The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1900-12-06

had sunny teinpVt ahV WI pot-
aneed Judgment, and he made friends,
lae was also scholar. student OF his
tory. sound lawyer and capable
man Of affairs. AS member Of the
peace commission which arranged with
Spain the terms OF the Treaty of Paris
he was Identified with and had especial
knowledge q the problems entailed by
our new territorial acquisitions. Faced
BY the complications in China. the ne
Sessity Of developing wise plans OF gov
eminent for Porto Rico and the Phil
ippines and Of setting Cuba on the way
OF Independence. it would have been no
small advantage to congress to have a
man Of Senator Davis experience and
knowledge to lead it at this time. and
his loss viii be seriously felt by his
colleagues, with whom he was exceed
ingly popular, as wen as by the country
at large.
Senator Davis was man Of broad
and statesmanlike mind. He was pro-
duct Of the West. and had that strong
sense Of American nationality which
has been more characteristic OF men
who grew up in the old Northwest ter
rltory with no traditions OF local pride
antedating national enthusiasm than Of
political leaders from any other section
OF the land. This conception. however.
was balanced by a thorough under
standing Of the principles Of our con-
stitution and laws. He had an Eastern
conservatism. certain fellowship with
Webster in sound views OF government
al principles. which saved him from the
loose vagaries OF Cas- and Douglas.
whose fallaelous popular sovereignty"
theory as basis OF authority has found
unaeknowledged Judgement in many
Western and not Few Eastern minds,
greatly TO the encouragement OF law
lessness and the confoundlng OF liberty
with license. Senator Davis did not be-
;ieve that the United States was a help
less cripple among nations. He believed
1t had the right to exercise all the func-
tons Of a sovereign power and maintain
its authority wherever that sovereignty
extended. When a young man he went
into the army and fought bravely to
preserve the union from those who
thought this government founded on a
revocable contract dependent for its per-
theeontinued consentof var
ious bodies Of the governed. At theend Of
his career, still true 10 the same princi-
pies, he was a leading defender Of the
right aud power Of his country to ex-
ercise rule and enforce its authority
in all territory subject to its dominion.
In harmony with this lifelong spirit
Of respect for order was the act which.
perhaps more than any one thing he
ever did drew to him popular attention
and enthusiasm. His early political
were achieved as the antago-
mist OF abuses Of corporate privileges.
which were rife at that time in the
Northwest Later his line Of practice
as a lawyer arrayed him against rail-
road interests. When the Chicago riots
occurred, before President Cleveland
had ordered out troops, the labor lead
ers, who regarded him ss one natural
" in sympathy with them, called on
him to support the Kyle resolution for
bidding the intervention Of national au-
thority to hinder lawless men from do
ng what they pleased with trains or
parts Of trains not essential to the trans
Of mails. Instantly and un-
,ompromisingly came his answer: Il
will not support Senator Kyle's resolu- |
ion. You are rapidly approaching the
vert act Of levylng war against the
United States. and you viii find the de-
inition Of that act in the constitution"
This net with instant popular approval,
lnd later when Mr.. Cleveland put down |
he riot Senator Davis cordially and |
supported him. His course
vas a bold and defiant one at time
when many politicians were trimming
md trying to deal gently with anarchy
or fear Of offending the labor vote.
But there was nothing Of the dema-
sogue about CUshman X. Davis. Hap
oily, too. for the lesson Of his courage
t is to be recorded that his popularity
md standing were not diminished. but
increased. by the incident.
Senator Davis was in no sense a lingo
illed with vainglory and thirsting for
'ational adventure. He believed mere
y in meeting in manly fashion the
presented to the country. seek
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