St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-02-25
Nations Of the Western Con-
tinent Must Say to All the
World Hands orr
European Governments Pre-
pared to Follow Their Money
With Their Power.
The Hour Has Struck for an
American Policy on the
Panama Canal.

committee on foreign affairs, has pre-
pared report recommending the adop-
ton of the Edmunds Panama canal
resolution. The report says the resolu-
ton comes to the house after being
carefully considered and almost unani-
mously adopted by the senate. 1t re-
affirms a public policy that is Of both
national and international Importance;
a policy that has been so intimately in
terwoven with the treaties and teach
ings, doctrines and necessities of the
American people that it seems to have
originated in the very earliest days of
our republic. When Great Britain
formally ackno Wledged the sovereignty
and independence of the United States
in 1852 there was no stronger convic-
ton in the minds of American people
than that additional European coloniza-
ton on the American continents, OF the
extension of European political systems
to the Western hemisphere, or OF Eu-
ropean interposition for the purpose OF
expressing or controlling the destlnieS
of American republics, would be I'M
polite and
DE 1Ah IL
and to the best Interest is of our country.
The first expression of those convictions
was made by President Monroe in the
message sent to congress in 1928. en-
bodying what has become known as the
Monroe doctrine. The joint resolution
under consideration, the report says,
is in accordance with the decla ra-
tons made by Mr.. Monroe, applied to
existing conditions and the develop
ment of events. The announcement of
the Monroe doctrine has embalmed
President Monroe's memory in the
hearts of liberty-loving people every
where. Its results have been grand
and far-reaching. 1t secured and has
preserved the independence of the Cen
trail and South American republics. 1t
was successfully invoked when Cuba
was in peril; it enabled the United
States to thwart the attempt of Great
Britain to exercise dominion in Mica
ragua under the pretense of benefiting
the Mosquito Indians: it prevented the
establishment of European dynasty
in America with MaXimllian as emperor.
and it has enabled our government to
gradually eliminate from the Western
hemisphere the domination of France
and Spain and Russia, whose possessions
at one time almost
SURROUNDED OUR REPUBLIC;
and with the power OF destiny and the
genius and energy and pluck OF the
American people, Great Britain may
soon be amicably eradicated from her
Canadian possessions.S and the three
Americas become a constellation of re-
publlcs filled with happy, prosperous,
free and independent people. Continu-
ing, the report says that the Monroe
doctrine contains no limitations, and
was not confined to conditions existing
at the time it was announced. Quota
lions are made from the declarations of
some of our presidents and many Of our
leading statesmen to show that they
have taken even stronger position than
that maintained by the resolution under
consideration, and that they objected
not only to European colonization or the
extension of European political sys-
tens on the American continent, but to
any project which would give
European government new fOothold in
America. The joint resolution under
consideration, says the report, simply
declares that the government of the
United States will look with serious
concern and disapproval upon any con-
nection of any European government
with the construction of control of
either the Panama canal or the Nicara-
qua canal. and will regard such con-
nection or control as Injurious to the
rights and interests of the United
States and as a menace to their welfare,
and asks if any one can deny the truth
of these propositions. History shows
that wherever governments put their
money they soon follow
WITH THEIR POWER,
and that the aim of the great nations Of
Europe has been to take possession of the
salient points and narrow straits of the
world fol- the control of commerce and
for aid III time of war. In the light OF
past events can we doubt what would
be the result if = England or France, or
either of the great powers of Europe.
should constructor, by indorsing bonds,
control such an important transit as a
ship canal across the Isthmus of Darien,
or ship canal across Central America?
If any European government should
construct or assist in the construction
of great public improvement in an
other country, the assertion of that
power by the government can be fol-
lowed by the right of defending that
improvement. Colombia and Mica
ragua are both weak republics, and
they would soon be forced to yield,
either by treaty arrangements or con-
cessions, to the governmental authority
promoting the enterprise. A conflict OF
interests with either would certainly
occur. and the weak power would sue
cumb to the greater power. and the ulti-
mate result would be European domi-
nation in Panama or Nicaragua, and
perhaps an extension of the domination
to other republics. If this is allowed
we abandon the principle to which we
have clung for nearly seventy years.
and we surrender the
SACRED PRINCIPLES
which our fathers and our fOrefathers
maintained SO successfully and so patri-
ically. The present. the report de-
clares. is an opportune and important
time to announce an American policy
with regard to the Panama canal. De
Lesseps has failed in his scheme, work
has stopped, and the government Of
France has been asked to construct or
control in some way the construction of
the canal. Its control by European
government cannot but regarded as in
furious to the rights and interests of the
United States and menace to our well
fare. Moreover, our treaty obligations
and the far-Ieaching and binding guar
antees made by the United States with
the republics through which the pro-
posed interoceanic canals are to be con-
structed make it of paramount interest
to the people of the United States that
any attempt on the part of European
governments to engage in the construc-
ton of Or control of these canals should
be watched with the greatest vigilance
and looked upon with serious concern
and disapproval. In conclusion the re-
port says: ''The time has come for our
government to define its position and
take a stand in behalf of
OUR SISTER REPUBLICS
of the Western hemisphere. The Gay
of the isolation of the three Americas
has passed, land the day of fraternity and
friendship, improved commerce and en-
larged national freedom has come. Each
year brings the United States and the
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