The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1896-02-18
The J innesOta Senator Addresses
the Senate on the Monroe
Doctrine,
Speaking to His resolution Re-
ported From the Foreign
Relations Committee.
Not Even Voluntary Concessions
to Foreign Powers Are to
Be Allowed.


WASHINGTON, Feb. 1S-In the senate
Mr.. | avis of Minnesota secured recog-
n on ii, l 30 tor his speech on the reso-
luton framed ly him, enunciating the
pol cy of the United States on the Mon.
rec doctrine. The senator left his desk
in the lear of the chamber and took an
advantageous position at Mr.. Hale's
desk, near the front and middle of the
c amber. lie spoke without manu-.
scr pit or notes, but before hlm was a
port orl o contain. ng numerous hlstOrl-
Ca papers, t. VIII. .Ch he referred.
At the outset Mr.. DAVIS voice was
thin and sometim 3 maud bic, but 1t
grew IN force and volume as he pro-
Ceeded.
lit IS a matter of common observa-
ton sad Mr.. DAVIS in beg nning,
that each year our foreign relations in
crease in difficulty, comp. .eXity and i'm
pcrtance. This results from the growth
of cur nation, ana to the tend ncy of
the TN es to bring together NATIONS in
soc al and commercial intercourse. 1t
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.
de was glad to know, however, that
the last month had brought some
anne olation of the immediate difficult
ties to VIII ch the attention Of the coun-
try had been given. If these new con-
dilons were founded on the Monroe doc
trine then they would receive the
Warm-st Approval of American People
but if they involved any concession.
from the principles ia d down by Presi-
dent Monroe, then the people of this
country would Wis upon such conces-
sion their condemnation and disap-
prova!.
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 mfr ngC Cment any attempt
by IA European power to take or ac-
GU re any new or add tional territory
ON the American continent or any
is ands 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 Un ted States.
Revie we'd Conditions in Europe
The senator reviewed at length the
condIt .ons existing in Europe at the
time of the cnunciation of the Monroe
doctrine He did not view the course
of the British Statesman Canning who
favored the doctrine, as inspired 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 resolu-
t OH contemplated a protectorate over
South Amer.c,n countries, MIR. Dav s
ga d it would bear no such construction,
nor would it bring about such results. 1t
Suggested No Guardiauship
over Southern countries None of them
was relieved from the chastisement of
the war by the foreign country, the
only condition being that the terrific
rial ex ensions shall not result from
such war. There was nothing new or
novel in the spirit of this doc
trine, proceeded the senator. - 1t
was recognized and enforced by
European governments, and Turkey
offered marked instance of the mu.
tual agreement to refrain from terri
torial extension in the Ottoman em-
pire. Mr.. Davis referred to the state.
ment of Lord Salisbury that the Mon
roe doctrine is not based upon any
canon of international law, and the
senator insisted that the right resided
in any nat on to interfere in the affair
of another state when conditions arose
dangerous to its peace and safety. This
was recognized principle of interna
!. tional law, upheld by eminent English
authorities from whom the senator
quoted.
Referred to Hawaii and Cuba.
Taking up the islands of Cuba. and
Hawaii, Mr.. Davis showed the consis
tent and persistent course of the United
States in applying the spirit of the doc
trlne to those islands. 1t had been in
voxed in the case of Cuba whenever
\ England or France had sought foot
/ hold there. In the case of Hawaii, {
resolution had been passed at the las
son of congress, declaring that the
/ United States would not look with
\ favor on any foreign Intervention IL
l the affairs of Hawaii. The senator re
ferred incidentally to the animosity o
the debate over Hawaii, and to the eff
fort to restore to the Hawaiian throne {
''sanguisary and Barbarou. Queen"
If it was proper to pass such a resolu
ton as to Hawaii, why should ques
ton be raised as to the policy of firm
temperate and explicit enunciation o
the application of the Monroe doctrin
/ to the pending difficulties. Mr.. Davi