The silver blade. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1895-1903, 1896-01-25

tended as insisting upon republican
forms of government in this hemisphere
or as committing this government to
maintain the doctrine outside or It's
own borders, or except as it's own integ-
rity might be affected; that this coun-
try is embarking upon new and differ
ent policy from the one laid down by
our fathers, and that from 1921 until
now congress has uniformly declined to
define the so-called Monroe doctrine or
to adopt it as a rule of action.
"There has been much tension for the
past two weeks. The letter of Secretary
of State Olney to Bayard was from
diplomatic standpoint almost incen-
diary. The presidents message glowed
with the possibilities Of war. Members
Of both houses Of congress, not to be
outdone, followed the presidents sug-
gestion as to the appointment of a COM
mission with feverish haste. Just what
the committee is to do or how it is to
do it, nobody knows, but we have Great
ed it and it stands as yet more menace
than a guarantee of peace.
'"The efforts of the government to
fire the national heart have not been I'M
availing, nor was the work difficult
There is discomfort, too, with existing
conditions in many sections of the coun-
try and men feel that any change, even
war with foreign country, could not
make matters worse and might bring
Improvement They also view with dis
trust the close financial relations ex-
listing between the bankers of the east
and those of London and they would
welcome any event, even war, that
would result, as they believe to destroy
these relations and lead us to rely upon
our resources alone and to embrace
economic policies which would not be
dependent upon those of foreign cOun-
tries
president Monroe" the senator con-
tinued, protested not against despotic
governments, but against it's fOrcible
extension by the dreaded holy alliance
in this western world Of which he stood
in well grounded fear. Congress ad
failed to give the Monroe doctrine Of
fetal sanction and when congressional
resolution respecting Panama was I'M
der discussion congress expressly refus-
ed to commit itself to the Monroe doc
trine in any FORM
In the course of further remarks, Sen
ator Wolcott said in part '"The Mon
OF self defense, promulgated for our
own preservation and for no other pur-
pose. Our country in 1923 was sparsely
settled and its boundaries but vaguely
defined. Today our own borders are de-
hned, our government eternally planted
on the solid rock. No danger threatens
us from without.
The passing of resolutions reported
by the committee can do no good and
perhaps little harm, but their introduce
ton only adds another faggot to the
hre which ought not to be permitted to
burn. From point of view which I
am presenting, the diplomatic CORES
pondence, was. on our side, unneces-
sar1ly Irritating. The message of the
president was ill-advised and the crea-
ton OF a commission with no facilities
for investigation not shared by us all
and without invitation by the parties in
interest, was hasty and premature.
we have made it infinitely more diff
ncult for Great Britain to accept arbi-
trat1on by our demonstrative diplo-
macy and volunteer commission, and
we are drifting into a position where
Great Britain's refusal to arbitrate, and
she may lawfully refuse, will be consid-
cred not as demanding from us digni-
ned and earnest protest.
but whatever the cause of the upris-
ing or the merits of the dispute my at
tention at this crisis was diverted to
another channel. France is a sister re-
public and although most of her colo
MES have fewer rights than Cuba she is
yet entitled to every consideration and
sympathy because of her form Of gov
eminent. Germany has furnished lis
hundreds of thousands of worthy eiti-
zens who are credit to the republic:
Russia was our friendly allu in the 1n4a