The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-11-28


forces from Cuba and Cuban waters.
Wien Senator Davis was questioned on
what lines the next Congress would follow
as to colonial legislation. he answered with
deep conviction:
Congress will be conciliatory. although
in Cuba, our occupation will, of course. be
military. Very little legislation will be
required or even justifiable. Porto Rico
is an old and finished community. with
social system Of its own. This Will re-
quire some notifications and adjustments,
but the colony will continue under the
present system with as little interference
as possible AS to the Philippines, Amer
lea can certainly do what Great Britain
and Holland have done with the same
race of people. dwelling in the same part
of the world, and, in my opinion. can co
it better. Great Britain found in the
Straits Settlements forty years ago the
same class Of people that we are dealing
with in the Philippines. The Straits set.
Elements are in the same geographical
group as the Philippines. These people
were barbarous and piratical forty years
ago. They have been changed into one OF
the most orderly and prosperous peoples
on the face of the globe-communitie
which largely govern themselves. l have
no doubt that the same results can ne
brought about in the Philippines. mat
Congress will follow Great Britains ex-
ample in regard to these islands IS Fry
own and the general conviction OF all the
people who have thought upon the SUBJECT.
/ believe that in year from today Things
will be in composed condition in the
Philippines, and from my study OF the
Filipino nature 1 believe that the rebel
lion. once ended, all likelihood OF fur
Their revolt will be removed forever. with
government once firmly established. we
shall follow the British example In the
Malay dependencies by giving large por-
ton OF the responsible positions to trust
worthy natives. The Filipinos possess
many qualities of self-government, IL
guided by a steady hand.
II do not believe there will be any more
serious revolutions in Santo Domingo.
and, in case revolution should break out
there, / should not advise any interfer-
ence from the United States. unless our
interests were seriously impaired. The
Monroe Doctrine has been more firmly es-
tablished by the events of the last two
years.
The negotiations at the. close of the
Spanish war brought Senator Davis
prominently before the public. Americas
success, as immediate as 1t was absolute.
unqualified had made one OF history
exceptions. Almost before they realized
the fact the Prime Ministers OF Europe
had inscribed unwillingly another name
upop the roll of the great Powers. And
when. after little more than three months
conflict. a protocol of peace was signed,
August -, 1898, Senator Davis was logic
ally selected to complete the task he mad
begun. Peace commissioners were named
by President Mckinley August 70. me
Secretary Of State, Judge William X. Day.
became almost ex-oficio, the CHIEF OF inc
Commission. Senator Davis was also as
ISOLATED with Senator William P. FRYE,
Senator George Gray aand Whitelaw Reid.
Upon his return from Paris Senator
Davis was cordially received in wash
ington and given a public welcome
at st. Paul. His place as Chairman
of the Senate Committee on Foreign
Affairs was assured for the future. no less
than was his seat in the Senate. He mad
fixed his position as the foremost Ameri.
can expounder OF the complex INV ol
nations He had, moreover, proved ms
possession of the far rarer ability to OBJ
tain from that law the utmost advantage
in diplomatic argument.
His term as United States Senator
would have expired March, }, 1900
At first view Senator Davis seemed 10
be a singularly unimpressive man. OF APP
parently colorless character. This decep-
tive idea was due in large meausre TO MS
ability to veil his own individuality by
merging 1t for the time being into the
personality of his visitor. giving to stran-
gers an apparent accessibility that put
them Immediately on confidential foot
ing. He was slightly above the medium
height more gentle than aggressive in his
bearing, tactful, sympathetic. concilia-
tory. His hair was thin and light brown
in color. His eyes, yelled by dropping lids,
were brown deepening to black under ex-
citement. His face was one of unusual mo-
bility, scanned with many lines-expres-
sive. delicate lines. that came and went
with changing moods. When the affairs
of state did not weigh heavily his smile
was frequent and his laugh boyish. 1t
was a progressive laugh, beginning with
an upward twist OF the eyes. extending
down to the lips and lower part of the
face. and finishing with the shoulders,
which seemed to move up toward the head
and throat.
He was a constant smoker. and to see
Senator Davis without his big black cigar
was almost as unusual as to see a war
picture of Grant without his.
Like every man who understands the
psychology of social life, Senator Davis
acknowledged the great debt he owed to
his friendships with women. Although all
women interested him, it was chiefly wo-
men of great subtlety of thought and feel
ing and high accomplishments, that won
and held his friendship. In Mrs. Davis he
realized these graces of mind in the full
est, and to his constant and sympathetic
association with her for the past nineteen
years he attributed large measure OF
his success.
He said of her: "A woman of brilliant
beauty. of tremendous magnetism, and I'M
bounded tact. her influence in my life
has been Unreasonable. Exceedingly fond
of society and possessed of many social
gifts. she has relieved me of the tax of
social duties in degree which / cannot
describe. Frequently when l am wearied
or busy she has kept people from disturb
ing me with a supreme tact that has sent
them away pleased and satisfied without
realizing that they had been cleverly de-
feated of their purpose to interview me.
She never forgets a face. and people who
have met her at crowded reception are
often surprised to find her according them
years later"
Mrs. Davis is a woman Of great physical
strength and enjoys all outdoor sports. She
is skilled horsewoman a good sailor, and
ar excellent swimmer. In person she is
above the medium height. with magnifi-
cent physique n beautifully poised head.
crowned with brown hair. brilliant COM
plexion. and expressive eyes.
She is an accomplished linguist, and
when Mr. Davis became the head of the |
Committee on Foreign Affairs her lin
guistic accomplishments did her good serv
Ice. While in Paris with Mr. Davis the !
ex- Empress Eugene. who was staying at
the same hotel. became interested in Mrs. |
Davis and warm friendship resulted. |
CONFEDERATE VETERAN DEAD. |