The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1906-01-13
Maryland Holds the Centre Of the
Stage.

The Maryland representatives in the United
States Senate on Monday, Senator Rayner
held the attention of the Senate in the morn.
ing and Senator German in the afternoon.
Senator Rayner severely arraigned the
Presidents Interpretation of the Monroe Doc
trine, eloquently and forcibly, contending that
that instrument has no such meaning as given
by the President and the State Department.
The immediate discussion arose rs to the
power of the President to negotiate with Santo
Domingo to take charge of the revenues OF
the inland republic an disburse the same, and
put the treaty into operation without the con
sent of the Senate.
Nearly year later the President submitted
the treaty to the Senate. 1t was not acted
upon, Mr.. Roosevelt claiming in the letter Of
transmission that the treaty would avoid con
ficts in the West Indian States. That was a
specious argument, but it did not catch the
Senate. The President little later sent
another message to the Senate with all refer.
ence to the Monroe Doctrine omitted, but with
no better results aud the Senate adjourned
with the matter Enacted upon.
The question came up this session upon a
resolution by Senator Tilman, when Senator
Rayner offered amendments. Mr.. Rayner
commended that the power to collect debts was
no part of the duty of the United States under
the Monroe Doctrine, and that the occupying
of any port of entry by any foreign power, IN
order to collect debts owing, was no violation
of the Monroe Doctrine, and did not consti-
tute the seizure of territory in this hemisphere,
which is prohibited by that Doctrine. The
seizure of ports in Central and South Amer
can countries has been the usual way and has
the sanction of everybody except the Presi.
dent. He believes in the 'big stick policy
and acting policemen for the whole Western
Hemisphere.
Here are some of the salient points in Mr..
Rayner's speech:
l subscribe to every sentiment Of the Mon
roe doctrine-that Is, the genuine doctrine,
the old text and not the revised edition, the
original document and not the counterfeit
presentment.
When the President issues a manifesto that
is the product of his own genius 1t ought 10 be
circulated under the name of Its author, and
in vindieation of the memory Of the dead and
in defense Of their rights protest against the
use of their names to any instrument that does
not bear their signatures and TO any doctrine
that was never promulgated by heir authority
The new Monroe doctrine Is strictly
financial doctrine The theme is money, the
legend is cash, and the foreign hogdes who are
advancing into the State Department are s
syndicate of relentless merceuaries and money
lenders who traffic in calamity, look upon
national misfortunes as so much merchandise,
and who for venal profit would call venige
and auction to the highest bidder the liberties
of mankind.
am with the slave in every darkeued cor
ner of the globe where he IS struggling % be
free, and hope the day may come when every
government that is built upon the bowed bod
les Of its subjects may disintegrate aud that
upon its ruins republican institutions may
arise.
However. Mr. President, as deeply as love
nv country, with all the devotion | would lay
upon her affairs, with a fervid reverence for
her flag wherever its colors greet The eye. !
would rather see tina, flag lowered and
trampled upon than used as pirate easIgn
and raised not as an emblem Of honor but as
an instrument Of terror and oppression 10 the
helpless and enfeehied races Of mankind.
Senator German spoke on broad aud III
eral policy in reference 10 the building q the
Panama Canal lie thought there should ba
estimates of the cost made, and asserted thai
no TO date no one knew whether the cost
would be $50, 600, 600 or $500 900, 600, just
as Baltimore city has no idea whether her
sewerage system viii cost $4,000 900 q $50.
600, 900. It was the worst case Of gong IL
blind within our knowledge. Senator Cor
man insists that an approximate estimated
cost of the canal be given, ami was opposed
to placing huge sums At the discretion Of ,ho
President. When the Spanish war came Oh
$50, OOO, 900 was placed AT the disposal Of
Mckinley, and if he ever made statement
we have no recollection Of H.