New-York tribune., 1895-12-18
REPUBLICANS INDORSE II.
THE MESSAGE CONSIDERED IN THE
CAUCUS OF SENATORS.


TAKE THE MATTER Up WITHOUT DELAY
VIEWS or MEssRs. LODGE AND CHANDLER.
Washington Dec 1.-THE question of the
adoption of the report of the Caucus Committee did
not consume the two hours during which the Re
pubicans of the Senate were behind closed uoots
this afternoon. They were occupied with something
OF vastly more importance to the whoe American
people The Presidents message was up Tor con-
sderation and there proved 10 be an absolute uiah'
unity of sentiment among them on the questlo" Vi
indorsing the President in the stand he had taKeh
The discussion precipitated by the motion Oh
Mr. Lodge that the chairman of the committee De
requested to confer with Mr.. German with view
to having the Committee on Foreign Relations re-
organiZs before the holiday recess, 80 that tle MAJ
ters set out in the Presidents message might De
considered by that committee. the urgency OF me
situation having been recognized when MP SloIsan'
earlier in the day, asked and obtained ieaVe lor
the committee to sit during the recess
Speeches made by Mr. Lodge. Mr.. Frye MT
Chandler Mr Teller and several other SENATORS anu
every one Of them breathed the utmost loyalty ~
the President in the stand he had taken the fact
was called 70 the attention Of the Republicans that
they had been taunting the President with beng
AWAY on a duck hunting trip while matters OF the
greatest moment going on; that secretary
Carlisle had been criticised for not sending IN MS
annual report as required by law; that the genera
nocv of the Administration had been denounced
as ma American and weak and that now the Presi-
dent had returned and almost instantly laid before
the Senate a message full of sentiments that must
be indorsed by every patriotic citizen In the whoe
country regardless OF politics or party
If England was to be impressed with the TACT that
this country indorsed its President If that Govern
ment was TO understand that this message was not
a campaign letter intended for mere political erect
the Senate must take the matter up ana proceed
with II with all possible speed consistent with the
vital Importance Of the subject. The argument was
In
followed by any absolute abandonment OF all work;
| the country and England should know that the
Senate took the message a serious thing involving
matters Of such vast Importance and so portentious
in the results that may grow therefrom that the
duly constituted committees Of Congress proposed 10
be constantly on duty and always ready 10 hoio up
| the hands of the Chief Magistrate.
Such is brief outline of the sentiments expresseo
at this caucus Some OF the speeches naue peh'hu
the closed doors of the marble champer "ouiu
make the most interesting reading that mas gone
from this city for weeks. SO imbued were the Re-
pubicans with the Importance OF the situation ana
the need Of further conference that the matter VIII
be again discussed at the caucus which has been
called for tomorrow morning, mainly for this pur-
pose
Mr. Lodge (Rep.. llass), said: This message is
the most serious and important message which has
been submitted by any President to Congress for
many years. AS a matter of course, heartily ap-
prove of its spirit it's conclusions and the general
position taken, for took the same ground myself
| last June in article in The North American
Review before public attention had been drawn to
the matter at all, and again IN an intervleW Wlch M
| gave to the correspondent OF a New-fork news
paper last October IN Pers.
The President argues briefly the standing OF the
Monroe Doctrine as a matter of international law.
national law at all. 1t is really mere question of
fact, like the independence OF the United states.
very verge OF safety in stating that should as
sent to any amicabie agreement between NeGezue "a
edly should do so In this instance but we snoud
equally. of course, not assent TO :ndeilnte ces-
European power. For example, ANY attempt oi
Great Britain to take possession of Cuba under a
is in contemplation, would be regarded by the Unit
hs as n act H his on
point from being drawn into a precedent by the
use OF the word boundaries
But these small points. comparatively. speak
ing. The main contention Of the message is thor
oughly sound and will meet with universal support.
That contention is that Great Britain on the pre-
text Of a boundary dispute has seized American ter
ritory which she did not hold prior to lS2 that she
has declined to submit the question to arbitration.
and thus proposes to hold the disputed territory by
force. This being the case, the President states.
there is nothing for the United States to do under
these circumstances but to determine the true diys.
British to sx' ake territory Beyond M that linen This
Il do not myself believe e''t that the English people
have the least desire to engage in hcstties WITH tn
less about the Venezuelan dispute. They do not
A less a terrcry V to England e'f nyolSes for the
United States a principle as vital almost their
rights and interests as Nation as their own IN
dependence. Ambitious politicians in England.
eager for personal political reasons to distin-
guish themselves by vigorous foreign or spr,
tied colonial policy. have undertaken TO push and
browbeat the United States, until they have
brought the two countries nearly 10 the verge OF
war. 1t is to be hoped that the Presidents mes
sage will make the English people understand
that this TO us is vital question. that We are
wholly content to leave Il to arbitration but that
II arbitration is declined we shall resist this as-
gressOn the utmost, and that, although we do
not seek war do not fear It."
Mr. Chandler Rep.. y. H. said The President
takes a sound and courageous position, and one
that the American people will fight for II neces-
sary'