The Saint Paul globe., 1897-10-23

Decisive Measures ON Column
bias Part.
The entertainment season of the
Merriam Park Lecture association was
opened last evening under most auspi-
cious circumstances, by reception to
and address by Hon. Cushman K. Da-
Wis., Minnesota's senior senator.
Woodruff's hall was filed by the large
audience, which numbered the elite of
Merriam Park, all of whom were in
eveeEng dress. The hall was handsome
ly decorated with palms and potted
plants, while in the center was a beau
tiful autumn piece of vari-colored
leaves; in compliment to the distin-
guished guest the walls were festooned
with the national colors, and draped
across the back of the stage was the
flag of Cuba-the red, white and blue
standard with the lone star.
An informal reception was held dur
ing which music was furnished by the
Kootenai orchestra. Light refresh
ments were then served, after which
Rev. w. G. Covert, who acted as mas
ter of ceremonies, introduced the speak
er of the evening, Senator Davis. Mr.
Davis was rendered an ovation as he
advanced to the front Of the platform
After expressing his pleasure at being
present and paying tribute to the lee
ture bureau and to that comparatively
modern institution itself, the lecture,
he announced as the subject of his dis
course, 'An Informal Talk on the Man
ner in Which Foreign Relations Are
Conducted" and spoke, in brief, as
follows:
You cannot pick up a newspaper
without seeing some question in it
ABOUT the foreign relations between
this country and some foreign power.
Ihe question a week ago was whether
this country would feel itself bound
to return Miss Cisneros to her Cuban
PRISON; the next thing was when Bis
marck pronounced the Monroe doc
tflne piece of American insolence,
ard the papers this evening gave prom
irence to the fact that Spain protested
because this nation had done nothing
TO prevent the fitting out of filibuster-
ing expeditions to Cuba Why. the
truth is that this country has done
nothing but to endeav0r to suppress
them! TomorroW's paper may tell us
OF the trouble with England in an en-
deavOr to effect a conference for the
protection of our sealing interests-so
a knowledge of the workings of the
senate committee on foreign relations
may be interesting.
THE senate of the United States, by
reason of its cooperation and treaty
power has peculiarly intimate rela-
ton with foreign powers. The politi-
cal leaders in the senate may stand
on each side of the partisan line and
hurl imprecationS at each other, but
from the time of Washington down to
this, with few, and those few very dis
astrOuS, exceptions, our committee on
foreign affairs has presented an un-
broken front to the foreign nations;
party differences were sunk in a unit
ed spirit of patriotism. We may have
our domestic difficulties, like the quar-
rels between husband and wife, but
let an outsider step in and you will
see the couple unite in eXpelling him.
So does that body of American citi-
Zens discuss these matters from a uni
tary point of view, and that explains
why, when the American people set
their faces against foreign foe, there
is a unanimity which bids that foe be-
ware.
relations consists of eleven members
OF which the party in power always
has a majority of one. The meetings
are largely confidential and by the ne
ceSsity to have no differences, they
are made harmonious. Matters are
talked over in a conversational way
and different views exchanged; some
times the members grow emphatic in
their remarks, but we have few diff
ferancpS of ODiniOD
Treaties are referred by the senate
to that committee. The right of in
ception of a treaty is solely by the
president but it must go to the senate
for confirmation and thus to this COM
mttee, and it is with matters of this
kind that the committee has most to
do. The committee rejected the ar
hitration treaty last February. Many
people thought they saw in it per-
petuity of peace, but we found that it
bound US to arbitrate all matters with
foreign countries, and that the boards
of arbitration were to be composed
one-half of European diplomats. Thus
we would have been obliged to arbi-
trate the Nicarag guam question, the i'm
migration question, and other matters
of litigation which are matters for any
government to decide for itseIf-and we
rejected the treaty without hesitancy."
Senator Davis then went on to re-
cite several incidents coming before
the committee which shows how every
government is bound to protect the
rights of its citizens, to see that they
are not abused or their rights trampled
upon by other powers. One of these
is now before the committee and we
give it in the senator's words:
"a young man named Melton, from
Kansas, left twenty months ago to go
to Cuba, not as soldier, but as
correspondent for a newspaper. He
sailed on the schooner Competitor
which carried supplies to the insur-
gents. The vessel was captured by
Spanish gunboat and all the crew
were taken to Havana and lodged in
iaiI there, were tried by a military
tribunal and sentenced to be shot. This
government demanded a new trial, but
it has never taken place and Melton
and two others have lain in jail for