Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-02-04
SATURDAY. FEBRUARY A, 1898
The Monroe Doctrine.

One Of the questions Of to-day is. What
Il the MONROE doctrine? That question
las been asked thousands OF times since
the news reached this country that the
people OF Hawaii desired to become cIti-
gems of the United States. 1t has become
important because some persons seem TO
consider the acquisition of foreign terrl-
tory by the United States as prohibited
by the MoSRoE doctrine. The accepted
definition Of this doctrine was made by
President MONROE himself, and is indeed
the only authoritative definition of that
doctrine that needs 10 be considered IN
connection with tho proposition that
the United States Government shall In
clude Hawaii among its possessions.
IL may appear TO be unfair TO pro-
vide that no European power shall
acquire foothold upon this conti-
nent. because to have such foOthold
would be 10 menace the peace Of this coun-
try, and vet TO claim that the United States
has the right TO acquire Hawaii. or Cuba.
or any other foreign count v. or island. or
State. which our people ma take notion
they would like TO posse But such
Seems to DO the fact. The | Stcd States
must act upon the theory that 70 pent-up
Utica contracts our powers, bn, he whole
boundless continent is ours As Mr.
DORM. Republican from Oregon, and
Mr.. MORGAN. Democrat from Alabama,
have already declared In the United States
Senate, the fruit is ripe. 1t Is about to
fall. Shall we catch 1t or not? Shall We
assume that station among the pawers
OF the earth to which the laws OF nature
AMI OF natures God entitle us?"
What Il the MONROE doctrine? IL was
set forth IN President MoNRol's annual
message 10 Congress IN 1923. and at once
attracted the attention of the nations of
Europe. The United States was then a
comparatively unimpOrtant nation. 1t was
not then hat M. WEBSTER declared 1t to
b. when he said thirty years afterwards in
f. letter to the Austrian Minister TO tins
country that compared with those of the
United States 1.-THE possessions of the
house of HAPsBURG were but as n patch
upon the earth's surface" However, "a
we have SAID, the MoNROH doctrine. not
withstanding our comparative weakness as
q nation. forthwith attracted the attention
of the nations OF Europe. Mr. MoNRoE de-
fined 1t as follows:
"In the wars OF European Powers, In matters
relating 20 themselves, We have never taken any
part. nor docs 1t comport with our policy 80 to
do.
1t is only when our rights are invaded or Sc
riously menaced that We resent injuries or make
rreparation for our defence. Vita the move
Inents ia tins hemisphere We are OF necessity
more Immediately come ted and by causes
which must be obvious to all enlightened and
ali impartial observers. The political system OF
the allied powers l. essentially different In this
respect from that Of America. This difference
proceeds from that which exists IN
their respective governments. and 10
the defence Of our own, which has
been achieved by the loss OF SO much blood and
treasure and matured by the wisdom OF their
most enlightened citizens, and under which We
have enjoyed unexanpled felicity, this whole
nation is devoted. We owe IL, therefore, to eau
dor and 90 the amicable relations existing be-
tween the United States and those powers to
declare that We should consider any attempt on
their part to extend their system TO any portion
OF this hemisphere as dangerous to our peace
and safety"
Mr.. MORGAN declared in his speech above
alluded to that the hour TO which our past
policy has looked forward has come. The
mutations Of Time have brought about
such a crisis in the affairs of Hawaii as
makes il necessary for US either cowardly
10 abandon our clam of the right TO con-
troll the destiny of these islands or man.
fully to 90 forward and secure what APP
pears to have been proyideutially thrown
at our feet. I've can no longer act the
part Of the dog in the mongef. We must
abandon ne doctrine nat our national oond1-
res and jurisdiction should be confined 10 the
shores Of his continent"
Here we stand. As LUTHER said, God
help us, we cannot do otherwise"