Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-02-25

WASHINGTON, feoruary @4s-hepte'
sentative McCreary, of Kentucky, in behalf
of the majority members of the COMMITTEES
on Foreign Affairs, has prepared report
recommending the adoption Of the Edmund'
Panama Canal resolution.
The report SAYS the resolution comes to the
House after being carefully considered and
almost unanimously adopted by the Senate.
It reafirms public policy that is of both
national and international importance; a
public policy that has been SO intimately
interviewer with the treaties and teachings,
doctrines and necessities of the American
people that It seems to have originated in
the very earliest days of our Republic, and
continues:
the sovereignty and independence of the
United States in l7S2 there was no stronger con-
victions in the minds of the American people
than that additional European colonization on
the American continents, or the extension of
European political systems to the Western
Hemisphere, or of European interposition for
destinies of American republics, would be i'm
polite and detrimental to freedom and to the
best interests of our country.
THE MONROE DOCTRINE.
The first official expression of these convic-
tions was made by President Monroe in the
message sent to Congress in 1923, embodying
what has become known as the Monroe doc
trine. The Joint resolution under considera-
tion is in accordance with the declarations
made by Mr.. Monroe, applied to existing
evenus The announcement of the Mon
roe doctrine has embalmed Presi-
dent Monroe's memory in the hearts of
have been grand and far-reaching. 1t secured
and has preserved the independence of the
Central and South American Republics. 1t was
successfully invoked when Cuba was in peril;
in enabled the United States to thwart the at
tempt of Great Britain TO exercise dominion in
Nicaragua under the pretense of bene-
fitting the Mosquito Indians; it pre-
vented the establishment of Europ-
can dynasty in America with MaKimI-
lian as Emperor. and it has enabled
our Government to gradually eliminate from
the Western hemisphere the domination of
France and Spain and Russia, whose pos
sessions at one time almost surrounded our
Republic; and with the power of destiny and
the genius and energy and pluck of the Ameri-
can people Great Britain may soon be amica-
bly, eradicated from her Canadian possessions,
and the three Americas become a constellation
Of republics filed with happy, prosperous, free
and independent people.
FIRM STAND.
Continuing, the report says that the Mon
roe doctrine contains no limitations and
was not confined to conditions existing at
the time it was announced. Quotations are
made from the declarations of some of our
Presidents and many of our leading states
men to show that they have taken even a
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 systems on the American contl-
nent but to any project which would give
European Government new foothold In
America. 1t then says:
The joint resolution under consideration sim
ply declares that the Government of the United
States will look with serious concern and disap-
proval upon any connection of any European
Government with the construction or control of
either the Panama canal OF the Nicaragua ca
nal. and will regard such connection or con-
troll as injurious TO the rights and interests of
the United states, and menace to their wei
fare, and asks If any one can deny the truth OF
these propositions. History shows that where
ever 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 for the control of COM
merce and for aid in time of war.
A CONFLICT OF INTERESTS.
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
construct, or by indorsing bonds control such
an important transit as a ship canal across the
Issmus of Darien, or ship canal across Cen
rralAmerica? II any European Government
should construct. or assist in the construction,
of great public improvement in another |
country, the assertion of that power by the 1
Government can be followed by the |
right of defending that improvement. Colum- |
bia and Nicaragua are both weak Republics, /
and they would soon be forced to yield, either /
by treaty arrangements or concessions, to the i
governmental authority promoting the enter L
Orise. A conflict of interests with either would
certainly occur, and the weak power would