The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1896-02-18

took ~ tie Venezuela question and
outlined its essential features.
Venezuela had steadfastly claimed
the EssiquibO river as the rightful
boundary. The claims Of Great Britain
had sh fted constantly and had in
creased immeasurably i'll recent ye ars.
A map showing the various claims of
Great Britain is bewi dering in its intri.
cacy. Great Britain had never fixed
definite line and declared, Here is the
limit" On the contrary, she had
pushed westward to the Orlnoco
Ever, until the British claim
covered over 10000 square miles
of enezuelan territory. Concerning
tn $ territory, Great Britain asserted
there should be no arbitration. In ex-
planning the advance of the British
claims Mr.. Davis exhibited an old map
and pamphlet prepared by Sir Robert
Schom Lurgk, showing the line surveyed
by him. The senator said he was
pleased to hear from across the water
in the report of the parliamentary de-
bate that concessions had been made
which would tend towards settlement.
Not on Lines of Cleve and's Message.
But if this settlement was based on
tina feature of the presidents message
suggesting the propriety of a mutual
set, cement between Great Britain and
Venezue.a the people of the United
States would never agree to 1t. 1t
would amount to a territorial extension.
AS IA whole the pres dent message had
been unobject enable, but when that
document was scrut. .niZed 1T would be
found to contain IA reServat on, eXcep-
ton and diminutl on of the Monroe doc
tr.ne never before attempted by an
American statesman, except Calhoun.
This dIminutIon of the orig inal doc
trine was contained II the presidents 8
brief approval of voluntary agreement
between Great Britain and Venezuela.
Voluntary Concessions Not Allowable.
Ii was no part of the Monroe doctrine
that any voluntary cession of territory
by South American state to foreign
government was uno Objectionable to the
United States 1t was as much a
menace if the extension 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
Br tain, under the pretense OF q
voluntary settlement, to advance her
territory in South America. Venezuela
is now under the duress of Great Brit
ain, declared the senator. British
ultImatum has been addressed to Vene-
zuela. What then could result from
any pretense of voluntary agreement
when Great Britain dominated Vene-
zuela and the latter country was with
out the power of exercising free will?
Mr. Davis spoke strongly in favor of
arbitration and 20 nted out the fire.
quent salutary results from arbitra-
! tlons
He also referred to the several South
and Central American states, pointing
out their progress, resources and capa.
bilit es. Concerning the pending reso-
luton, Mr.. Davis sa d 1t in no way
added to or dim II shed the original
Monroe doctrine 1t made permanent
by congressional enactment the def
mite policy of the United States,
thus ending the constant assertion
by foreign jurists that the doctrine
was mere dictum without ac-
ceptance by the American congress.
Recent reports had foreshadowed a
treaty between Great Britain and
Spain, concern ng Cuba, by which GER
tain ports of Cuba were to be pledged
to Great Britain. This. declared Mr..
Davis, would be the first step toward
British acGu sitiOn. 1t would be in OPP
position to the spirit of the Monroe doc.
tr.ne as it would control the destiny of
Cuba.
There Will be no War.
There has been much talk of war,
said the senator, but there has never
been possibility of war. Neither gov.
ernment would permit it. No ,Ameri.
can so der would enter Canada. New
York could not be put under contri bu
ton. The Welland canal would not be
seized. These great countries VIII go on
peacefully solving their difficu ties. Tt
this end congress should lay down the
u Monroe doctrine as an essential feature
of American policy. In time of danger
the surest road to peace was an exac
statement of our policy.
Mr. Davis closed at $50, having
spoken two hours. and was warmly
congrat ulated by his associates.