New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-11-28
/ DEFENDER or GOVERNMENT.

/ States Senate loses n member peculiarly well
| nouipped for the solution of tho important and
! perplexing problems which confront this coun-
! try On the retirement OF John Sherman from
the Senate Mr.. Davis became chairman OF the
| Committee on Foreign Relations, and exercised
| powerful influence in shaping the policies or
! the Government in the last four years. BY
| habit OF mind and by long study he was emf
nentTy fitted for that position. He had sunny
temper and we'll balanced Judgment and
commanded confidence at the same time that
he made friends. He also a scholar. n
student of history. sound lawyer ana Il
capahle 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 Of
the problems entailed by our new territorial
acquisitions Faced by the complications in
China the necessity of developing wise plans
of government for Porto Rico and the Philip
pines and OF setting Cuba on the way of indie
pendence ii would have been no small advan-
tage to Congress to have Of Senator
Daviss experience and knowledge to lead it at
this time, and his loss will be seriously felt by
his colleagues with whom he was exceedingly
popular. as we'll as by the country at large
Senator Davis was man of broad and
statesmanIike mind He product 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 Ierrl-
tory with no traditions of local pride antedat-
ing National enthusiasm than of political lead
ers from any other section of the land. rms
conception however was balanced by 4 thor
ough understanding of the principles OF our
Constitution and laws. He had an Eastern con-
servatism a certain fellowship with Webster in
sound views of governmental principles, which
saved him from the loose vagalies or Cass and
Douglas whose fallacfous popular sovereignty"
theory as basis of authority has found I'M
acknowledged Judgement IN many Western ard
not a few Eastern minds, greatly to the en-
enlargement of lawlessness and the confound-
ing of liberty with license. Senator Davis did
not believe that the United States was help
less cripple among nations He believed 1t had
the right TO exercise all the functions Of a SOW
ereign Power and maintain its authority wher-
ever that sovereignty extended. When a young
man he went into the Army and fought bravely
10 preserve the Union from those who thought
this Government founded on revOcabe con-
tract dependent for its permancncy on the con
tnued consent of various bodies of the gov
erned At the end of his career, still true 10
the same principles. he a leading defender
Of the right and power Of his country to exer-
else rule and enforce its authority in all terri
tory subject to its dominion
In harmony with this lifelong spirit of
spect for order was the act which perhaps more
than any one thing lie ever did drew to him
popular attention and enthusiasm. His early
political successes 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 railroad interests When the Chicago
riots occurred. before President Cleveland had
ordered out troops the labor leaders, who
| garded him as one naturally in sympathy with
| them. called on him TO support the Kyle resolu-
ton forbdding the intervention of National au-
| thority TO hinder lawless from doing what
| they pleased with trains or parts of trains not
essential to the transportation of the mails In
stantly and uncompromisingly came his an
swer Il will not support Senator Kyle's reso-
! LUTON You are rapidly approaching the overt
! act Of leyying war against the United States,
! land You will find the definition of that act in
''the Constitution" This met with instant pop
ular approval. and later when Mr. Cleveland
! put down the riot Senator Davis cordially and
effectively supported him. His course was
/ bold and defiant one at a time when many poll
! ticians were trimming and trying to deal gently
with anarchy for fear of offending the labor
vote But there was nothing of the demagogue
about Cushman X Davis. Happily. too for the
lesson Of his courage ii is to be recorded that his
popularity and standing were not diminished,
/ hut wonderfully increa sed by the incident.
Senator Davis was In no sense Little Amer
lean. But likewise he was in no sense a lingo
! filled with vainglory and thirstng for National
adventure He believed merely in meeting in
manly fashion the problems presented to the
| country. seeking no responsibilities and fleeing
| from none. He was uncOmprOmsing nd
vocate OF popular rights, a worker for admission
| 10 the privileges Of Statehood of all whom he
| believed competent TO meet its obligations. But
| he slave TO formulas and when con
| fronted by the problem of caring for peoples
unframed in self government he stood for CIV
ing them what they needed. instead of what
some theorst reasoned they ought, according
to philosophical principles OF abstract liberty, 10
| have. In other words. he was a practical
statesman, and in relation to the policies now
before the Nation he will be remembered for
| his sound common sense and intelligent realiza-
ton of actual conditions constraining those
charged with the responsibilities Of govern
| ment