The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-12-20

issue
Mr.. Platt moved to strike out the
| whereas in reference TO war; and then
both he and Mr.. German objected to its
consideration to-day.
The Vice President then laid before the
Senate the Presidents message, with ac-
companying documents, on the subject of
the outrages on Armenians IN the Turk
lsh empire; and Il was referred to the
committee on foreign relations.
The House bill apprOprating 500 coo for
the expenses Of the proposed commission
to Venezuela was laid before the Senate
and Mr.. Morgan, chairman of the commit
tee on foreign relations, addressed the
Senate on the subject The Senate, ne
SAID, IN consideration Of a question of such
gravity ought to deliberate as long as
was proper and necessary an order TO come
70 an absolutely correct judgment; and he,
therefore, favored the reference of the
Dill TO the committee on foreign relations.
But he should object to any such ref
erence unless the Senate agreed that IL
would take no recess until the committee
should make its report. For, while he
would hasten slowly in the matter, he
would still make all necessary speed. 1t
was question that was agitating the
people of the United States and of the
whole world; and delay would give an
opportunity for the formation of inccr-
rect opinions that might become very
unfortunate. He preferred to have APP
propriate and necessary deltberation. He
had doubts as TO whether congress in
tended to intervene in that which was
a diplomatic question, or whether II in
tended to leave to the President of the
United States the full and unembar-
raised exercise of his constitutional pow
matte question for the future considera-
tion of congress. The division line
between s96 of the the In1tni funGtSns of congress
one, and was one which he did
not cross by anticipation. AS an illustra-
tion OF his meaning, he instanced the case
of Mr.. Blount who was sent by the Pres
ident as a special commissioner to Hawaii,
without nomination to or confirmation by
the Senate. That question was again in
volved in this matter, and ought to be duly
considered. 1t was for the Senate to de-
termine whether il would interfere in the
matter, legislatively, now or whether II
would leave It where the President desired
(as Indicated in his message) it to be left,
in the hands Of the executive. There was
no difference of opinion he believed be-
tween the President apd congress as to the
promptitude with which the questions
ought to be settled. He believed that the
President and congress were in entire
accord. So far as the Monroe doctrine was
concerned, that was settled by the action
of the executive, at least, and the con-
clusions reached by the executive on it
would be absolutely and uneqniVocally con-
firmed. He did not at all, he thought mis-
take the sense Of congress or of the peo-
pie of the United states on the subject. The
question of the application of the doctrine
TO the present case was one which was
settled by the Presidents message quite
as conclusivelg, But It was not Settled
absolutely. The government had passed
now TO an attitude on the Monroe doc
trine that would crafty, he thought the
present generation of men and all genera
tions of Americans who might live here
after. Is was an assertion of the right
of the United States. as the controlling
nationality on this continent. Il has been
made and would stand as the law Of the
United States. He was incapable of ex-
pressing the qualification he felt that
question which had been so long debated
definition. He could never express his
gratitude that conclusion had been ar
rived at so entirely COMFORTING with the
dignity and honor of the government of
the United States, with its prestige among
the nations OF the world, and with the
sentiment of all the people of the coun-
MIR. Sherman. who is to be Mr.. Morgan's
successor as chairman of the committee
on foreign relations. was the next speak
er. He expressed his general assent to
Mr.. Morgans views and commended the
Presidents message, but favored a refer
ence of the House bill to the committee
on foreign relations and its deliberate
consideration by that committee and the
Senate. The BILL as passed by the House.
should be, he said amended and defined
and limited. He endorsed the Monroe
doctrine, but argued that its application
the gravest importance to the
United States and to the world
The controversy was a serious one, but
he had no doubt that the question would
be settled peaceably. An assertion
should be made of the right of the United
States to prevent Eropean powers from
treating it as they treated Africa and
Asia. America was now settled in every
part by people of European origin, Eng
land having the greatest interest
Under the circumstances" Mr.. Sher-
war will ensue. do not contemplate. or
wish to contemplate, the possibility of
such an event. have seen enough of war
in my time to dread its principles and its
est degree. to say a word that would in
dicate that a war was likely to ensue
about this small matter At the same
time l think that the President of the
United States did right in taking the
ground that it is our duty, as the most
powerful of American nations, to say to
two continents are already occupied by
Christian people; and we are willing TO
see that their rights shall not be tram
pied upon by European powers. As mat
ter of course we cannot Interfere in any
agreement made between Venezuela and
Great Britain as to the boundary between
Venezuela and British Guiana; but l have
a map here (pointing to iD, which shows
repeated encroachments made by Great
Britain. This is serious controversy.
and Great Britain has taken the ground
that she will not even submit it to arbi-
tration. Now, / think, that the British
people, when they understand this matter,
when they see that it has attracted the
attention of the civilized world will not
insist on that REFUSAL especially when
it is recollected that the Monroe doctrine
was not, perhaps, as much the doctrine
of President Monroe as it was the doc
trine of Mr. Canning, the English prime
minister. While we are in no hurry, I
do not wish this matter to pend beyond
the present session, but l do think that
the bill ought to be referred to the COM
mittee on foreign relations, and that it
should be acted upon promptly Let that
committee hear suggestions of amend
ment to the House bill. If all amendments
be voted down by the committee and the
Senate, and if they choose to take the
House bill, we'll and good. We viii pass
it, But / demand the right of the Sen
ate to consider so grave a proposition as
this, and not to be hurried in its con-
sideraton. 1t is supposed that we are
a slow-moving body. Well, we ought to
be This bill ought to be referred to the
committee on foreign relations and the
COMMITTEES should be instructed to report
it back-say tomorrow, or at any other
time necessary-and let it then be dis
cussed in the Senate. If the committee
reports amendments necessary and If the
Senate adopts those amendments. l have
no doubt that the House will also agree
to them. and If the committee do not
report any amendments, the Senate Will
pass the bin as II came from the House.
That will show no haste, no excitement"
Mr.. Lodge said IL would be difficult TO
exaggerate the gravity Of the question in