Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-02-17

that body, and the form OF the resolution Is
also found Objectionable. II i said that the
resolution attempts 10 usurp the treaty.
making power OF the President and the SEN
ate. The report says:
"Tbe resolution pretends 10 affirm what IL
commonly called the Monroe doctrine.
Postponing for the moment The question OF
what the doctrine Il, we beg 10 vindicste hts
tory by saying and by showing that neither
Congress nor the United States have or has
ever adopted or sanctioned the Monroe
doctrine. More than this. neither house OF
Congress before this session has ever sane
toned IT,"
An interesting review Of events in the
early history OF the United States. leading
up To the declaration OF the Monroe doctrine.
follows, and In explanation OF It's real mean-
Ing toe report says:
" The end AIMED at was polilical-govern-
mental and not commercial. They were
considering the rights OF man-his freedom
from civil and religious bondage, not the
avenues Of wealth. They thought not OF the
merchants who 20 down 10 the sea In ships
and do business IN the great waters nor
even the natlons that conduct commerce In
fair ways; they thought only OF the APP
prOach OF the despotism that would sublu-
gate and destroy; the danger to be guarded
against, the rights and interests to be pro-
tscted. The declaration was to protect
and preserve our own Government and lioer-
ties and not those OF any other government
on this hemisphere. The purpose in pro-
teciing other republics was 10 protect our
selves. This construction OF the Noni0e
doctrine makes It perfectly consistent with
our national policy, unbioken for hundred
years, Of avoiding the eptangling alliances, OF
nOn-interference with the affairs OF other ma.
tons, OF attending exclusively to our own
business, and leaving al other governments
10 work out their own destinies. The policy
is founded n wisdom. justice. and safety. II
adhered 10 1t will make our cause OF qnarrel
ALWAYS Just and make us thrice armed and
invlncbie"
The report, continuing, objects TO the reso-
lution-frst. because Il would he false
declaration and wrong application OF the
Monroe doctrine; second, because ltis aimed
at sister republic. The Monroe doctrine
neither in letter nor spirit had or has any
application TO the form Of government Ike
our own. Under this hesd the report argues
that even il B0ulaugcr should compel the
French Government 30 complete he canal II
would not amount 10 4 colonization OK Co
lombia or an invasion 10 overthrow The
republic, or imminent danger 10 our
political institutions such 81 woud
juaiify our interference. The canal
question is purely commercial. and II
d-alt with at oil is matter for treaty.
Thirdly. the report opposed the resolution
because It would commit the United states
TO position impolitic and wholly untena-
be. There ia no rule of international law
on when we could maintain 10. and on The
Monroe doctrine the argument IS essentially
against Va.
IN conclusion. pointing out that CORE
spondencc must necessarily follow the adop-
ton Of the resolution, the report says that
France would further emblrrass us by point
ing TO some facts that 10 The mind, 81 the
minority oi The committee are not demOn-
siratiOns OF patriotism under the pending
resolution. The facts are that the United
states knew IN 1879 that de Lesseps would
begin work on the canal, Tor they sent two
representatives. u the lntcrOce 'nic Canal
ongress. held 10 Paris IN May. 1879. and that
our Government has known that the work
has been progressing for years. and when the
de Lesseps Company becomes hnluclallT
embarrassed, and the canal will probably
fail unless France should give aid, Congress
gives sudden birth 10 The twin measures
one 10 incorporate the Nicaragua Canal
Company ~ the rival OF the de Lesseps
Company and the other 4 law threatening
France on suspicion that she may attempt To
save the rival OF the American company
from utter ruin. We could not deny that
there is very unique iuXtaposltiOn aud
marvellous coincidence IN these two mea-
surcs-enough At least 20 suggest TO an
impartial uind that ssSbly there Il more
thrlit Than patriotism 10 the resolution.