Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1900-12-06
SENATOR c. X. DAVIS.

sota Statesman. i5 \
"A patriotic champion of liberty ant
| Of law, a profound and polished schol
ar, subtle lawyer, and an impressive
| and convincing orator, broad-mind
ed, cautious, but alert statesman, 6
courageous, fertile and successful dip
lomat, such was Senator Cushman K
| Davis When the momentous event.
Of the past few years are summed w
by the historians and added to the
stirring pages of this great republic:
history, prominently forth must stand
the rame of Minnesota's senior sen
| 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 or
foreign relations, he had much to dc
with shaping the policy of the govern
ment. His advice was constantly
sought by President Mckinley, tc
whom he was a 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. It was left to Senator
Davis, nevertheless, to focus the mighty
forces he had set in motion. This he
did by reporting to the senate 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, a saga
cious, self-poised director of American
destiny. Thenceforth his name, his
learning, his talents, We're 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 humbling
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
consta ntly and frankly.
AS commissioner to arrange terms
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-
nists, learned and ingenious as they
were themselves. The senator was
never at a loss to meet the most UNI
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 well 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 K. 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 Waukesha, 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
JOuuSOH. AlleiWdfuS MAJ. Davis nelQ
several municipal and county Offices
and was chosen a member of the Wis
consin legislature. He is still living,
hale and hearty, at the advanced age
Of eighty-six.
Cushman attended the district
school, later, studied in a small acade-
my at Waukesha, known as Carroll
college. In 1867 he graduated from the
University of Michigan. He practiced
law at Waukesha until 1862, when he
enlisted in the Federal army as first
lieutenant Of Company B, Twenty
eighth Wisconsin infantry. He Joined
the Army of the Tennessee and partici-
pated in the expedition that captured
Little Rock. He was not robust, and
he suffered constantly from the MAS
ma Of the Arkansas swamps. He was
frequently detailed for duty as Judge
advocate, and later served as adjutant
general on the staff Of Gen. German.
But after two years, Lieut.. Davis
found himself failing, and was obliged
to resign in 1864.
He returned to Waukesha and mar
ried. Then he came to st. Paul and
became law partner Of his former
military CHIEF, Gen. German. After