The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1900-12-07
SENATOR c. K. DAVIS.
Brilliant Career of the Great Mime
gOt0 Statesman

s0tn statesman.
A patriotic champion Of liberty and
of law, profound and polished schol-
ar, subtle lawyer, and an impressive
and convincing orator, q broad-mind-
ed, CAUTIOUS, but alert statesman, q
courageous, fertile and successful Dip
lomat, such was Senator Cushman K.
Davis. When the momentous events
Of the past few years are summed up
by the historians and added to the
stirring pages of this great republics
history, prominently forth must stand
ator. Inseparably connected with the
exciting incidents previous to and DUR
ing the war with Spain is the name Of
this great diplomat and statesman, as
chairman of the senate committee on
foreign relations, he had much to do
with shaping the policy of the govern
ment. His advice was constantly
sought by President Mckinley, to
whom he was mainstay and support
during the whole of that turbulent pc.
Rod.
The exposition of International just
Ice contained in his report upon the
Maine disaster. supplied foundation for
all subsequent action by congress and
the president. 1t was left to Senator
Davis, nevertheless, to focus the mighty
forces he had set in motion. This he
did by reporting to the senate a reso-
luton demanding the withdrawal Of
Spain from Cuba and adjacent waters,
and authorizing the president, in case
of Spain's refusal, to employ such
force as might be necessary to enforce
compliance. But the Minnesota senat-
or displayed true courage Of state
craft. which PREPARES for the cons
quence of every voluntary action.
Thus, between Feb. Is, 1898, when the
Maine was destroyed, and April 81,
when war began, Senator Davis stood
forth in the eyes of the world, saga
cfous, self-poised director of American
destiny. Thenceforth his name, his
learning. his talents, were recognized
by civilization. Thenceforth his policy
was latent in every diplomatic under
taking Of the United States. And when
some future century confronts Ameri-
cans once more with the national prob
lens of 1898, the patriotic, safe solu-
ton will again be read in the old-time
speeches Of Cushman K. Davis.
Throughout the Spanish war the
calm but formidable attitude of this
country offset the most subtle plans
for foreign intervention, an interview
ton directed far more to the hunblins
of America than at the succoring of
Spain. For the maintenance of an at
titude so difficult and so essential, the
advice of Senator Davis was sought
instantly and frankly.
AS commissioned 70 n r,e =, rro
Of peace with Spain the senator's pecu-
liar talents found full scope. One of
his associates on the commission,
speaking afterward, said: Senator
Davis was our magazine, our bulwark.
HIS knowledge of international law
awoke the admiration of our antago-
n1sts. learned and ingenious as they
were themselves. The senator was
never at loss to meet the most I'M
expected point or to confute the Span
iards with a return quotation from the
most obscure authority. His acquaint-
ance with French, italian and Spanish,
as we'll as with the classic tongues, re-
inforced the scholarship of our commits
sion and proved of special use to us in
documentary references
Upon his return from Paris Senator
Davis was received with distinguished
gratitude at Washington, with public
welcome at ST. Paul. His place as
chairman of the senate committee on
foreign affairs was assured for the flu
ture, no less than with his seat in the
senate. He had fixed his position as
the foremost American expounder Of
the complex law of nations. He had,
moreover, proved his possession of the
far rarer ability to obtain from that
law the utmost advantage in diplomat
ic argument.
Senator Davis comes of Puritan
stock. both his father and mother trac-
Ing their ancestry back to the Pilgrim
Fathers. Cushman X. Davis was born
at the village of Henderson, N. Y.
June 16. 1888. He was the Oldest of
eight children, five of whom still live.
When he was two months old his fam
lily removed to Waulsesha, Wis. For
fifteen years his father lived the earn
est life of a frontier farmer. He then
became country merchant During the
War of the Rebellion he served as a
captain,in the commissary department,
and was brevetted major by President
johnson. Afterwards Mai. Davis held