Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 38, Number 38, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 January 1906 — President Cleveland's Bad Break. [ARTICLE]

President Cleveland's Bad Break.

A writer in the Independent describes the warlike pi -q>ects of the world ten years ago, and compares them with the present peaceful* out look. At that sime there were sev- ral wars in sight, which were sore to come, and’ several others which w ere likely to occur. Among these last was one between this country and Great Britian, over Venezuela, owing to President Cleveland’s very threatning and war-like message. This writer seems to take the view, which also is at present the prevailing one, that Cleveland’s course, extrene and dangerous as it was, wasjusti fled by the final result; namely the backing down of England, and the settlement of her dispute with Venezuela, by arbitration, and whereby England got a good deal more than she had repeatedly offered to take if the matter could be settled by direct treaty between the two countries. But onr opinion of Cleveland’s course at that time has never changed. We believe it was by all odds, the worrt and wickedest, most wantonly and un justifiably dangerous step overtaken by an American president. And not only did the result of the arbi t rat ion between England and Vene zuelaj prove this, by showing that England was entitled to all she was demanding of Venezuela, and more too, but the entire course ot th e latter country, ever before and sinee, pioves it still more conclusively. Not only have the utterly faithless and dishonest methods of Venezuela kept that country in a constant broil with several European countries, but with this country, also, and not only that, but Castro has added insults to injury, at every opportunity. And in spite of all these iujnries and insults there is talk, even now, of the Monroe Doctrine being again invoked, this time to save Castro from £he righteous wrath of France. Yet the best thing that could happen, for this country and the world at large, would be for some advanced European government, like France or England, to take complete possession of Venezuela, and wipe her from the list of the nations of the earth. And it would be, aliove all things, the best tliiDg that could happen to the people of Venezuela themselves. 1 •