The weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1878-1881, 1880-12-28
raj munRoE DeCrRINE.

#H"-a- - a."H..
Since Count DeLesseps ~inaugurated the
Panama canal scheme there has been much
said about the Monroe doctrine in connection
with it. The events which led Mr.. Monroe
to enunciate this now famous doctrine are
matters of history, and are well understood
still in the application Of the doctrine to the
project referred to there is a WIDE diversity Of
opinion. A brief reference to the causes that
led to its PRONUNCIATION may not be out of
place at thisj uncture.
In 1922 a project was discussed in the con-
gress at Verona to aid Spain in recovering
dominion over her revolted American colo
MES. At that time Spain herself was in the
hands of a revolutionary government. Great
Britain took strong grounds against interfer-
ing to put down revolutions proceeding from
the people in opposition to rulers. Her ex-
p~erience with her American colonies had
taught her the uselessness of such a course.
But France was willing to help Spain. She
was prepared to sent a large force to America
to r~einstate Spanish authority over the rebel
lious colonies. 1t was 1T his j~uncture that
President Monroe, fearing that France would
obtain a foothold in territories contiguous to
the United States, made the following decla-
rations in his annual message to congress in
December, 1928: "That we should consider
any attempt on the part of the allied powers
to extend their system to any part of this
hemisphere as dangerous to our peace and
| safety, and that we could not view any Inter
position for the purpose of depressing those
colonies w have recognized as Independent,
o. controlling in any manner their destiny,
by any European power, in any ether light
than as a manifestation of an unfriendly dis
position toward the United States"
This is the famous Monroe doctrine. II
was aimed at France to restrain her from an
attempt TO gain a foothold in America, under
p~retense of aiding Spain to recover her colo
MES. 1t served its purpose, AID France de-
sisted. Menroe's declarations, made for a
specific purpose, were universally ratified by
the people and have become the policy of our
government. 1t is one of the unwritten laws
of the land. In the war between France and
Mexico our government contented itself by
protesting against the former power sending
Macmillan as a ruler ever Mexico. We
could really do but little more than to protest
at that time, as our government had its hands
full in putting down the southern rebellion.
France gave assurances that permanent occu-
patton of the country was not intended that
it was merely redressing the wrongs that some
of its citizens had sustained at the hands of
Mexico. When Macmillan was shot at
Queretaro the matter ended. This was the
only occasion wherein the application of the
doctrine was called for.
We cannot see wherein the spirit or inten-
ton of the doctrine can be violated in the
building of a canal across the Isthmus of
Panama by a company Of individuals. In its
construction no power is attempting sto ex-
tend its system to any part of this bemi-
sphere" An American is the president of
the company, and the stock can be taken by
an individual of any nation. Ne European
power is endeavoring to control its construc-
ton. If they were, and if they proposed to
place Notifications at the mouths of the canal
there would then be just cause for apprehen-
sion and the Monroe doctrine should be en-.
forced. After all that has been said and writ
ten about the matter, it is fair to presume
that congress will, this winter, enquire into
and define the cases in which the doctrine
should be applied.