New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-02-18
SENATOR DAVIS EXPLAINS.
,,,,1y CONGRESS SHOULD AFFIRM THE
MONROE DOCTRINE.
~ WOULD LEND THE PRINCIPLE MORE WEIGHT
IN THE MINDS OF FOREIGN DlPLOMATs-No
ATTEMPT TO ESTABLISH \ PROTECT
CRATE OVER SOUTH AMERICA.


CRATE OVER SOUTH AMERICA
Washington Feb. l7-The resolution heretofore
,ano-ted from the Committee on Foreign Relations
,or the application and enforcement OF the Monroe
noctrine was taken up in the Senate to-day so as
90 allow Mr. Davis (Rep.. Minn.)-its author-to
snaak in support Of ii. He did so in an ADDRESS
which occupied hour and half in It's dehNe'!'
and was listened with great interest by senators
and by crowded galleries
7, was matter of observation, he sad tha'
every year the foreign relations Of the United states
,rcrea sed In difficulty completely and Importance
The closer the relations Of one Government 10 an
other were the more natura. Il was that the ques-
ton OF foreign relations should become one 81 ~
creasing frequency OF occurrence ana oAh'u''! ~
solution That fact explained why there were prop
ably more questions unsolved between the
United States and Great Britain than between the
United States and all the other nations Of the world
combined II must be a matter. he said, OF con-
graduation to everybody that conditions hao oeeh
ameliorated within the last month II that ameh-
grafton rested a basis which id not concede
thing from the Monroe Doctrine. but recognized
and confirmed 1t in its entirety, 1t would receive
the warmes approval of the American people. But
IT, on the contrary it the result Of any ma
teral concession Of the principles announced by
President Monroe Ito which principles the American
people were most warmly attached. that people
would rise up in condemnation of it,
as follows: That the American continents were not
N be considered as subjects to further COLOMBIA
ton by any European Power; that the United
States should consider any attempt on the part Of
such Powers to extend their system to any por-
ton OF the hemisphere dangerous TO the peace
and safety OF the United States and that any in
terposition by a European Power for the purpose
o, depressing any Of the people on TIE continent
should be considered the manifestation Of an un-
friendly disposition toward the United States.
NO RESPONSIBILITY INVOLVED.
Under the Monroe Doctrine and under the pend
ing resolution Mr.. Davis said. there
sponsibity whatever for the conduct Of South
American or Central American States toward for
eign nations. None Of those Governments had any
exemption under that doctrine under the reso-
luton. from the chastisement of by any for
eign Power The only Limitation was that the
acquisition OF territory by foreign nation should
not follow ; q result Of such The principle
for the Intervention of the United States was when
and only when the United States considered that
the act threatened or proposed by a foreign Power
dangerous to It's peace and safety TIE course
OF the executive departments in the enforcement
Of the Monroe Doctrine had been. Mr.. DAYS said
consistent since the date OF its promugation No
where had this been more clearly shown than in the
attitude OF the various Administrations toward
affairs in Cuba.
Mr.. Davis then quoted from the diplomatic cor
TsSpcuDtNcc Tt.dtlNc 10 CuDd--ldtA1g from early IN
this century down 10 the present day-to show that
the Monroe Doctrine had been invoked and applied
This Government had declared. various occasions
limited at. that II would not permit the transfer OF
Cuba TO any other government and yet one
had ever asserted tina; this advanced position
violation Of the Monroe Doctrine
Nh DAYS quoting from history, thowed that the
the most notable instance Of recent years being. Mr.
mnstration toward the recently instituted republic
Of Hawaii conduct NJ our foreign affa rs That n 4
a. Zen yesooSs iDiroduce6 t by a Anaf ms fra,
Indiana (Mr. Turpe). which declared that this Gov
eminent could not look with favor lyon the inter
he En Of e al ss a6s
tons of the Senator from Indiana had been passed
eept the TneS at Th M M Inc %0 wa
that time attempting TO reseat bar0arous Queen
sat an the h8 Mr. DAYS SS h6 6rR 70
equally proper in the case under discussion.
FRIENDLY SETTLEMENT WELCOMED
Mr.. Davis exhibited in the Senate copy of one Of
Echomburgks earliest publications. and showed that
In it found the first reference the claims sub
sequently made by Great Britain. The existing
controversy had not been sought by ;he Unite 1
States. This Government had pleaded for arbtra-
ton and Great Britain had refused arbitration Mr..
Davis said that he was glad there had appeared
matter in friendly and am.catle spirit. but il
that disposition on the part OF CIR. at Ran grew
If Il Wss based n9oh Rv any ny1b 81 h so m
concession. such concession would never be acce1ed
10 by The American people
Mr.. Davis said. 70 consider the message OF the
President Of the United States ana he aPoTo sr
that message he gave ms cordial assent. put When
was a reservation therein and diminuton OF the
force Of the Doctrine never attempted TO be made
part Of the message committing this Government T.
an a aecpanGe 4 any xee
could not. and would not. be acceded to. Such q
policy struck at the very IRE o. me oc aG reh
Britain the words Of this message were siSnlica1t
based upon the belief that Venezuela can cede ter
ritory and the United States make no protest m
people Of the United States will never acquesce IL
il. l, would be practically conquest by war
Venezuela now under duress by Great Er!tali
Nj Davis believed be exercised
Speaking u TIE char1eie, OF me spun h nr th
more dangerous would be the aggress'ons Of foresi
Ss history tG cur of s"uh p6d
nous difficulties under which they labored ana IN
their portion. People emerging as they had from
constant oppression and toll could not De eXpec,e,
TO act as dec!siveiy and be as firm and stable as
people whose liberties had been ancestral
Keierrlng TO the question OF arbitration Mr. Dav,
salH II was 70 be seriously hoped that arDlrauo'
would be realized II was the natural tendency o
all CIVILIZED peoples and nations.
CONGRESS SHOULD AFFIRM THE DOCTRINE
The Monroe Doctrine had. ne continued. never bee
assented to by any foreign Government The argu
ment was always advanced that II was ephemerd
and applicable only to the that called 1t forth
Foreign Governments also Mr. Davis said. Gale
attention to the fac, that this doctrine had neve
been enunciated by Congress and for that reaso
foreign diplomats refused to accept 1t as cardina
principle of this Government
Mr.. Davis quoted from the writings OF the au
thortes OF Continental Europe internato1a
law TO show that The force OF the Monroe Doctria
had been weakened by the failure Of Congress- to Re
affirm II: The resolution under discussion do no.
Mr.. Davis said, take away add TO the Doctrine a
inundated by President Monroe. The words is
nds adjacent thereto" were. he said inserted b