New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-02-11
NO OCCASION FOR ACTION.
SENATOR SMITH DEPRECATES MONROE
DOCTRINE AGITATION.


[By TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE
Washington Feb Ex-senator Smith, of New
Jersey, delivered his Compromised speech
the Monroe Doctrine to-day taking as his text
the Sewell and Davis resolutions. pending
IN the Senate calendar. Mr. Smith fully demon
strated during the fight over the Tariff bill of
1894 that he was a statesman Of breadth. weight
compass force and originality and since that
time his utterances have always been listened
10 with serious attention. Though he devoted
himself to-day chiefly to attacking Mr. Sewelle
rctrogressive resolutions of December last. he
found time nevertheless to comment freely and
pointedly on both the proposed omnibus declara-
ton fathered by Senator Davis and the senti-
mental vagaries of Mr.. Wocotts recent speech
Mr.. Smith said in part:
For one l opposed to the adoption of the res
buttons introduced by my colleague. may aso
add that | quite strongly opposed 10 the
adoption of the resolutions introduced by the Ssh,
io,m by the Committee on Foreign Relations.
also desire to supplement thtse Two assertions Win
the remark that nave very NIUE syinpafhi VAN
the position assumed by the Senator from Colorado
My reasons for assuming this attitude may be
summed up in single sentence; There Is no occa.
sion for any action of any Kind upon TINS sub]ec,
prudence can justify patriotism demand We
have met the situation outlined To us by the fresl-
division of sentiment in the Government of the
United States when any question of National hon4r
both houses without regard to party mes or per
would have been violation of our plain duty TO
the American people. by entering upon discus
Sion OF what we have already done and by reopen
mg the question which have already answered
We could only succeed in MULTIPLYING or at least qua
flying. the action We have already taken
THE BOUNDARY SHOULD BE DETERMINED.
So far as the resolutions submitted by my col
league are concerned l very little justiica-
ton for any one of the various propositions when
he has seen fit to advance proper statement 'f
our National policy. l especially dissent from MS
assertion that the mere determination OF TINS pou1>
dairy line for our own information wou'u pe mos,
unwise and dangerous. and would violate the SOUND
and we,l-estabshed policy that we should av6d All
they are European or American II there Pe any
be- any sound why We, for our protection,
should uphold the principle of non-interference by
# is absolutely essential that should satisfy our,
selves Of rghtful divisional lines such as shoud
Of venezuela 1t is absurd TO declare in one breath
that European Power should not have the right
next that il may. by the same brute force, extend
IS boundary line in such er way s an nd DO snss extent
The Monroe Doctrine does Apply to the con nTto
as truly and aue as justly as if the flying squad
ron were in Venezuelan port demanding me
dependence To define the methods by which for
eign Power may accomplish its purpose by evading
principle upon which we take our stand.
Nor can i agree with my colleague when he says
view Of the business and financial condition of the
country Such b Is only nrs o v co
league. but if had believed that this action was was
sshonld not. as / did. and as he aid. and as we all
did have set my seal Of approval upon IT, If every
s 81, OF hdnoT or National disgrace can only
taken with proprety When the business ana man
H. then great indeed must be the Indignation Of
my colleague when he ss &sn me and above
all the many and most "lnopportune' acts or
Abraham Lincoln.
no DEBT OF GRATITUDE TO ENGLAND
The Senator from Colorado has pictured in glow
ing colors the bravery displayed by British SOL
d,ers in some Of the wars waged by South Ameri-
can people TO achieve their independence from
Spain do not doubt that the picture. glowing as it
was Is warranted by the facts. but, Mr. President
have not yet heard and have never understood s
that the soldiers of Great Britain performed these
feats of vaor for The sole purpose OF au,s erpu
Eng as paslT which England rendered
positive and empowering sen'e res hs sne" most a
generally misunderstood and most grossly misrep,,
resented. Ii to accomplish her own ENDS ENDS ana ana
her aid to the patriots of South America. and II was
for the same reason precisely that she TX iSs
mistaken struggle for what English statesmen desi
may be true that blood is thicker than water and
that people who speak the sane tongue ana IespSct
one for the other Nor any harm result from
iauding the deeds Of English sailors and English
.ba ach,evements Of Washington of Greene Of
Putnam, Of Allen of Jackson Of Pau SonHS ana
Nelson and the others whose acts have made 50
deep an impression upon the mind ana hear' Of 'he
This country. sir. owes nothing to England II
ties of kindred have been broken she was the
aggressor. From the very beginning of the attempt
of the noble men who achieved American lnde,
britain toward this Nation has been one first of
force OF arms and since that time ever Increasing
jealousy until it became the part Of wisdom and
zing attitude perfectly typhed in the Language OF
Lord Salisbury in his letters to our Secretary OF
such a power a debt OF gratitude is TO pervert the
facts history for the purposes of eloquence ana
I for one cannot refrain from expressing emphatic
dissent from such position
THE DAVIS RESOLUTION OPPOSED
come now Mr.. President, to the resolutions sub
mitted by the Senator from Minnesota upon behalf
of the Committee Foreign Relations and OPP
pose the adoption Of these upon the broad grouhu
that there is no occasion necessity for such dell
milton of the Monroe Doctrine by this body at TINS
time | do not object to the strong American posi-
ton outlined by these resolutions. neither do see
simply and solely to the Venezuelan controversy
But do insist that II Is the hesh OF 10Y tren u1
tempt to provide in this way for all cases uehcIe
mon the principle represented by the Monroe Doc
rine which may arise IN the iu1uis NAV be to
The instance in our minds u Is by no means
certain that they either suincentiy pIOdu vi
suffciently specific reach aggressions which may
be made in the future The Monroe d'oS Sc ,ba,
we cannot and will not Nation permit any
European Power TO extend its territory or posses
e,ors mon This continent Nothing can be more
forcefui Nothing can be more practicabIe III en-
IN ca many words exactly what constitutes an IN
fringement upon this principle we ne om o
hands and open the door to an ocean OF te'iilI.a
ties The proper way and the only way 10 dppp'SS
effectually the Monroe Doctrine in deaiIhs VIII
foreign Powers apply ii to each lndlVouai r
as that one lflriiseli'iess sii,"n
the principle may be more harmful or oiIeni,ies
than another. and we should not dctar oursciN.a
from the privilege of the Mikado TO Let inc pun
shrnent III the crime" ,,a, for
The only reason | have vet heard adVancei i .oa
making a specific and official definition Oh vi
ut, tc hat