. This line is in- dicated on map No. %—the mouth of the Orinoco was abandcned and the line, start- ine from the mouth of the river Maroco, larger river. V her willingne as beginning sweeps rt of the water ezuela meantime to consider ard, ineluding ed of the C had ind the boun the at the mouth of the Ma granting England in this way full eignty over the wh portions ‘as shown on map No, 4. The controversy re- mained unsettled and a soure Lord Granville, in 1881, proposed a new line. The amount of territo: of friction. | ‘y included fs cle 2 3 compromise gested by Lord Granville in 1881, indicated In map No. 5. Great Britain claim- ed an additional stretch of territory of great Smportance and value along the Atlantic coast beyond the Aberdeen boundary, but did not push her possessions as far as the Orinoco. With the discovery of the Barima gold fields, to the westward of the Schomburgk Une, as well as the Yuruan gold mines, the value of the territory became evident. England began to push her pretens the westward. She gradually extended the sphere of her activity and Influence until ashe has laid claim to an enormous tract, i pins, et | Seaitered by the wind as have been largely opened by British West Indian miners, who have flocked there in considerable numbers, and who have taken with them their own methods of govern- ment. Nevertheless, while Great Britain has claimed this territory, she has indi- cated a willingness to arbitrate as to her right to any territory west of the Schom- burgk Ene, but has absolutely declined to refer to arbitration her rights to any terri- |__| aml Perky AE SK Map No, 6—Extreme limit of Britain's present claim. tory east of that line. If she maintains this attit she will be able to keep her grip upon the mouth of the Orinoco river. Well-informed explorers and mining engi- neers who have visited the region claim that the gold flelds extend for some 5X) miles from the Orinoco river to the Bra- zMan boundary, and look forward to their future development on a scale equal in im- portance to that now going or in the mines of South Africa. Probably this is an exag- gerated view, as, while the fields are un- doubtedly very rich, the conditions of life in a tropical country will always prevent as great lerprise being shown as in a country of excellent climate, like the Rand mines in South Africa. The United States has steadily urged, through diplomatic nnels, that Great Britain should submit the whole question | totarbitration. [t has not assumed that either Great Britain or Venezuela is right, mply that such questions were best by that method. The newspapers ations that in recent correspond- nee from the State Department the appli- ation of the Monroe doctrine to this con- Iroversy has been pointed out. The effect of sentiment unon business is ‘indicated in the small volume of bus'ness between Great Britain and Venezuela. Ow- ing to the controversy between those two ountries, diplomatic relations have long been suspended, and the feeling among Venezuelan merchants against England is tter. It is partly by reason of this that the Upited States, Germany and France have practically monopolized c with this rich republic, and the Great Britain with Venezuela consists of exports to that eountry of but $1,000,000 value and the imports were but $i value. While this decline fs not entircly due to sentiment, it has undoubtedly prov- ed an inmiportant factor in commerce with Venezuela. THE FEDERATION ADJOURNS. cs to Have Nothing to Do With National PF jen, The Federation of Labor adjourned sine die in New. Yerk yesterday afternoon, and nany of th> delegates left for their homes. At yesterday's icn a preposition to form a nafiona’ crganization of unskilled labor was adopted by the convention. Del- ‘gate O'Sullivan presented the following it De | resolution, which was carried by a vote of 1460 to 1 “Resolved, That this convertion declares ‘hat party poltics, whether democratic or republican, socialistic, populistic or any siher organization, should not have any jlace in tne Federation of Labor.” The questicu Of electing two fraternal ielegates to the British trades union con- s8, to be held in London cn September 1896, was taken up. John McBride, the sident, was elected one of the lelegates by acclamation. There were two nominations for the second delegate. They were Adolph Strausser of the Cigarmakers’ Union and J. W. Sullivan of the Typo- graphical Unien. Strausser was elected, the vote being: Strausser, 2; Sullivan, Sullivan was made alternate. WHERE THE PINS Go. A Very Vexing Problem is Solved at Last by an Inquiring Mind. From the Chicago Globe, An old gentleman in the north of London has recently been making a series of in- teresting experiments with a view to find- ng a solution to the question often asked: What becomes of the cc untless myriads of . that are annually lost?" As he expected, he finds that it is the disintegrai- ing effects of the air which resolve even Nese intractable little instruments into their elements. He put some hundreds of brass and steel mins, needles, hairpins, ete., in a quiet cor- vr of his garden, where they would ve ubject to ali the destructive agencies of dampness, earth, wind, ete., although secure from the predatory hands and disturbing veet of inquisitive intruders. The results ire curious. Ordinary hairpins were the first (taking # days on an average) to oxidize into a brownish rust—ferrus oxide—which was it was formed, and not a trace of a single one could be detected at the end of seven months. Com- mon bright pins took as long as eighteen months before their combustion was com- plete, but brass ones had been entirely turned into green verdigris long before that. From the Detroit Free Press. At midnight the other night an officer found a man asleep in an open hallway, and, after working two or three minutes arouse him, sa! Come. get out of this.” “What for?” asked the man. Jo you want to freeze to death?” No.” hen get up. Do you know where you “Do 1?" growled the man, as he got rid f his sleep at last. “What do you take for? Do you think somebedy has hyp- lotized me, and that I Imagine I'm occu- -tloor parlor at the Fifth Ave- pying a fi nue Hotel? You'll hy to come along.” ation house.” of course, but T don’t feel right this thing. The idea that I didn’t know wi 1 was! After a man has put in sixteen years of sleeping In barns, fence ler trees in all sorts come along and rol! him cut of a snug berth and pull his leg and tup his feet und ask him tf he knows where he 1 feel hurt, sir—hurt and insulte You call ay ‘jen hallway a snug berth, on?” qyeriod the officer, 9 matter what I call it! growled the man. “I ha:! my eye on that spot all the afternoon. At 9 o'clock I snugged in for a delicious old snooze. coe Sources of Ivory. ‘rem Chambers’ Journal. African ivory Is now conceded to be the nest. The first quality of this comes from ear the equator, and It has been remarked h regard to this fact that the nearer the yiator the smaller is the elephent, but the zer the tusks. The ivory from equator- Africa is closer in the gram and has S tendency to become yellow by exposure than Indian ivory. The finest transparent African {vory is collected along the west coast between latitude 10 degrees north and 10 degrees south, and this is believed to deteriorate in quality and to be more liable to damage with Increase of iatittde in either direction. The whitest ivory comes from the east coast. It is considered to he in best conditi6n when recently cut; it has then, a mellow, farm, transparent tint, as if soaked in ofl, and very little appearance of grain or texture. Indian ivory has an oj.aque, dead white color, and a tendency to tecome discolored. Of the Asian varieties Siam is considered to be the finest, being much superior in appearance and density. The ivory of the mammoth tusks is not very much’ esteem- ed, particularly in England considere too dry and brittle for elaborate work, be- silos which it is very Hable to turn yellow. As a matter of fact, the largest tusks very rarely leave Asiatic Russia, being teo rot- ten for industrial purposes. ri | as Indicated on map No. 6. The gold mines | | i | | COMMENT IN LONDON Morning Papers Attack President Cleveland’s Message. GREAT BRITAIN READY 10 RESIST ‘American Journals Nearly Unani- mous for the Monroe Doctrine. WHAT LEADING MEN SAY All of the London morning papers this morning gaye editorial space to a discys- | sion of President Cleveland's message te Congress on the Venezuelan question, and to the merits of that question itself. The Times says in its editorial on the situation: “It is impossible to disguise the gravity of the difficulties that have arisen between Great Britain and the United States. Pros- ‘ident Cleveland's message gives additional importance to the dispatches between Washington and London. The details of the boundary dispute are insignificant in comparison with the far-reaching claims advanced in Mr. Olney’s dispatch and em- phasized in President Cleveland's message. “Convinced as we are that a rupture be- tween the two great English-speaking com- munities would be a calamity not only to themselves, but to the civilized world, they are nevertheless driven to the conclusion that the concessions this country Is se- riously summoned to make are such as no self-respecting nation, least of all one ruling an empire that has its roots in every quar- ter of the globe, could possibly submit to. The United States themselves would never for a moment dream of yielding ,to this Kind of dictation. We are of the same blood, and shall not be less careful of our national honor. “We can hardly believe that the course threatened by President Cleveland will be seriously adopted by the American govern- ment; but, if so, it will be incumbent upon us, without entering upon any aggressive measures, to protect our imperial interests and to stend up for our rights under inter- national law." - The Times proceeds to argue that the Monroe doctrine hes never been recognized as international law, and it quotes Lord Salisbury’s admission that any disturb- arce of the territorial districts on the western hemisphere would be improbable, and then continues: “But the recognition of this expediency does not cover the preposterous deductions which Mr. Olney's dispatches advance, and which President Cleveland makes the basis of the most astounding proposal that ha: perhaps ever been advanced by any gov ernment in times of peace since the days of Napoleon. “We desire'to speak with all proper re- serve, but we can confidently predict that Great Britain will not admit the preten- sions put forward by President Cleveland. No commission appointed by a power which is not a party to dispute will be recognized by us as having a title of any sort to pro- nounce upon a boundary question. It will receive no assistance from British authori- ties. Its decision will be null and void from the outset, even if its origin did not taint it with partiality. We shall be very much astonished if there is any disagree- ment among the organs of public opinion in this country as to the manner in which such a claim should be confronted.” The Times contends further that Eng- land is bound to resist the extended claiin of Monroeism, and says: “A power which has command of the sea does not regard 3,000 miles of intervening ocean as severing it from Its subjects.” Politics Hinted At. The Times says also: “These unnecessary and aggressive ex- cursions seem to point to the possibility that this sudden offensive movement on the part of the United States government has more to do with party politics than with diplomacy. Much may be pardoned in view of the approaching election, which, to a large extent, explains the union of the re- publicars with the democrats in raising the jingo cry. It is to be remembered, moreover, that a deal of time must elapse before the commisison can be appointed, and still longer time before it can report. It may not come into existence, Indeed, until the executive has passed into other hands. Meanwhile, the sober, common sense of the Araerican people, we should hope, will condemn the attempt to pick a quarrel with a friendly power. “In any case our own course is clear, We must stand firmly and calmly upon’ our rights as an independent state, and, if necessary, take practical measures to as- sert them. It may even be expedient tu settle the frontier question by drawing a line of our own—of course, there can be no thought of anything less than the Schom- burgk line—and allowing the United States and Venezuela to settle the matter as they may.” The Times only has two editorials, both of which are devoted to Venezuela. It also publishes all the correspondence Issued on the subject. ‘The second editorial contains a long dis- cussion of the history of the boundary dis- pute, and says that the American govern- ment now argues, with surprising disin- genuousness, that England never had any consistent theory of its rights, but has been gradually enlarging its claims, “but it cannot be too clearly understood,” says the Times, “that we have never receded from the contention that our full claim is what we inherited from the Dutch.” Englishmen Must Take It Seriously. ‘The Standard, the conservative organ, in an editcrial! cn the message, says: “This extraordinary document will re- ceive frcm English people more dispassion- ate treatment than the decidedly provo- cative nature of Its contents renders alto- gether easy. It was prepared by the re- sponsible head of a state, and will prob- ably receive the formal assent of Congress. Englishmen must therefore take it serious- ly, and refrain from speculations that would otherwise be attractive as to the utility, in view of the presidential election, of twisting the lion’s tail. “The position President Cleveland as- sumes is preposterous. No American citi- zen would for a moment dream of admit- ting {ts soundness in any analogous case in which the honor and interests of America were concerned. There can be but one answer. We decline to humiliate ourselves and we refuse to accept the de- cision of Washington in matters altogether outside its jurisdiction.” The remainder of the Standard’s article is an echo of Lord Salisbury’s argument, and it concludes by saying: “Great Britain will reject the demands as indignantly as Congress would if America were asked to submit her title to Alaska to the judgment of impartial umpires.” The Daily Telegraph (liberal) says that America has no concern in the Venezuelan dispute. The editorial goes on to say: “In truth, this invocation of the Monroe doctrine seems on this side of the water to be irrelevant, because there is no question of territorial greed or the imposition of a Etropean system. It is absurd, because a statement of an American policy can hard- ly claim to attain the rank of a principle of international law. By what right does the Washington government demand the arbitration of this matter, when the very theory which guides their interference has absolutely nothing to do with the points in dispute? What nation has ever agreed to the Monroe doctrine? How often has the Washington government itself ventured to advance it? “We say notring of the process of twist- ing the lion's tall generally resorted to at times of electoral excitement. Yet, if it be true that all this zealous support of Venezuela originated in partisan intrigues there is still less reason why we should submit to what, from the British -stand- point, is a wholly perverse and inadmiss- ible claim.” Epitaph of the Monroe Doctrine. The Daily Graphic says, in an editorial: “The epitaph of the Monroe doctrine has been written in the Venezuelan corres- pondence. President Cleveland's message is a document which self-respecting Amer- icans will not read with either pride or pleasure. It only serves to illustrate another of the absurdities of modern in- terpretation of the Monroe doctrine. “Does President Cleveland seriously think that we can admit the proposition that the . frontiers of European colonies in the two Americas are to be held at the good pleas- vre of a committee of Washington gentle- men? What would the United States have said in 1848, if we, as an American power, had advanced the claim based on this prin- ciple to protect Mexico from a wantonly aggressive war by which President Cleve- land’s predecessors settled the Texan boundary disptte?” Serious Conggquences Not Expected. The Daily Nets, the liberal organ, says: “It 1s a remarkable document, though its consequences dre not likely to be serious. Neither Secrétdry Olney nor President Cleveland seems’ to realize that the Monroe doctrine cannotjbe quoted as authoritative in negotiations-with a forelgn power. The definition of fonroeism is a matter for Americans themselves. It binds nobody else. “President Ciéveland proves too much. It follows frorh ‘his message that neither British Guiana nor Canada has any right to an independent existence on American soil. England is threatened with war un- less she permits President Cleveland to ad- just the boundaries of Venezuela. Happily there is still some sense of honor in the American people. Regarded as a party move, the message is not unskillful. It pvts the republicans in a hole. If they as- sent to the commission they enable Mr. Cleveland to .pose as an accomplished twister of the lion’s tail. If they refuse the commission they enable the democrats to denounce them as the servile friends of the Brittsher. : “But the great body of Americans will not be led by any such motive or considera- tions, Lord Salisbury's firm and moderate statement of the case will appeal to the justice and common sense of the American People.” “Tall Twisting.” The Chronicle, liberal, says: “The message will be read here with blank astonishment. Can these be serious words fddressed to us by the descendants of the little snip load of English folks who salled in the Mayflower? We will not take things too seriously, but will suppose that President Cleveland ts engaged in the familiar work of tail twisting. “There is but one answer. If the enlarged application of the Monroe doctrine is to be enforced, America must become responsible for the foreign policy of all the impetuous little states on the two continents of Amer- fc. But what if the commission would find that we were well within the rights? Per- haps, however, the presidential election will be over then and there will be no need of patriotic messages. Anyway, the message cannot obscure or defeat the blood ties of affection between the two countries.” The Post, conservative, says: “A dispatch of this kind is clearly intend- ed not for the English foreign office, but for the American electors. The -commission proposed can have no more binding effect on this country than would the decision of the Supreme Court at Washington.” The Morning (conservative) regards the message as a dignified one. AMERICAN NEWSPAPER VIEWS. What is Said by the Press on the President's Message. : From the Baltimore American (rep.). The President {s right. If the British gov- ernment declines to settle this vexatious boundary dispute in a reasonable way, the United States will step in and decide the question with absolute fairness. From the Baltimore Sun (dem.). The situation In a nutshell, therefore, is that the jingoes-are left without an Issue or an occupation, and that the President, while doing all that the most extreme could de- mand, has saxed, the country from prectp!- tate action afid has captured the only re- maining issué-of his political opponents. From the Philadelphia Times (ind.). In the cold Ugbt of recognized interna- tional law or cus*#m, it would doubtless be easy to criticise the President's position, yet we believe that it expresses the common feelings of Americans in this inatter, and that it will be cordially suscained by the whole nation. From the Philadelphia Inquirer (rep.). A positive and determined stand by the United States will prevent the firing of a gun. In the end both countries will come to terms, Meanie the position of this gov- ernment, whdtheré wise of otherwise, will be supported by patriotic Americans. From the Philadielhig Press (rep.). The American people will sustain and up- hold the government in adopting this reso- lute action. It is due the honor and self- respect of our country. From the New York World (dem.). President Cleveland's message to Congress on the Venezuelan matter is a serious blun- der because it is based upon a wrong con- ception, because it ig not sustatned by inter- natfenal law or usage, and because tt places the United States in a false position. -From the New York Press (rep.). President Cleveland's message to Con- gress is a faithful reflection of the senti- ments and disposition of the American peo- ple. From the New York Advertiser (rep.). Grover Cleveland at one leap has reached the high plane of patriotism. President Cleveland’s message voices the sentlin:nt of the entire American people. It is an able state paper. From the New York Evening Post (Ind.). What interests us most is how Mr. Cleve- land’s proposal to appoint a tracing com- mission will strike the republicans. Will they give him the money for its exponses and enable him all next year to pose as the war candidate for the presidency? From the Chicago Tribune (rep.). However the boundary dispute may eventuate, the thanks of the country are due to President Cleveland for his vigorous, resolute, fearless and patriotic defense of that doctrine. From the St. Lowls Republic (dem.). President Cleveland’s message is the most virlle assertion possible on the spirit of the Monroe doctrine. This ia not jingoism. It is Americanism. From the Rocky Mountain News (Ind.). “Because he is right he should be heartily sustained by every patriot. War seems in- evitable. If it does not come one country or the other must stand a confessed brag- gart.” The News predicts in case of war that all South America would side with the United States, while France and Germany might join with England. "rom the San Francisco Chronicle (rep.). The argument of the President is unan- swerable. Americans of all shades of po- litical gpinion will indorse the message. It is altogether likely, too, that Congress will in some formal way sanction the interpre- tation of the Monroe doctrine advanced by the President. It may be depended upon that the American people, without regard to party, will sustain Mr. Cleveland to the extent he suggested. From the Denver Republican (rep.). “If neither England nor Venezuela inter- fered with the commission, and if either or both should then refuse to accept the bound- ary line laid down by it, would it become our duty to whip elther or both into sub- mission?” From the Cincinnat!, Enquirer (dem.). “Cleveland's message is an exhibition of American backbone which every American will applaud. Congress must sustain Pres- ident Clevelanji’ sition or else abandon the Monroe doctrife. Petty, indeed, is the soul that would refuse on account of per- sonal dislike to sugtain this patriotic utter- ance of President Cleveland.” From the Baltimore Herald (ind.). . It seems, after all, that Groyer has the grit. % From the Buffalé Express (rep.). “At last the people of the United States will present a gotidtront with regard to one foreign policy |jmbtoken by any bickerings. It is not too much, therefore, to say that the message read to the houses of Congress yesterday is the niost Important document that Mr. Grover Cleveland ever penned. He notifles Europeang.that if they violate the Monroe doctrine they will have it to answer for" j From the St. Lonts Globe-Democrat (rep.). It 1s an echo of his predecessors, Jokn Adams and Andrew Jackson, in crises when the houor and interests Gf the country were endangered by foreign aggressions. If the Morrce doctrine is to remain a vital prin- ciple of American diplomacy this is the time to assert it. From the Cincinnati Commerctal Gazette (rep.). No one could have asked for a stronger, more decisive or more vigorous support of the Morroe doctrine. The message will be- come one of the nation’s great historic papers. From the Boston Standard (ind.). President Cleveland's message is of 4 tex- thre which will suit the most ardent follow- ers of a militant policy. It brushes away at one stroke ali Lord Sslisbury’s intimations that the Monrose doctrine {s Inapplieable to the present situation by ringing insistence on its ever-pressing virility and leaves no answer possible except an unequivocgl re- fusai to accept the ecnclusions drawn. From the Chicago Times-Herald (ind.). The nation is with the President. It makes no difference to us whether ur not any for- eign government may decline to admit the validity of the Monroe doctrine. From the Chicage Chronicle (dem.). The President's message is not only a strong appeal to American pride and patri- otism in the matter now at issue; it is a clean-cut and vehement enunciation of the Monroe doctrine, which in his hands is vitalized as never before since its first pro- mulgation. Great Britain must abandon its claims to Venezuclan territcry. he American Congress must relegate the Mon- roe doctrine to the limbo of forgotten dreams, or the question must be left to the dread arbitraiment of the sword. From the. Chicago Inter-Ocean (rep.). ‘The message is in a tone that will be pleas- ing to the country. It insists upon the valid- ity of the,Monroe doctrine, and upon its application to present conditions, and it clearly indicates a determination for its enforcement. From the New York Recorder (Rep.). President Cieveland’s message to Con- gress, transmitting the reply of Lord Salis- bury on the Venezuelan boundary question, is an agreeable surprise. It is worthy of the occasion. As an American President's clear and resolute reaffirmation of the Moa- roe doctrine, it will be warmly welcomed and enthusiastically indorsed by men of all parties. From the New York Journal (Dem.). President Cleveland's message to Congr2ss on the subject of Lord Salisbury’s refusal to accept the proposal of the United States that the question of the Venezuelan boun- daries shali be submitted to arbitration is patriotic, dignified and American. From the Chicago Evening Post (Dem.). if there is any man in this country who has doubted that Mr. Cleveldnd at the prop- er moment would rise to the height of a great presidential responsibility, the doubt must be effectually dissipated. From the Chicago Record (Ind.). In substance, the message is a dignified declaration that the Monroe doctrine is sound internatioral law, that the United States will abide by it, and that farther ag- gression In Venezuela will be met with re- sistance by every means in this nation’s power. From the Springfield (tass.) Union (Rep.). Good for Mr. Cleveland! This sounds like business. We do not court war, but we are not afraid of it, and John Bull may as well understand that we propose to maintain our rights. From the Rochester (N. Y.) Post-Express (Ind.). it is simple, sound and strong, moderate in its proposed remedy, but none the less to the point; and the best American sentiment will go with it. From the Rochester (N.Y.) Morning Herald (Dem.). These are solemn and pregnant words, and their gravity is fully admitted by the President himseif. But the course of the English government has left us no other al- ternative. From the Syracuse Post (Rep.). Mr. Cleveland's position is one of patriotic firmness which every citizen, regardless of party, should heartily approve. . From the New York Tribune (Rep.). The President has spoken straightforward, manly words, which are worthy of, and which we believe will command, the ap- proval and enthusiastic support of the peo- ple of the United States. From the New York Sun (Dem.). Mr. Cleveland has borrowed a new unl- form, but all the same it is the American uniform, and the country will follow the man who wears it. For the Monroe doc- trine, as enunciated in the President’s mes- sage, except fer a line or two that we need not consider here, the people of the United States are solid and enthusiastic. From the New York Herald (Ind.). Menacing as is the aspect which affairs have now assumed, it is to be hoped that the issue may be settled without disturbing the friendly relations existing between the two countries. From the New York Times (Ind.). The President joins the courage of an American to a jurist’s respect for right and justice. The position he takes is immeas- urably strengthened by the fact that it is based upon a demand for arbitration. From the Providence Journal (Ind.). ‘The President yesterday sent a message to Congress which practically recommends war with Great Britain under certain con- tingencies. His casus belli is unwurthy of a statesman, and its adoption can only be attributed to what he believes to be the po- litical necessities of his party. WHAT SOME GOVERNORS SAY. “Bold, Courageous and Timely.” When esked last night what he thought of President -Cleveland’s message, Gov. Morrill of Kansas said: : “All Americans who are Americans in pa- triotic spirit will indorse the message. It is bold, courageous and timely. It is what the people were looking for, and if England insists upon war, they will respond as one man to the President’s call for troops, and in that event Kansas may be depended upon to furnish her full quota.” Ex-Minister Lincoln’s Position. Ex-Minister to England Robert T. Lincoln, speaking of the President's Venezuelan message, sald: “As Congress now has the matter in hand, we may see in the near future some action toward the settlement of the bound- ary question In Venezuela. I think it was in 1891, while I was minister to England, that this government asked me to act as intermediary in a boundary line dispute between England and Venezuela—not the dispute now spoken of. Lord Salisbury of- fered to arbitrate the question at that time, but the Venezuelan emissary declined to accept any other settlement than a fixed line marked on his official charts. This broke off diplomatic rélations and~ ended my position in the matter. I believe in the Monroe doctrine in connection with the Venezuelan troubles, provided this govern- ment is prepared to enforce { Commended by McKinley, Gov. McKinley, having been requested by a numter of newspapers by wire to ex- press his views on the President's message on the Venezuelan question, has responded as follows: “Replying to your dispatch of this date touching President Cleveland’s Venezue- lan message, it is my judgment that the President's firm and dignified statement of the adherence of our government to the Monroe doctrine will command the ap- proval of the people of Ohio. His message enforces with strength and vigor the posi- tion of the United States in its relations with the European powers for more thau seventy years. It is American in letter and spirit, and in a calm and dispassion- ate manner upholds the honor of the nation and insures its security.” ‘There Will Be No War.” Gov. Matthews of Indiana said: “The best way to meet an issue is to meet it boldly and bravely. There will be no war with Great Britain. Whenever the United States says Great Britain shall not trespass, that settles the question. Now is the time to assert the Monroe doctrine. If this country shall pursue a yaciilating course, it would be simply laying up trou- ble for the future.” Virginia Would Not Flinch. Gov. O'Ferrall of Virginia, when asked last night for an expression of opinion on the President's message, said: “I have just read the President's mes- sage. It is strong, pointed and direct, and can leave no doubt as to his position. It is characteristic of the man, courageous and truly American. There will be no retract on his part. It remains to be seen what Congress will do. The Monroe doctrine is the very woof and web of the policy upon the maintenance of which depends our safety against European aggrandizement and the greed and avarice of European powers. I have had no opportunity since Treading the message to catch the drift of sentiment in Virginia, or even here at the capital of the southern confederacy, but I feel that Iam warranted in saying that while the Virginia people know what it means, and would greatly deprecate a re- sort to arms, they are for the maintenance of the doctrine proclaimed by Virginia's own distinguished son. Further, that as England has declined to submit ‘the ques- tion in dispute to arbitration, they will stand heroically and patriotically by their country in maintaining her power and de- fending her rights and sustaining her pol- iey.” Gov. Ontex Indorses the Mexsage. Gov. Oates of Alabama said last night that he indorsed every word of Mr. Cleve- lund’s message. “If Congress stands to him, and I believe ‘things for ee Tools. a set of carvers. Barber & Ross, Cor. G and 11th Sts. Open evenings till Christmas, These are fine Fine because they are useful—substantial. There are doz- ens of other gifts in the store, and they're all serviceable and sensible, too. Prices are right for everything. We don’t know of anybody who sells lower, considering quality, and quality counts when it comes to Carvers, Razors, Pocket Knives and gifts! What family hasn't use for them? This makes them popular gifts. Nobody tn town can boast of a more varied line. But what of variety if worth isn't there? But worth IS THERE—the worthiest carvers we could find, with the finest steel—the most thoroughly constructed. Latest shapes, too! ‘The Une starts at $1 pair and runs up to $10 and” $12, but the dollar carver has the same quality of steel as the costliest, and the cost is in the handles. In ney crses or out. a pocket knifel *eabontnetersonseeteasenteateetoote soso + Bs % Touches many a responsive chord. % Pocket Knives will be very much tn ae te te tee ea the Xmas festivities. We buy our knives as we do our carvers—only the best—the sort that” we can guarantee. From 50c. ap to as high as you want to go, and as many as 500 styles from which to select. Genuine Rodgers Knives at 50c.—guarantecds A good knife for Be. a pair of skates, Almost distinctively a boy's present. 4 And yet here are skates for men and $ women as wel & Plenty of freezing weather ahead—who knows that there won't be skating on *? — Christmias day. = _ The American Club Skates, made by Peck & Snyder, from : 50c. up to $5 pair. x gaan we 66 99 =a “safety” razor would plesse many a man and be @ very fine gift. The “Star Safety Razor is the best—in fact, the only one worthy your buying. Come in all size Russia cases, from $2.50 up to $18. Other good Razors in the regular kind are here too—a splendid one for as low as a dollar. % dosfont Where is the boy who wouldn't get enthnsiastic in anticipation of receiving 2 good set of Tools. First of all, these are NOT toy Tools. ‘The chests are of hardwood filled with the finest Mechantes* Tools. You ean buy the complete. set or the Chest and as many Tool you wish to pick from our regular stock. At $5 a set—an ash chest, complete with 17 tools, At $7.50—a Ulttle larger ash complete with 17 tools. chest, At $10—large ash chest, complete with 31 tools. . At $13—large ash chest, complete with BS tools. At $19—large ash chest, complete with 43. tools, At $25—Iarge ash chest, complete with 50 tools. Plated Nut Picks-- Six in neat box, 25c. 6 Plated Nut Picks And 1 Crack, soc. Xmas Tree Holders, 50, 75 and 8sc. each. “Puritan” Oil Heaters, $4 to $12.50. . “Puritan” Gas Heaters, $2 to $6. Valentine’s. Felt Weather Strips, 2c. ft. Se ae A ee = ‘Barber & Ross, Cor.G & ith Seeeeceeeeeeeeectetetete etait democrats and republicans alike will, Eng- land will simply have to hack down or fight, and I predict she will select the for- mer course. I believe all patriotic Amer- icans will indorse the President's declara- -y Whitney's View. William C. Whitney, speaking of the President's “meseage, said last night in he said, “simply a re- newed affirmation of the Monroe doctrine. It expresses the meaning and purpose of that doctrine. Mr. Cleveland's expression of it is clear, concise, not by any means overstated or intemperate. It does not matter on what pretext England is seeking to extend its system of government on this continent. If she seeks in any way to ex- tend her territory against the will of Vene- zuela she comes in conflict with the Mon- roe doctriae. Ard since we say, in obe- dience to that doctrine, that she should not extend her system of government on this continent, it 1s for us to decide whether or not:she is doing so, either by just arbi- tration or through our own investigation. It is certainly not for England to decide for us whecher she violates the Monroe doctrine or not.” ACTION OF ORGANIZATIONS. Approval of the President's Attitude in Expressed. The Cleveland chamber of commerce, at its regular meeting last night, indorsed, by a unenimous vote, the position taken by the President in upholding the Monrve doc- trine. The resoluticn was loudly applauded. A meeting of the officers and members of the first infantry, Missouri National Guard, was held last evening m St. louis. As a result, Col. Edwin Boldorf, commanding, sent the following telegram to Washington: “To his excellency, the President of the United States: Sir: The first regiment in- fantry, National Guard of Mirsouri, is a firm believer in the Monroe doctrine;Amer- ica, north, south, east and west for Amer- ieans; and its officers and men request their colonel to inform you, sir, that at the first cail to arms the first Missouri will respond 1,000 strong.” The officers of the confederate veteran camp of New York met in special executive session last night and unanimously adopt- ed the following resolutions regarding the resident's message: POResolved, That the President has taken a position heartily indorsed by us, and from which there should be no step back-~ ward. And be it further “Resolved, That we, the Confederate Veteran Camp of New York, do pledge ourselves, in event of war, to raise in New York and offer to the President a company of confederate veterans to battle for the honor of our country and the glory of our flag.” ‘© manifesto has been issued by the execu- tive council of the Irish National Alliance of America, and a copy of it has been sent to President Cleveland. It says, among other thirgs: “We declare it incontrovertible that no mere bittey, more perfidious or more unre- lenting enemy than Great Britain to the United States has ever existed. England has ever been the vengeful foe of American liberty and republican institutions. Imbued with this conviction, and seeing that Great Britain has avowed her intention to trample upon the Monroe doctrine, by her attempt to rob Venezuela of her territory, and has dared to violate the integrity of our terri- tory In Alaska, we hereby offer as a proof of our loyalty and devotion to the country of which we are citizens, to place at the dis- posal of the President of the United States without delay 100,000 soldiers as brave as have ever shouldered a rifle, and every man of whom is a believer in the principles and teachings of the Irish National Alliance. “Our army, which is now organized, is ready to serve the American republic in any part of this continent, and should the en- forcement of the Monroe doctrine need Its aid, will, either on Irish soil or on English ground, establish the fact that the in- trepidity, the valor, and the determination of the Irish brigade will again prove the loyalty of Irishmen to the United States.” The manifesto is signed by William Ly- man, president, New York: John P. Sutton, secretary, New York, and P. V. Fitzpatrick, treasurer, Chicago. e +e Selence and Longevity. Frem the London Daily News. A list_of the losses which the Royal So- ciety has suffered by death during the past year shows that thé pursuit of science is not unfavorable to longevity. The list comprises nineteen fellows and seven for- eign members, and the average lifetime of these twenty-six men was a fraction over seventy-six years and a half. The average age of the seven foreign members was sev- enty-nine years and five months, the oldest being Franz Ernst Neumann, ninety-seven, and the youngest Henri Ernest Baillon, sixty-seven. The nineteen fellows had an average lifetime of seventy-five years and seven months, the oldest being Bisset Haw- kins, ninety-eight, and the youngest George Edward Dobson, forty-seven. The fellows were not all scientific men, one of them be- ing Lord Aberdare, eighty, and another, the Earl of Selborne, eighty-three; but statesmanship and law also seem to favor length of days. = a STORIES OF GEN. GRANT. For One Thing, His Utter Lack @f “Fur and Feathers.” Edmund Kirke in the New York Sun. In the summer of 1864 I passed two days at the headquarters of Gen. Grant at City Point, Va, and thus had an opportunity to observe the way of life of this mest democratic of the Urflon commanders. Hie messed with his staff, and at his table aat familiarly every member of his military household. The expenses of the mess, "I was told, were divided among the various members, not in equal proportions, but sme- cording to the rank of the various mem- bers, and in a manner satisfactory to ail. There was no show or parade in either fur- piture or equipage. Everything seemed tto be for use, and arranged to economize beth space and attention. The crockery mas scanty and of the pla!nest description, amd the fare, though abundant in quantity, was of a quality that might be found on the table of any -ell-to-do workingman in the north. A chop, with a cup of coffee, served for breakfast. a bit of roast beef, with po- tatoes and hard tack, flanked by a Gt#h of pork and greens, sufficed for the 6 o'clock dinner, which had neither pastry nor dessert. A cup of tea and a slice of Lread and butter completed the fare fer the day, The beds were merely camp cots, Sume of them without mattresses, and all the visible toilet apparatus were a few tim Wash basins, a scanty supply of towels, a= bit of looking glass and a horn comb. Every one has read the inventory of ‘tie general's baggage when he made the Vieks- burg campa'gn—“a brierwood telescope amd @ tooth brush.” When I met him at Cisy Point he had not greatly enlarged his per- Sonal possessions. Except the three stars vpon his shoulders, there was absolutety nothing about him to indicate his exalted rank. His clothes were threadbare, «md despite the constant brushing of his wer- vant, they would present an untidy leek, due, no doubt, to his habit of going every- where and seeing everything for himeeff. The general understood the kinship #@f cleanliness and godliness, but there wae utter absence of ‘fuss and feathers” about him and his entire surroundings. Judgiag ot him by common report, I had expected te find him decidedly reticent, but, on tie contrary, I observed that in familiar inter- course he was so ‘hat loquacious, fond @f a good story, and often giving vent tom grim humor that was decidedly enjoyable. Illustrative of this phase of his character, some members of his staff repeated to me several amusing anecdotes, two of which— as I have never seen them in print—it may not be amiss to give to the public. I was told that when the general's heaid- quarters were at Culpeper an officer at- tached to the quartermaster’s department, who was stationed some half dozen miles * away, desired to consult him on some busi- ness that he deemed of importance. The day was exceedingly rainy and the roafs were knee deep in mud, and to avoid un- | due exposure to the weather, the officer— who was one of the old regime, with # full appreciation of the dignity of his rank—or- dered up a close carriage, and, as it was likely that night would come on before me could return, had the lamps trimmed amd hung out on either side of the driver's seat. Then, with an escort of twelve cavalrymen, he set out for headquarters, happy in tise thought that he was proof against the fast descending rain. Not far from Culpeper he met an ordinary looking horseman, attended by only a sin- gle orderly, and was about to pass him without notice, when he suddenly recag- nized him to be the Hewenant general, who, in spite of the rain, was making ‘his usual round of the army, attended by this usual slender escort. To descend from his carriage and salute his chief was but the work of a moment; but the general, irri- tated by the style and pretension of the officer, was In no hurry to see him regain the shelter of his carriage. “Walk along with me a little,” said the general, “I want to talk with you.” With polished boots and unexceptiorable kids, Mr. Quar- termaster did as he was bidden, and, with a touch of grimness, the general led him through the muddiest part of the road, amd did not release him until he was wet to the skin—as wet as was the general himself. Then he dismissed him with a few curt re- narks which were not overheard by the orderly. Their purport, however, was cen- Jectured by the general's staff, for they eb- served that the officer never again appeared at headquarters in a close carriage. 20+ Hybrid Apple and Nut. From the Cincinnat! Enquirer. On the farm belonging to T. L. Borden, near Sardinia, Ohio, there is an apple tree. This tree is about twenty-five feet removed from a hickory nut tree, and just now there is considerable interest in the five- bushel crop of apples yielded by the tree this year, on account of the fruit very clese- ly resembling hickory nuts in shape amd being little larger than the nut before dts husk is removed. Heretofore the fruit of the tree has manifested no peculiarities of this kind, and the sudden caprice of ma- ture has aroused no little interest students of horticulture. When the is bitten the presence of tannin in its mest ts plainly determined by both the senses #f taste smell. The question now is: “Es the strut ge preduction a hybrid or not?’