The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-01-21
Two Opposing Phases of It Pre-
sented in the Senate.
THE DAVIS RESOLUTION
Reported by the Committee on
Foreign Relations.
SEWELL STRONGLY OPPOSES 1T
Makes Speech Criticizing the Presi-
dents Message and Says the
Doctrine Does Not Apply
to Venezuela.

Washington. Jan. 20.-Two opposing
phases of the Monroe doctrine were
presented in the Senate to-day from
the Committee on Foreign Relations
favoring Il strong reaffiImation Of the
doctrine, and another from Mr.. Sewell,
OF New Jersey, urging that the doc
trine had been carried so far beyond its
scope as to threaten dangerous CON
sequences.
Mr.. Davis, Of Minnesota, presented
the committee report as he is the
author of the resolution embodying the
essential features of all the previous
resolutions. II not only affirms the
original doctrine of President Monroe,
but specifically applies to the main
lands, outlying islands, and isthmian
canals, thus embracing Hawaii, Cuba,
and the Nicaragua Canal. Mr..
Scwell's speech attracted attention
from the fact that it is the first utter
ance of opposition to the prevailing
tendency in Congress on the doctrine,
and moreover the New Jersey Senator
used direct language in criticising the
haste of the President in raising
question which involved the possibili-
ties of war.
The discussion to-day promises to
bring on a full discussion of the
Monroe doctrine before action is taken.
The silver bond bill was laid aside
temporarily, as no Senator was ready
to speak. Mr.. Platt and Mr.. Hale
pointed out the delay on this measure,
and Mr.. Platt asked that a day be set
for vote
Mr.. Jones, Of Arkansas, in charge of
the measure, declined to fix a time as
several Senators wished to be heard.
Mr.. Pugh's resolution for silver pay
ments of outstanding Government obli-
cations did not reach a vote, although
urged by its author.
The Davis resolution and preamble
in full is as follows:
Concurrent resolution relative to
the assertion and enforcement Of the
Monroe doctrine
RESOLVED by the Senate, the House
of Representatives concurring, That
whereas President Monroe. i'm his mes
sage to Congress of December 2d. A. ID.
1928, deemed it proper to assert as a
principle in which the rights and in
terests Of the United States are in
volYed that the American continents
BN Lit IICt anu liht iJtiiuEIti tOltLllOl
which they have assumed and main
tanned, were thenceforth not to be
considered as subjects for future colo
nization by any European power.
Whereas, President Monroe further
declared in that message that the
United States would consider any at
tempt by the allied powers Of Europe
to extend their system to any portion
of this hemisphere as dangerous to our
peace and safety; that with the exist
ing colonies and dependencies Of any
European power we have not inter
fered and should not interfere, but
that with the governments who have
declared their independence and main
tanned it, whose independence we have
on great consideration and on just
principles acknowledged, we could not
view any interpostion for the purpose
of expressing them or controlling in
any other manner their destiny by any
European power, in any other Tight
than as the manifestation of an un-
friendly disposition toward the United
States; and further reiterated in that
message that it is impossible that the
allied powers should extend their po-
litical system to any portion of either
continent without endangering our
peace and happiness; and
Whereas, The doctrine and policy
so proclaimed by President Monroe
have since been repeatedly asserted
by the United States by executive dec
laration and action upon occasions
and exigencies similar to the particu-
lar occasion and eXigency which
har 10 he fifsgf announced
have been ever since their promulga-
tion, and now are the rightful policy
of the United States; therefore be it
"Resolved, That the United States of
America, re-affirms and confirms the
doctrine and principles promulgated
by President Monroe in his message
of December 2, A d., II, and declares
that it will assert and, maintain that
doctrine and those principles, and will
regard any infringement thereof and
particularly any attempt by any
European power to take or acquire any
new or additional territory on the
American continents, or any island ad-
jacent thereto, or any right of sover-
eighty or dominion in the same, in
any case or instance as to which the
United States shall deem such attempt
to be dangerous to it's peace or safety,
by or through force, purchase, ces-
sion, occupation, pledge, colonization,
protectorate, or by control of the
easement in any canal or any other
means Of transit across the American
isthmus, whether under unfounded
pretension of right in cases of alleged
boundary disputes or under any other
unfounded pretensions, as the mani
festation of any unfriendly disposi-
ton toward the United States, and as
an interposition which it would be inn