The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-02-22
The Policy of Patriotism.

The Policy of Patriotism.
The recent speech of Senator Davis
in support of his resolution giving
specific legislative affirmation to the
Monroe doctrine is a statement of
American policy which should be read
by every American citizen. The points
made i'm it are, first. that the doctrine
of James Monroe has had the approval
of every great American statesman
from the time of Jefferson down. with
the single eXcepticl of Calhoun; sec
Ond, that while it has been expressed in
presidential messages and in the in
structions of American secretaries of
state to American ministers, II has
never yet been affirmed, in words. by
the American congress-; and third that
the lack of such direct legislative aflir-
nation has been repeatedly seized up
on by foreign diplomatists as a pretext
for affecting to doubt the present val
idity and efficiency of the doctrine of
Monroe. The question now is whether
congress. to whom in the very vesti-
bule of the constitution, all legislative
power is given, which has the power
to declare war, and the authority to
preserve peace by it's power TO provide
for the raising of armies and navIes rep
resenting directly the will and senti-
ments of the people, will or ought, In
the exercise of these powers thus con-
1ided to and duties imposed upon it,
declare that the Monroe doctrine is u
vital. Indispensable and continuous pol
icy OF the United States.'
The proposition submitted by the sem
ator from Minnesota is in brief that
under no preteXt, and by no means.
whether of boundary dispute, or by
war, or ccssion. or, pledge; or colonial
tion. or occupation, or any other un-
founded move, shall any European
power acquire any territory upon either
of these continents, or impose upon the
governments thereof its system. or con-
troll its destinies. in any case where the
United States shall deem such an at
tempt to he dangerous to its peace or
safety. That the seizure by England
of the. 10000 square miles of territory
surrounding the mouth of the Orinoco
river would leopard the peace and safe
ty of the United States is a proposition
self-evident to any man who will study
a map tf South America. Upon this
point Senator Davis says:
The Orinoco is one Of the most remarka-
bIe river systems In fhn urnrld 10 H.
gable for the largest vessels of war for
400 miles from lis mouth. From its source
II runs to the north and thence turning
runs to the east until 1t empties into the
Atlantic. Its upper waters connect with
the navigable waters of the ANA
Zon. and everyone knows how vast are the
relations of that stream and its tributa-
ries to the interior of South America. The
mouth Of the OrinOco river Is the key to
great Internal commerce. destined in the
future to become more vast than the
imagination even. can attempt to foresee.
The hand of Great Britain is upon that
key. She has fianked and taken in re-
verse, In q military sense the commercial
advantages of one-thrd of the South
American continent. The mouth of the
Orinoco is about six days sail by fast
steamship from the city of New York. 1t
is about three days sail from the entrance
by Great Britain. in connection with her
West India Islands. makes the Caribbean
Sea an English lake and the possessor
dominates all those waters. With a naval
station at its mouth it has a commanding
position as to all contingencies of peace
or war. which can be apprehended by this
government. This is not pleasant to con-
template. 1t concerns our peace and safe
ty and demands an assertion of the prin-
CiOleS. of the Monroe doctrine.
The final and strongest point made
by Senator Davis is that an explicit
statement Of this doctrine in its fullest
sense is needed from congress because
concerning the matter. stated only
half Of the Monroe doctrine and sup
pressed one of its most vital parts. Mr..
Cleveland assured the marquis of
Salisbury that while the United States
would resent the use of force by Great
Britain in maintaining its South Ameri-
can territorial claims, yet "any adjust
ment Of the boundary which Venezuela
may deem for her advantage and may
enter into of her own free will, cannot
Of course be objected to by the United
States" This admission Mr.. Davis
points out, is equivalent to virtual
notification Of the Monroe doctrine in
MI that relates TO foreign negotiation
for American territory without the ac-
tual employment. of armed force. 1t
would open the door to endless trouble.
making it possible for instance, for
Spain to sell Cuba to England. against
which Henry Clay protested in 1926.
Albert Gallatin IN 1895. and Daniel
Webster in the emphatic letter which
he wrote to Mr.. Campbell. the American
minister to Madrid, In 1898: and laying