St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1896-02-18


| canon or international law, and the
| senator insisted that the right resided
| IN any nation to interfere in the affairs
| OF another state when conditions arose
dangerous to its peace and safety.
| This was recognized principle of in
| ternational law, upheld by eminent
English authorities, from whom the
| senator quoted.
| Taking up the islands of Cuba and
Hawaii, Mr.. Davis showed the consist
ent and persistent course of the United
States in applying the spirit of the
doctrine to those islands. 1t had been
| invoked in the case of Cuba whenever
| England or France had sought a foot
| hold there. In the case of Hawaii, a
resolution had been passed at the last
session of congress declaring that the
| United States would not look with ia
vor on any foreign intervention in the
affairs of Hawaii.
The senator referred incidentally to
| the animosity of the debate over Ha-
| waii, and to the effort to restore to
the Hawaiian throne a "sanguinary
| and barbarouS queen"
| If it was proper to pass such reSo-
luton as to Hawaii, why should a
question be raised as to the policy of
/ a firm, temperate and explicit enuncia-
! ton Of the application of the Monroe
| doctrine to the pending difficulties? Mr..
/
and outlined it's essential features.
! Venezuela had steadfastly claimed the
! Essiquibo river as the rightful bound
| ary. The claims of Great Britain had
| shifted constantly, and had increased
/ immeasurably in recent years. A map
! showing the various claims of Great
| Britain is bewildering in it's intricacy.
Great Britain had never fixed def
mite line, and declared "here is the
limit" On the contrary, she had
pushed westward to the Orinoco river,
until the British claim covers 10000
square miles of Venezuelan territory.
Concerning this territory, Great Brit
ain asserted there should be no arbi-
tration in explaining the advance of
| the British claims. Mr.. Davis eXhib-
tied an old map and pamphlet, pre-
pared by Sir Robert Schomburgk,
showing the line surveyed by him.
The senator said he was pleased to
hear from across the water in the re-
port of the parliamentary debate that
concessions had been made which
would tend towards a settlement. But
if this settlement was based on that
feature of the presidents message sug-
gesting the propriety of a mutual set
tlement between Great Britain and
Venezuela, the people of the United
States would
NEVER AGREE TO IT.
1t would amount to a territorial ex-
tension. AS whole the presidents S
message had been unobJectionable, but
when that document was Scrutinized,
it would be found to contain a reserva-
ton, exception and diminution of the
Monroe doctrine, never before attempt
ed by an American statesman, except
Calhoun. This diminution Of the
original doctrine was contained in the
presidents brief approval Of volun-
tary agreement between Great Britain
and Venezuela. 1t was no part Of the
Monroe doctrine that any voluntary
cession of territory by South Amer
lean state to a foreign government was
nObjectionable to the United States
1t was as much a menace If the eX-
tension of territory was voluntary and
peaceful, as though it were the result
of conquest. At the present time, the
adoption of such an idea would permit
Great Britain, under the pretense Of
a voluntary settlement, to advance her
territory in South America. Venezuela
is now under the duresS Of Great Brit
ain, declared the senator. A British
ultimatum had been addressed to Ven
ezuela. What then could result from
any pretense Of a voluntary agree
ment when Great Britain dominated
Venezuela, and the latter country was
! without the power Of exercising free
will? Mr.. Davis spoke strongly In
favor Of arbitration and pointed out
the frequent Salutary results from ar
bitrations. He also referred to the
several South and Central American
states, pointing out their progress, re-
sources and capabilities. Concerning
the pending resolution, DR.. Davis said
it in no way added to or diminished the
original Monroe doctrine. 1t made
permanent by congressional enactment
the definite policy Of the United States,
thus ending the constant assertion by
foreign juries that the doctrine was
mere dictum, without acceptance by
the American congress. There is
class of enthusiastic patriots in this
country, proceeded Mr.. Davis, who re-
gard it as essential for this country to
interfere, if any foreign government
wages war on a South American re-
public, but this is crude and erro-
neous application of the Monroe doc
trine. The present resolution contem-
plated no such policy. 1t was distinct
ly directed against territorial eXten-
sion, direct or indirect. Recent reports
had foreshadowed a treaty between
Great Britain and Spain, concerning
Cuba, by which certain ports of Cuba
were to be pledged to Great Britain.
This, declared Mr.. Davis, would be the
first step toward British acquisition.
IL would De III OppOSlIlOH W liS Spii1l
of the Monroe doctrine, as it would
control the destiny of Cuba.
There has been much talk of war,
said the senator, but there has never
been possibility of war. Neither
government would permit 1t. No
American soldier would enter Canada.
New York could not be put under con-
tribution. The Wella,nd canal would
not be seized. These two great coun-
full SnJx I'M
their difficulties. To that end congress
should lay down the Monroe doctrine
as an essential feature of American
policy; in time of danger the surest
road to peace was an exact statement
of our policy. Mr.. Davis closed at
$3.50, having spoken just two hours,
and was warmly congratulated by his
associates.
The early part of the session today
was devoted to a large amount of rou-
tine business.
Another resolution by Mr.. Morgan
was adopted, ealing on the secretary
of the treasury for all reports during
1S94-5 concerning the condition of fur
seals in Bering sea.
Mr.. Mitchell (Rep., Orr presented the
report on the Dupont contested cleo
tion case, and gave notice that he
would call it up for action at the earli-
est day possible. Mr.. Palmer Oem., ,Ill)
announced that Mr. Turpie Dem,
Ind.) would present a minority report
at a later day.
A message from the house announced
the disagreement of that body In the
silver substitute to the bond bill. No
action was taken as to a conference.
Mr.. Vest Oem., Mo- called up the
recent report Of the secretary Of agri-
culture concerning the cattle quaran-
tine line in Texas. The senator said
the SecretarY's action in CHANGING the