St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1896-02-18
AN ABLE ENUNCIATION OF THE
MONROE DOCTRINE BY MINNIE
SOTA1S SENATo...
DEFINES HIS RESOLUTION.
NOT INTENDED AS A MENACE, BUT
AS A MEANS OF ENFORCING
PEACE.
GREAT INTEREST EXHIBITED.
In View of the Fact That He Spoke
for the Majority of the Senate
Committee.

Special to the Globe.
WASHINGTON, D. c., Feb II. Sen.
ator Davis occupied the forum OF
discussion today, and received the at
tention of a majority of the senators
of both parties, as he eXpourded the
Monroe doctrine for the committee or
foreign relations. Before crowded gal
leries he gave a history of the inter.
national conditions precedent to the
enunciation of President Monroe and
forceful application of the doctrine to
present circumstances.
At an early hour in the afternoon
the senate wing of the capitol began tc
fill up with visitors, for Senator Davis
always speaks to crowded galleries
In the reserved space We're many
ladies, the wives of senators and mem
berS, and many others who form part
of the social contingent of the capital
Every member of the Minnesota dele
! cation and several of the Northwestern
members availed themselves of the
privilege of the floor, and during Sen
ator Davis address the scene reminded
the spectator of the closing days Of the
great financial discussion of 1893.
The senator spoke with accustomed
earnestness. He was in good voice.
perfectly at ease, and to all appear
ances oblivious to the great crowd in
the galleries.
1t is the universal impression that
Senator Davis effort is one that has
been unequaled in many a day in the
senate chamber.
There was added interest and signifi-
resolution voiced the sentiment Of a
majority of the senate committee on
foreign relations, Of which he is a
member. Mr.. Davis spoke for two
hours, and was accorded close atten-
tion throughout. The language was
temperate and conservative, and was
not the radical utterances some had an
ticipated. Mr.. Davis spoke with graf
ification Of the reports coming from
across the Atlantic that a settlement
of the Venezuelan trouble was likely to
be effected, yet the senator declared
with emphasis that the American peo-
pie would never indorSe a settlement
based on concession of any feature of
the Monroe doctrine. While minimiz-
ing the possibilities of war, the senator
said that firm and implicit announce
ment of our policy to resist European
encroachments would give the surest
guaranty of peace The rest of the
day was given to the military acad-
emy appropriation bill, which was un-
der discussion when the senate ad-
journed.
The proposition of Mr.. Villas to in
crease the cadet appointments by two
from each state, an aggregate of go,
brought out much debate the prevail
ing sentiment being favorable to the
increase.
SENATOR DAVIS SPEECH.
Mr. Davis, of Minnesota, secured rec
ognition at 1:30 for his speech on the
resolution framed by him, enunciating
the policy of the United States on the
Monroe doctrine. The senator left his
desk in the rear of the chamber, and
took an advantageo position at Mr..
Hale's desk, near the front and mid
die of the chamber. He spoke without
manuscript or notes, but before him
was portfolio containing numerous
historical papers to which he referred.
At the outset Mr.. Davis voice was
thin, and sometimes inaudible but it
grew in force and volume as he pro-
ceeded
1T is a matter of common observa-
tion," said Mr.. Davis in beginning,
that each year our foreign relations
increase in difficulty, complexity and
Importance. This results from the
growth of our nation, and to the tend
ency of the times to bring together
nations in social and commercial inter-
&c n
the senator, which explained the fact
that the United States was involved
in more difficulties with Great Britain
than with all other countries combined
He was glad to know, however, that
the last month had brought some
amelioration of the immediate difficult
ties to which the attention of the coun-
try had been given. If these new con-
ditions were founded on the Monroe
doctrine, then they would receive the
warmest approval Of the American peo-
pie, but if they involved any conces-
sion from the principles laid down by
Monroe, then the people of this coun-
try would visit upon such concession
their condemnation and disapproval.
Mr.. Davis said that, as he under
stood the Monroe doctrine, it was an
assertion by the United States that
it would reard as an infringement any
attempt by European power to take
or acquire any new or additional ter
ritory on the American continent or
any islands adjacent thereto, or any
right Of sovereignty or dominion in the
same and that such infringement
would be deemed dangerous to the
peace and safety of the United States.
The senator reviewed at length the
conditions existing in Europe at the
time of the enunciation of the Mon
roe doctrine. He did not view the
course of the British statesman, Can
ming, who favored the doctrine, as in
spired by love for this country. 1t
was a move in behalf Of British trade,
then beginning to expand the world
over. Speaking of the criticism that
the pending resolution contemplated a
protectorate over South American
countries, Mr.. Davis said it would bear
NO such construction, nor would it
bring about such results. It suggested
no guardianship over southern coun-
tries. None of them was relieved from
the chastisement Of war by a foreign
country, the only condition being that
the territorial extensions shall not re-
suit from such war. There was
NOTHING NEW OR NOVEL
in the spirit Of this doctrine, proceeded
the senator. It was recognized and en-
forced by European governments, and