The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1896-02-14
SENATOR THURsToN SPEAKS.
An Eloquent Speech In Support Of the
Monroe Doctrine.

An Eloquent Speech In Support of the
Monroe Doctrine.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 2S.-Senstol
Thurston (R.) of Nebraska addressed
the Senate today on the Monroe doc
trine. He said in part: "The adoption
of the resolution reported by the COM
mittee on foreign affairs will present
a grand international issue which NAV
hold much menace to the worlds
peace; an issue which sincerely hope
aud profoundly believe will be re-
solved to the abiding peace and honor
and permanency of this Republic, but
which it is useless to deny may pre-
cipitate upon our beloved country all
the disasters and horrors and sacrifices
which would inevitably follow should
the two great English-speaking ma
tions of the globe submit their diff
ferences to the arbitrament of arms.
"Were there nothing at stake but a
mere adjustment of a boundary line
between Venezuela aud British
Guiapa, / should hesitate long aud
seriously before voting to commit this
Government to any Interference. Il
is difficult to believe, aud impossible
to demonstrate, that our honor is in
VOWED, our prestige threatened or our
tranquility disturbed by any disposi-
ton which can pO. sibIy be made of a
distant strip of South American
marsh and mountain. But the pres
ent question rises high above any
Venezuelan dispute. The B itish
Prime Minister, the accredited mouth
piece of the strongest empire of
lot h -. IL
declare aud to advise this Govern
ment that the Monroe doctrine has no
place in the law of nations, aud is not
accepted or recognized by any Euro
pean power. The challenge thus
broadly thrown down by Great Brit
ain must be taken up by this Repub
lie, or the Monroe doctrine is thing
of the past.
81 am not unmindful of the seri-
business and gravity of the present
situation. We are calling a halt
upon that settled policy of aggres-
sion and domination which has cnaf-
acteiized the extension of the British
empire from the hour in which her
first adventurous prov turned into
unknown seas. But does this furnish
any reason why Americans should
abandon any settled policy of the
United States or retire from any posi-
tiOn which the honor of this Republic
and the welfare of America require
that we should assumed
"The people OF this country have
always been patient and long-suffer-
ing under wrong. They have never
provoked wars, and have never taken
up arms until driven to it for the pre-
servation of their most sacred rights.
Great Britain has mistaken the tenn
per of the people of this country in
the past, and she mistakes it now.
The English people profess to be-
lieve that the United States dare
not stand for the Monroe doctrine
at this time, because, they say,
that the people OF the South would
gladly take advantage of declaration
of war tn renew the old internal con-
test. Standing upon the floor of the
American Senate, knowing whereof
/ speak, ! say to the people Of Great
Britain that the grave issues which
has been settled by brave men upon
American battle-fields can never be
reopened again. There is no division
of sentiment in the United States. Let
but single drumbest be heard upon
our coasts announcing the approach