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Grover Cleveland signed address to Congress, delivered 17 December 1895 by the President in a special session to address the Venezuelan Crisis, a dispute between the United Kingdom and Venezuela. In this address, Cleveland boldly asserts U.S. hegemony in the Americas per the Monroe Doctrine which heretofore had been dismissed by European powers as all bark and no bite. Following this address, however, the United Kingdom backed off in its conflict with Venezuela, ceding control in the region to the United States, who thereby took her place as a global power. Not only do historians consider this as Cleveland's greatest achievement as President but it was also, according to historian Adam Humphreys, ''one of those major shocks which compel the theory of international relations to adjust itself to new facts.'' From the Executive Mansion, dated 17 December 1895, address penned in a secretarial hand reads in part,
''...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 and the tranquil maintenance of our distinctive form of government...an observance of the Monroe doctrine [is] of vital concern to our People and 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 be invoked in the present controversy.
If a European Power, by an extension of its boundaries, takes possession of the territory of one of our neighboring Republics against its will and in derogation of its rights, it is difficult to see why, to that extent, such European Power does not thereby attempt to extend it system of government to that portion of this continent which is thus taken. This is the precise action which President Monroe declared to be 'dangerous to our peace and safety,' and it can make no difference whether the European system is extended by an advance of frontier or otherwise...
The Monroe doctrine finds its recognition in those principles of international law which are based upon the theory that every nation shall have its rights protected and its just claims enforced...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 governmental jurisdiction over any territory which after investigation we have determined of right belong to Venezuela.
In making these recommendations I am fully alive to the responsibility incurred and keenly realize all the consequences that may follow. / I am nevertheless firm in my conviction that while it is a grievous thing to contemplate the two great English speaking peoples 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 submission to wrong and injustice and the consequent loss of national self respect and honor beneath which is shielded and defended a people's safety and greatness.''
Boldly signed by the President, ''Grover Cleveland''.
Speech runs 14 pages on 14 separate sheets measuring 8.25'' x 13.25''. Shallow folds, minor chipping and smudging. Overall very good condition with a bold signature by Cleveland. One of the most important speeches in the history of the United States.