New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-23
4 DEBATE on FOREIGN POLICY.
DEEP QUESTION WRESTLED WITH BY
YOUNG ORATORS-JTSTICE RUMSEY
DECIDES AGAINST THE "VIGOR-
OTIS" SIDE

Resolved: That the United States should adopt
a vigorous foreign policy
This was the question that SIX Y. VI. c. a. de-
baters wrestled with last evening at the associa-
ton building AZ Fourih-avc. and Twenty-thlrd-
St. In the presence Of a large and interested audi
ence. and Justice William Rumsey Of the Supreme
Court Of New-York. The occasion was ne annual
challenge debate between the Twerty-thIrd-st.
Branch and he Brooklyn y. VI. G. \.
The disputan;s had the trouble that usually drives
amateur debaters TO dis'ra ttion and sometimes 70
drink. namely the difficulty OF arriving at
mutual understanding OF tust what The dickens
was meant by the terms OF tho proposition As
Justice Rumsey remarked when he was announc-
Ing his decision on the merits OF tho debate. II A
definition Of tho terms OF the question could be
agreed upon the question generally settled Itself
For Brooklyn and in tho affirmative Charles w.
Morhous Emil Schnceock and Irving g Barnes
appeared while Walter G. Campbell. +. NJ. Apple
gate and william + Stonebrdge said them nay In
behalf Of the Twenty hrd-st branch. Before the
debaters got at each other there were some prem-
mary musical exercises. which. as Mulvaney says
will be "obl.therated
What bothered the debaters most was whether
tho past foreign policy OF this country had been
vigorous or rot. and In the attempt to define the
question they proceeded between them 10 quote
Webster and the Century Dictionary and other au-
thoritles on vigorous" and policy and adopt
The only word they missed IN the whole resolution
was the article a. ffO""Nel, "il'I 'ii,,f li'"''y
got down 10 business they said many things and
looked panied when the fall OF the gavel announcer
that their twelve minutes apiec" were up
Justice Rumsey decided the debate in faNor or the
negative because they made the point that no
stated vigorous foreign policy could be followed by
this country. In consequence Of frequent changes IN
Administration ami IN the personnel OF the dipio-
matte service. Then the Justice proceeded 70 say
few things of his own bat as he phrase1 II
He quoted from the preamble to the CONSTITUTION 10
show that the founders OF this country had in MIND
as the objects Of It's inception things almost wholly
domestic. Tins does not mean he said. that
the United States should not stretch out us strong
right arm protect lis citizens Wherever they are
found Far from e." The referee declared his
own doubt n whether the United states was
fitted 70 follow any stated foreign policy formed 10
continue until It's objects gained because the
history of nations reckoned not by years but
by generate and because the Administrations ana
diplomatic service Of this country changed 50 ire
quently He doubted. too, whether this country
was fitted 20 follow persistently any course OF ag-
there would he among this people a large number
who had out lately been citizens or tho country. IN
ot1er words. the Republic would have an enemy AT
home. go . ,x .
President Cleveland, he inclined 20 think the
attempt "a quote the Monroe Doctrine as a rea-
son FOR Interference In tho Venezuelan matter was
sheer nonsense. FOR ne failed TO soc how Eng
lands attempt. being already a holder o; posses
sions in South America. 10 20 20 the limit ~ ner
~ a menace 10 the United States. lie added that
AZ times nevertheless there arose occasions waHn
a nation IKE the United States vas justified IN m
,er,nring 10 prevent the nni rtiOn OF unutteraole
criinlties on defencelesS humanity. and declared
that If Senator Proctor's statements we're true u
circumstances did not exist for the United states
fO-taN