Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1896-02-25
PUBLIC INTERESTED
CROWDED 0ALLERfEe HEAR SENA>
TOR DAVIS sPEECh

was the event OF the day In the senate.
There wa added interest and dgnif.
canoe in Mr.. Davis utterancss, ~ his
resolution voiced the sentiment Of q
majority Of the senate committee on
foreign relations. o6 which he il a
member. The puhlis interest in the
tubjeot was evidenced by crowded gal
leries, the attendance being greater
than at any time since tho vote on the
silver bond bill. Mr.. Davis spoke fol
two hours and was accorded close at.
tention throughout. The Language
was temperate and conservative and
was not the radical utterances some
had anticipated. Mr.. Davis spoke with
qualification Of the reports coming from
across the Atlantic that a settlement Of
the Venezuela trouble was likely to be
effected. yet the senator declared with
emphasis that the American people
would never endorse settlement based
on concession Of any feature Of the
Monroe doctrine. While minimizing
the possibilities Of war, the senator said
that firm and explicit announcement
of our policy to resist European en-
oroaohments would give the surest
guaranty Of peace.
Our Foreign Relations.
Mt is q matter of common observa-
tion," laid Mr.. Davis in beginning,
that each year our foreign relations in
crease in difficulty, completely and i'm
portanoe. This results from the growth
of our nation, and to the tendency of
the times to bring together nations in
SOC al and commercial intercourse It
was this tendency, said the senator,
which explained the fact that the
United States was involved in more
difficulties with Great Britain than with
all countries combined.
He was glad to know, however, that
the last month had brought some
ameioration 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 doc
trine then they would receive the
warmest Approval of American People
but if they involved any concession.
from the principles laid down by Presi.
dent Monroe, then the people Of this
country would visit upon such conces-
sion their condemnation and disap-
proval.
Mr.. Davis said that as he understood
the Monroe doctrine, it was an asser-
ton by the United States that it would
regard as an infringement any attempt
by European power to take or &C.
Quire any new or additional territory
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.
Regarding tho Venezuelan Boundary.
Venezuela had steadfastly claimed
the Essiquibo river a. the rightful
boundary. The claims Of Great Britain
had shifted constantly and had in
creased UNNECESSARILY in recent years.
A map showing the various claims Of
Great Britain il bewi4dering in its intri-
eacy Great Britain had never fixed q
definite line and declared, Here Is the
limit" On the contrary, she had
pushed westward to the Orlnoco
RIVER, until the British claim
covered over 10000 square miles
Of Venezuelan territory. Concerning
this territory, Great Britain asserted
there should be no arbitration. In OK
planning the advance of the British
claims, Mr.. Davis exhibited an old map
and pamphlet prepared by Sir Robert
Schom burgk, showing the line surveyed
by him. The senator said he was
pleased to hear from across the water
in the report of tho parliamentary de-
bate that concessions had been made
which would tend towards settlement.
Not on Limos of Cleve!snd's Message.
But if this settlement was based on
that feature of the presidents message
suggesting the propriety Of a mutual
settlement between Great Britain and
Venezuela. the people of tho United
States would never agree to it. It
would amount to territorial extension.
As q whole the presidents message had
been unobjecrionable, but when that
document was scrutinized it would be
found to contain q reservation, excep-
ton and diminution Of the Monroe doe
trine never bsfore attempted BY an
American statesman, except Calhoun.
This diminution Of the original doc.
trine was contained in the presidents
brief approval Of a voluntary agreement
between Great Britain aud Venezuela.