The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-01-28

reported by the committee on foreign
affairs. will present grand international
issue which may hold much menace
to the worlds peace; issue
which 1 sincerely hope and profound
" believe will be resolved to the
xbiding peace and honor and perma-
neucy ofthis republic, but which It is
useless to deny may precipitate upon
our beloved country all the disasters and
horrors and sacrifices which would inev
itabIy follow should the two great Eng
Iish speaking nations of the globe sub
nit their differences to the arbi-
trament of arms. cannot
assume these responsibilities; /
dare not vote for the pending resolution
without first submitting to the deliberate
Judgment of mankind and the dispassion-
ate criticism of posteritv, some of the
reasons which seem to make my path OF
duty plain.
.'Were there nothing at stake but
mere adjustment of a boundary line be-
tween Venezuela and British Guiana, l
should hesitate long and seriously be-
fore voting to commit this govern
ment to any Interference 1t is difficult
to believe, and i'm possible to demonstrate
that our honor is involved, our prestige
threatened, or our tranquility disturbed
by any disposition which can be made OF
d distant strip of South American marsh
and mountain. But the present question
rises high above any Venezuelan dispute.
The British prime minister, the accredited
mouth piece of the strongest empire of
christendom has seen fit to officially de-
clare and to advise this government that
the Monroe doctrine has no place in the
law of nations and is not accepted or
recognized by any European powers.
The challenge thus broadly thrown down
by Great Britain must be taken up by
his republic, or the Monroe doctrine is
thing of the past.
"Mr. President, the British position
bluntly, almost insolently stated by Lord
Sails bury, has been reasserted from this
floor. Clothed in such splendid rhetoric
and presented with such fervId eloquence
as even to win American applause.
unhesitatingly assume that the applause
was for the matchless ability of the
orator and not for the sentiment
of his address. cannot believe
that the views of the senator from Colo
RADIO will commend themselves to the
deliberate judgment of the American
people They may be satisfactory to the
money changers. England can crack
the whip for them; but thank God the
money changers are not the custodians
of the nations conscience. They may
be approved by Wall street; for
Wall street represents that power
TO dominate the financial and
industrial policy of this country; but
Wall street cannot dictate to the senate
of the United States. If our people ever
become SO senile and degraded as to be
willing to list the honor of the nation on
the stock exchange to go up and down
with the market, it will be time TO turn
the pictured face of Washington to the
wall and to cast the sword of Grant into
the sea.
.'Bir. President, 1 have profound
admiration and respect for the senator
from Colorado. 1 know how intensely
American he is. His patriotism cannot
be questioned or his sincerity doubted. l
know how strong must be the convictions
which lead him to lift his voice against
the known sentiments of his country men.
81 agree with the senator, that this is
no time to stir up public passion; to ap-
peal to any prejudices that may exist
against England; to fan the fame
of any incipient war sentiment;
but 1 must insist that this is
a time of all others to call
forth the highest expression of loyalty
aud devotion to American institutions; l
must insist that this is the supreme hour
for dignified, positive and solemn de-
claration of the American purpose clear
ly. calmly, deliberately stated.
"Mr. President, etc"