The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1880-02-13
THE MONROE DOCTRINE.

Next TO President making tho most i'm
portant and ,nsrossiug national topic at
present appears ~ be the Isthmus Canal
scheme and the attitude the United States
should assume toward the DeLesseps pro-
ject on which work has already commenced.
After some perplexing international compli-
cations. and the recognition by the United
States of the independence of Mexico and
other South American provinces, President
Monroe in his Message Of December 2, 1928,
announced it was not the policy of the Uni
ted States to entangle itself in the guarrels
OF Europe nor suffer the Old World powers
to interfere with the affairs of the new
world, and that any attempt on the part
of European powers to extend their system
to any portion Of this hemisphere would
be regarded by the United States as dan
gerous to their peace and safety and would
accordingly be opposed. This declaration,
known as the Monroe Doctrine, has been
universally adopted as one of the Articles
of Faith of the Cuited States. 1t stands
an unwritten law of the Republic but is
recognized fundamental principle as sa-
cred as the Constitution. 1t is now claimed
the project Of DeLesseps. Frenchman,
representing principally French capitalists,
10 cutting ship canal across the Isthmus
is in contravention of this principle and
should be opposed. Whether this is acru-
ally believed. or whether patriotic feeling is
being worked upon for selfish purposes by
capitalists who have other schemes in view,
or Adventures who see opportunities for
speculation in possible war, it has at least
evoked spirited expression and Is monopo-
liziug large share of the attention of
statesmen. DeLesseps has begun the work.
He lie citizen of France. He has recogni-
ton and concessions from the Central
American government within which his
work is situated. The route he is working
on was approved by the International Canal
Congress. II he has money enough he pro-
poses to continue the work to completion.
II the United States determines it is vio-
lation of the Monroe Doctrine and protests
to France or the Columbian Government,
there will necessarily be war or a back
down. De Lesseps and the representative of
France assert it is merely & private enter
prise IN which the French Government has
no part. The only contingency under which
France Is likely to even guarantee it is in
the event of the financial inability Of the
DeLesseps Company to complete it after
immense French capital Is invested. Would
IT not be time enough then TO assert the
Monroe Doctrine and take the canal in? AL.
though not of especial local importance to
Montana a ship canal across the Isthmus
would be good thing. Two are hardly
necessary; but still it would be better for
the United States to put its money in an
opposition canal than to spend it in a war
with France-aud,i If we are adjudged wrong
In our construction Of a principle which
the Old World has tacitiy acknowledged,
perhaps war with united Europe. We
would prefer to see an American company,
American engineers, and American money
under American protection build the 18TH
mus Canal on the line selected by America,
and we believe thoroughly in the Monroe
Doctrine but it is not clear to us the cir
cumstance demand war. Two canals will
not pay. The DeLesseps Company is tinan-
cially weak. The infraction by DeLes-
seps OF any principle heretofore claimed
by the United States is at least doubtful.
The better way to solve the problem is by
the organization of the Admiral Ammen
Company, the subscription of ample money,
the election of Grant as canal President
and immediate and energetic work on the
American canal, which it is stated can be
completed long before DeLe,seps' can be.
That will drive away capital from the
foreign work and in twelve months
their project will be abandoned