New-York tribune., 1880-02-17
NEWS FROM THE CAPITAL.


SUPPORTING THE MONROE DOCTRINE.
DEMOCRATS FALsIFYING THEIR RECoRDs-AVolDlNe
THE PORTER cAsE-PRoTEcTINo IMMIGRANTs-
Mr.. WEAVER PERsIsTENT-THE PoNcA INvKsTI-
eaTroN-rYDlANs oBJEcTINo TO PROPOSED LEG
IsLATIoN.
Members OF the House of Representatives
express themselves strongly in favor of
prompt enforcement of the Monroe doctrine IN
regard to the Interoceanic Canal. The at
tempt to unseat Mr.. Washburn has led to
some Democratic Inconsistencies. The ma
jority in the House is endeayOring TO avoid
consideration of the Porter case. Inc OIL 70
protect immigrants is in danger OF defeat. Inc
Democrats have made an issue in support OF
the lottery business. The Ponca investigation
has brought out the fact that they were re-
moved partly to avoid fighting the Sioux
THE MONROE DOCTRINE IN THE HOUSE.
A STRONG FEELING IN FAVOR OF ITS PROMPT EN-
FoRCEMEST-THR CANAL MUST BE CONTROLLED
BY THE UNITED sTATEs-vIEws OF Mr. FRYE
AND OTHERS.
lBr TELEGRAPH TO THB TRrBUNEl
WASHINGTON, Feb. 16.-Among the SepTohcans
In the House of Representatives there is an almost
unanimous feeling that the Government OF the
United States ought to promptly make known IN
the plalnest manner its determination to enforce
the Monroe Doctrine in reference TO the construc-
ton and control of an InteroceaDio Canal. The
same feeling appears to prevail among large ma
jority of the Democratic Representatives also
This disposition is so manifest among members OF
both political parties that it is plain that the House
will not patiently submit to any policy of delay The
members of that body expect that the information
called for from the Executive Department relating
TO this subject will be promptly forthcoming If it
Is not the House will probably soon ask why 1t is
delayed.
The House select committee which has the sub
lect in charge is busily engaged in its considera-
tion A meeting was held this forenoon. and Mr..
Francis Morris. of New-York, presented the claims
of the company he represents 10 the sole right to
construct canal by the way of Lake Nicaragua.
The committee has devoted good deal of time
TO the consideration of the treaties and of the
different routes proposed. While there are. of
course differences of opinion in regard to the latter
matter, and while some members of the committee
do not advocate any particular route, it is believed
that perfect unanimity exists among all of them on
one subect-the control of the canal by any foreign
power or corporation. All are ready to oppose the
full power of the United States to any attempt at
such control.
Representative Frye of Maine. prominent men,
Der of the select committee, in the course OF
conversation with TRIBUNE correspondent to-day,
said:
so far as l am concerned. have no hesitation
I'm expressing my views because my mind is made up
on tins question. In the first place think that an
Interoeeanic Canal ought to be built; secondly, l
think the time has come when the work should be
begun; thirdly think that the United States
ought to aid in the construction of the canal by
guaranteeing the bonds issued for that purpose.
Indeed / would be willing to go still further. If
private corporation did not step in to do the work
think the United States ought to undertake it, The
canal would cost say S10000O,0OO. Let the
United States appropriate $20.000O00 year for
FIVE years, and the work might be completed. L
believe it would worth much TO us as all the in
ternal improvements we have made during the last
ten yeas and for which We have probably expended
an equal amount"
In relation to the reassertOn and the enforcement
of the Monroe Doctrine Mr. Frye expresses very de-
cided opinions He says that the Doctrine has been
reafirmed over and over again by statesmen of all
parties and he calls especial attention to the utter
ances of Jefferson, Cass, Webster and Buchanan on
the subject. Taking these utterances as q basis.
Mr. Frye says he would approve and support the
enuncation of policy about as follows:
1.-THE establishment of political protectorate.
by any one of the Powers of Europe, over any Of
the independent States of this Continent or the in
PRODUCTION of a scheme or policy which would carry
with 1t right to interfere with their concerns or to
control in any other manner their destiny, or the
transfer to any other Power by conquest cessiOn
acquisition in any other way, of any of those States
or any portion thereof, is a measure to which the
United States has long since ayOwed their oppos-
tion and which, should the attempt be made, they
will resist by all the means in their power"
In order that there shall be no Misunderstanding
of the purpose of the United States in regard 10 this
matter, Mr.. Frye would also favor more SPECIFIC
declaration, somewhat as follows:
"1he inspection. possession, direction and gov
ernment OF any interoceanic canal, with its de-
tendencies and appurtenanceS, TO be c1astTucted
at Darien. Nicaragua or elsewhere, by whomsoeyer
built and whatever the nationality OF the corpora
tors will belong to the United States of America,
and will be exercised by that Government."
prominent Republican member OF the House
Committee on Foreign Affairs, on being made ac-
quainted with the substance OF MIR. tryes views, as
outlined above said that they received his hearty
approval -
ber of the Select C0mmttee on the lnteroceanlc
Canal takes about the same ground that Alr. Frye
does. So also do all the other Republican members
with whom The TRIBUNE correspondent talked to-
day on this subject.
One prominent Southern Democrat said he
thought the United States ought 10 resist any at
tempt by q foreign Government or corporation TO
build and control an interoceanic canal. But"
he added " am not in favor of the building of any
canal at present, OF until we get more shipping
We have spent a great deal of money Pacific rail-
roads, and we ought to spend more for another such
railroad So long rs the Isthnlus remains rs
barrier between Europe and China, so long will
large portion of the China trade DC carried oil over
our transcontinental lines of railroads We are not
now In condition to compete with other nations
for the ocean trade Therefore we ought to be IN
no hurry for an interoceaBic canal"
THE PORTER CASE.