The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-04-04
SPIRIT OF THE PRESS.
THE RESIGNATION OF HON. WEB
STER DAVIS.

II
STER DAVIS.
Washington Post.
1t is now officially announced that Hon.
Webster Davis, Assistant Secretary of the
Interior, has resigned his official position
but what is infinitely more important is
the concurrent disclosure that he has
taken this step because he wants to be
free to tell the American people what he
knows about the British war against the
South African republics.
Mr.. Davis has been a conspicuous figure
in Republican politics. He is one of the
best and most forcible campaign orators
of his party. He commanded attention
through the services he rendered in 1896
and was selected for promotion on that
account. His tour, last year, added to the
claims he had already established, and
when he left here, a fe'% months ago, to
make a visit to South Africa, his value as
a factor in our domestic affairs was uni
versally recognized within the party. Now
he resigns a very prominent position
under the administration, and we are told
that he has done this in order to speak to
the country without restraint touching a
struggle in which the country's sympa
thies are as unmistakable as they are
righteous. 1t is startling proposition
that any official representative of the
United States should find it necessary, Or
even convenient, to abandon his office in
order TO feel at liberty to proclaim SYM
pathy with q republic struggling to defend
itself against monarchcal aggression. If
we have mission in the world-a mission
| to which we are bound by every honora
| bic sentiment and obligation-it is that of
| UNFOLDING the cause of the Beers against
England. In times past this country
| made haste to declare itself for every
| effort in the direction of independence by
| the peoples of the Western Hemisphere.
The Monroe doctrine was inspired by that
sense of sympathy. The last thing we
| can honorably do is to side with a mon
| archy against a nation seeking self-gOv
| eminent. Unless we be hypocrites; UNI
| less our pretensions of reverence for the
| rights of man are impudent and false;
| we owe it to the fathers of the American
| republic, as we'll as to our own honor and
| welfare, to stand with the champions of
| human liberty everywhere throughout the
world. And yet, it is now announced that
Mr.. Davis cannot declare himself for the
South African republics and at the same
time hold office under the American
| Union
| AS for Mr.. Davis himself, we venture to
say that his fellow-citzens will now eX
| tend to him a sympathy and an admira
| ton they never felt before. He speaks
| today for their best and noblest senti-
ments Not only has he refused the
| temptations Of favor, he has resigned
| high office and authority that he may be
free to speak for human liberty and man
hood. The country will hear him with
profound interest. He has made care
full and intelligent survey of the situa-
ton. He has been with the British as
with the Beers He was an eye witness
of the tragedy of Spion Kop. And he will
speak to us, as the only man of promin-
ence in this country who knows of his
own knowledge whereof he speaks.
A brave man himself, testifying to he
roes and martyrs, he deserves our re-
spectful and sympathetic audience.