Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1896-01-31
Honor Above Dollars.

WASHINGTON, Jan 28.-J OHM. Thurs
ton, Republican Senator for Ne
braska, addressed the Senate to-day
on the Davis resolution affirming
and defining the Monroe doctrine.
The adoption of the resolution re-
ported by the Committee on Foreign
Affairs, he said, would present a
great international issue which might
hold much of menace to the worlds
peace. He could not assume these
responsibilities and dare not vote for
the resolution without first submit
ting some of the reasons which SEEM
ed to make his path of duty plains.
Were there nothing at stake but a
mere adjustment of boundary line
between Venezuela and British
Guiana he should hesitate long be-
fore voting to commit this Govern
ment to any interference. But the
present question rose high above any
Venezuelan dispute. The British
Prime Minister had seen fit to de-
clare officially that the Monroe doc
trine had no place in the law of ma
tiOns and was not accepted or recOg'
nized by the European powers. The
challenge thus broadly given by
Great Britain must be accepted by
this republic or the Monroe doctrine
was a thing of the past. The British
position, bluntly, almost insolently,
stated by Lord Salisbury, had been
reasserted upon this floor, clothed in
the splendid rhetoric of the Senator
from Colorado. He agreed with
that Senator chat this was no time
30 stir up public passion; to appeal
to any prejudice that might exist
against England; to fan the fame OF
any incipient war sentiment; but he
Insisted that this was a time Of all
Others to call forth the highest ex-
preston of loyalty and devotion TO
American institutions; that this was
the supreme hour for a dignifed
positive, and solemn declaration of
the American purpose, clearly, calm
", deliberately stated.
Mr.. Thurston said 1t was not his
purpose to treat this subject histori-
cally or to review the events which
led up to the assertion of this Amer
lean policy in the message of Presi-
dent Monroe. He could add moth
ing in that respect to the exhaustive
presentation of the Senator from
Massachusetts (Mr LODGE.
81 am not unmindful," he eontin-
ned. " of the seriousness and gravity
of The present situation. We are
calling a halt upon that settled pol
lev Of aggression and dominion
which has characterized the extern
sion of the British empire from the
hour in which her first adventurous
prov turned to unknown seas. The
history of the English people is an
almost unbroken series of military
achievements. Great Britain has
cleared her pathway in every corner
of the earth with the naked sword;
she has acquired and held her vast
possessions by force of arms she
has mastered and subjHgated the
people of every zone; her natives are
upon every sea, her armies in every
cline. No nation can afford to chal-
Ienge lightly her purposes or arouse
her stubborn pride. But does this
furnish any reason why Americans
should abandon any settled policy
of the United States, or retire from
any position which the honor of this
republic and the welfare Of America
require that we should assume?
"Great Britain has mistaken the
temper of the people of this country
in the past as she mistakes it now.
The English people profess to be-
lieve that they can weaken our pur-
pose and compel us to abandon the
Monroe doctrine by threats and de-
monstrations against American Sc
curities and American commercial
interests. We solemnly advise them
that our foreign policy is not a mat
ter of exchange or barter; and no
financial panic can ever induce us
for single moment TO lower the
standard of our national honor
"Sir, believing that the honor Of
nv country is involved, and that Che
hour calls for the highest expression
ofloyalty and patriotism calmly con
adent of the verdict of posterity rev
srently calling upon God to witness
Lhe sincerity Of my purpose, shall
vote for the resolution reported by
he Committee on Foreign Affairs.
shall vote for it, not as an afront !