National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-02-10
A Democratic Fraud.

Committee on Foreign Affairs concerning
the Monroe Doctrine might have been
framed by NJ. de Lesseps himself, or by
his agent selected from the American
Cabinet The various things which Presl-
dent Monroe declared would be regarded
by this Government as unfriendly-that
is to say, as acts of war unless redressed
our valiant Democratic Committee of
these days of Democratic dawdle and de-
cline feebIy remarks, "is measure to
which this Government has been and
still is oppused.'' The things thus stated
tn be objected to by the United States
are: First, any form of European pro-
tectorate over any Independent state on
this continent; second, the introduction
of any scheme or policy which would
carry with it right to any European
power to interfere with their concerns,
or to control in any manner their des-
tiny; third, the transfer OF any territory
on this continent TO Il European power.
The committee avoids the whole ques-
tion at issue, which is as to whether Il
French incorporated company, securing
the right to construct 4 canal on the 18th
mus of Panama, would or would not be
entitled to The especial protection of the
French government in the enjoyment of
whatever privileges it might at any future
time acquire.
The committees second resolution IS
mere wind. 1t mildly suggests that the
construction of an interoceanic canal at
Panama or elsewhere by any European
power wonid be in violation of the Mon
roe Doctrine, and "could not be sane
toned by the Government of the United
States" There never has been q thought
Oh the part of any European power of
constructing a canal, and the committee
seems TO us rather disingenuous in parad-
ing even so inoffensive remark as the
above IN opposition to it.
The third resolution Of the committee
that this Government will insist that no
interOCeanic canal shall be under
European control, shall be free to COM
nIerce Oh equal terms, and that no dis
criIninatioI shall ever be made against
the United States, in peace or warts
sort Of permit that European company
may control an iStlImus canal, and that If
the European government which chart
cred that company shall interfere to
push. its interests our Government will
straightway commence insisting. If this
committee were then alive we fear it
would simply insist that the interference
of the European government was mis-
understood, and WAS no interference at
all.
We do not believe that this jugglery
on the part of the Foreign Affairs Com
mittee will satisfy the House, and we are
confident it will not satisfy the country.
1t is very well that Congress should give
its formal assent to the Monroe Doctrine,
and that assent is very well expressed
in these resolutions. But the French
American agent, Richard w. Thompson,
esq, has graciously proclaimed all this in
his speeches before the committee De
Lesseps and all the other adventures
who were left high and dry by the occur
renee at Sedan are loudly in favor of the
Monroe Doctrine. Their master sent
Maximilian to Mexico as an earnest of
his respect for that doctrine. Mr.. ex-,
Secretary Thompson receives S25, 1000
year of French money to argue before
Congress that French canal across the
Isthmus of Panama is urgently de-
manded in the interest of the Monroe
Doctrine. The willy ex-Secretary is lead
ing the Trojan horse within our Western
gate, and stands as ready as any member
Of the Democratic Committee on Foreign
Affairs in the House to "insist that no
harm shall come from his entrance
If the Democratic leaders of the House
are not hopelessly complicated with NJ.
de Lesseps and the French scheme he
leads, if they are still free to speak, we
advise them to lose no time in convinc-
ing the country of that fact. AS the mat
ter now stands, a namby- -pamby gene
raIity is offered favoring the Monroe Doc
trine, while silence is maintained as to
question concerning which the American
people are interested now is. whether a
gang Of French adventures. pals of the
late French Emperor and supporters of
MaXimilian's Mexican empire, are to con-
strue the Monroe Doctrine, either di-
rectly or through an agent who has been
hired to leave Cabinet place in order TO
make the French public believe that the
of which he was men,
Der had abated its hostility to a foreign
invasion of the isthmus.
The Democratic party in the days of
Cass, Douglass, and Butler would have
made the world understand that the
Americas were not for Europe; but in
these days Democratic committee finds
itself unable TO resist the Establishments
and persuasion Of the schemers who are
but the advance guard of European in
vaders of this hemisphere.
Perhaps the House will not regard the
report. or, if it does, that it
will supplement it with vigorous appli-
cation of the doctrine it contains to the
case in hand, which has furnished the
only excuse for its discussion at this time.
Beginning Of the End.