St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-12-09
PAN-AMERICAN CONFERENCE.

OF number OF distinguished political
gentlemen.
PAN-AMERICAN CONFERENCE.
Until President CLEVELAND made
reference to the matter in his last an
nual message, it had almost been lost
sight of that Pan-American congress
was to be held at the national capital
during the coming year. And yet it will
most likely prove an event of vast con-
sequences, because it will be the begin
ming of an era of commercial and politi-
cal union between the states of this
Western continent heretofore unknown
in our history. Mr.. CLEVELAND says
that all the preliminary steps have been
taken for this assemblage, and that it
will consist of representatives from all
the South and Central American
states, together with those of Mexico,
Hayti and San Domingo. The ostensi
BILE object of the convention, as outlined
in the call. is to discuss important mon
etary and commercial topics; and yet 1t
is we'll enough understood, not only i'll
this country, but in all the countries to
be represented in the body, that the
primary object of the convention is to
establish the MONROE doctrine on this
continent. 1t is to be revival OF the
sentiment of 1928, when President Mon
ROE proclaimed to the crowned heads OF
Europe that America was for the Amer
leans.
AS the proposed Pan-American con-
gress is expected to plant itself firmly
on the MONROE doctrine, it may be a
matter of interest to take retrospect
and review the causes which led up to
the enunciation of this doctrine in 1928.
The Holy Alliance was engaged in a
crusade against liberty in Europe. and
France, as a member of that alliance,
had entered and occupied Spain. 1t
was difficult to foreSee the conSe-
quences, because the South American
colonies were then in a state
of revolt. 1t was supposed that
the victorious alliance would make
an attempt to restore Spanish authority,
or French supremacy, through Spain in
the revolted colonies, and thus destroy
the incipient republics. GEORGE CAN
MING, who was then the British secre-
tary of state for foreign affairs, was OPP
posed to the course pursued by the
alliance in Spain. He sent for the
American minister at the court OF st.
James, and, explaining to him that he
had the best of reasons for supposing
that the alliance contemplated the con-
quest of the young republics, and to.hold
them in European chains by putting
them under the governmental European
princes, suggested that it would be
well for the United States to
take action against such a scheme.
President MONROE was pleased
with the suggestion land accordingly, in
his annual message to congress, an
nounced that the American people
would consider any attempt of the allied
powers to extend their system on this
continent, or any interference having
for it's object the controlling of the deS-
tiny of the American states, as an I'M
friendly act toward the North American
Union, known as the United States.
This, in substance, is the MONROE doc
trine, and thus it was it came to be pro-
mulgated. The declaration produced
the desired effect, for GEORGE CANNING,
one of the ablest men who ever presided
over the foreign affairs of England, aft
erwards referring to it, exclaimed, Il
called the new world into existence to
redress the balance of the old"
During his brief term as secretary of
state, Mr.. BLAINE suggested the idea of
Pan-American conference, and gave
for the time the needed impulse. After
his retirement from the cabinet, the
matter was permitted to drop until the
CLEVELAND administration took it up.
Mr.. CLEVELAND has cause for self-con-
graduation that he has the credit for
carrying the proposition to successful
issue. 1t will be Gen. HARRIsoN's good
fortune to witness and take part in the
proceedings of the conference. The
coming conference will open many in
teresting questions. 1t will revive many
pleasant, and possibly some unpleasant,
memories. But it will not fail OF its
purpose if it leads to the conviction that
American interests are identical from
Alaska to Cape Horn, and that no Euro
pean dynasty can establish itself as a
ruling force on this continent.