Evening star., 1896-01-22
Senator Woloott Says It Does Not
Apply
TO THE VENEZUELAN DISPUTE
He Talks Of Brotherly Love and
Christian Forbearance.
HIS SP EECH TOD AY

In the Senate today Senator Wolcott of
Colorado spoke on the Venezuelan compli-
cation.
After referring to the message Of Presi-
dent Cleveland and the appointment Of the
commission to enlighten the country as
to the true divisional line separating Vene-
zuela and British Guiana the Senator said
that under the circumstances, it would or
dinarily seem. to be the part of wisdom
to refrain from further public comment
on subject of 50 sensitive and delicate
character until some decisive step had been
taken or some obstacle had been encounter
ed calling for legislative interference.
The resolution which the committee on
foreign relations had reported, the effect
of which might be, in his opinion, most
far reaching, as affecting Our policy and
relations toward other friendly govern
nents, required, he said, Some discussion
and careful investigation before we COM
mitted ourselves to their declarations, ard
led him to participate in the debate.
Continuing he said: THE few remarks 1
shall make will be chiefly to the effect that
the so-called Monroe doctrine has been
misapplied in the pending controversy: that
so much of President Monroe's message
referred to the colonization Of portions Of
America by European powers could have
no applicability to any boundary dispute
now existing in South America; that the
hostility to the extension by European
powers of their systems to any portion of
this hemisphere, as expressed in that mes
sage, had especial reference to the systems
of government which were based on the di-
vine right of kings and which were direct
ed to the overthrow Of all republics. wher-
ever existing; that the Monroe doctrine was
in no wise intended as insisting upon re-
publican forms of government in this hem
isphere or as committing this government
to maintain the doctrine outside its own
borders or except as it's own integrity
might be affected; that this country is en-
barking upon new and different policy
from the one laid down by our fathers,
and that from 1921 until now Congress has
uniformly declined to define the social ed
Monroe doctrine or to adopt it rule
of action. There has been much tension
for the past few weeks. The letter of the
Secretary of State to Mr.. Bayard was, from
a diplomatic STANDPOINT of view, almost
incendiary. The Presidents message glow
ed with the possibilities of war. Members
of both houses of Congress, not to be out
done, followed the Presidents suggestion
as to the appointment of a commission
with feverish haste. Just what the COM
mission is to do or how 1t is to do it nobody
knows, but we have created it, and it
stands as yet more menace than a guar
al tee of peace.
Resenting English Ownership.
'The efforts of the government to fire the
| national heart have not been unavailing,
nor was the work difficult. There is dis
many sections of the country, and men
feel that any change, even war with
foreign country, could not make matters
worse, and might bring Improvement. There
are all over the west ard south men who
work on their farms, and find the grain
they raise little more valuab BILE for food
than fuel, who know that the railroads
which charge them for the transportat ton
of their produce are largely owned in Great
Britain, and are either prosperous, Or If
| insolvent, are fcstered and protected and
| managed by federal courts. They also view
with distrust the close financial relations
existing between the bankers of the east
| and those of London and they would well
come any event, even war, that would re-
| suit, as they believe war would result, in
| destroying those relations, and lead us to
rely upon our own resources alone, and
| to embrace economic policies which would
| not be dependent on those of foreign coun-
\ tries.
| TT is easier to drift with such condi-
| tinn than to antagonize it, but with the
| convictions this subject which / cher
| ish, Mr.. President, that sense of duty which
accompanies in public station as in pri-
| vate life prohibits a silence which would
be cowardly. and impels me to the presen-
| tatioa of the right as light is given me to
/ il. re.J- f-r]-t'- -