New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-03-13
TIE MONROE DOCTRINE.

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TIE MONROE DOCTRINE.
The Indifference with which the landing or
british marines at Bluciieds has been regarded
Inv the State Department is unntcligible on
any other theory except ignorance OF 'He
history Of the Nation Secretary Gresham and
Americans generally have forgotten that the
ottcmpts Of the British Government TO establish
protcctoratcs and to enlarge its domain III Ten
tral America were srenuously resisted by the
United STATES Government for forty years. one
Of the longest chapters in the history Of The
foreign relations of the United States is hlled
with records Of and protests against British in
tcrycn;ion on the seaboards OF Nicaragua ana
Honduras British cncroachment on the Amcrl
c,n Continent IS the continuous thread Of the
TANGLED skein 81 American diplomacy ending
I'm a hard knot that has never been united the
Clayton-Bulwcr treaty. For n generation one
Secretary OF State after another devoted much
Of his time and energy 10 Central American ar
f,irs and Presidential messages were filled with
the controversy: but 50 completely have these
questions passed ont Of public Thought mat
when official Information is received OF tle
landing Of British marines in Bluchclds to IN
tcrvcnc between Nicaragua and Territorial
Government and 10 protect an Indian chle''
Secretary Gresham, like Mr. Toots cXclaims,
ITS Of no consequence
Such ignorance as this respecting American
Diplomatic history serves 10 prove that the
Monroe Doctrine is mainly Il conjuring phrase
In Congressional debates. Presidential messages
and National platforms changes are rlnS upon
H. but rs 4 timc-honOrcd canon OF American
dlplnmacy embodying The homogeneity or All
interests affecting the Continent. II Is not I'M
dcrstood and II is lightly regarded. The main
motive II Mr.. clayton In The negotiations with
Sir Henry TflNer involving the convention
which bears their names was the Withdrawn
If British claims II sovereignty and rights or
Intervention In Central America. That was III"
price which England paid for lis admission 20
the Joint proicctOrlt" over III" interoccah'
canal But England has never acted In GOOD
faith At Belize II has established and enlarged
a Crown colony. BY the Treaty OF Managua'
which was submitted 10 the arbitration OF the
Emperor Of Austria. 1t has acquired guardian
ship over the Mosquito Reservation. in conse-
qtcncc Of which marines are landed from
man.of war in order 10 hold Nicaragua under
restraint and 10 regulate the succession OF
new Indian chief The policy Of Great Brit
ain in Central America since 1870 has Involved
population OF the pledges made when the clay
tou-Bulwcr treaty was negotiated; but Ain"ri-
cans have been listlcsS Spectators contenting
themselves with patitudeS about the Monroe
Doctrine which were meaningless.
In view II American Indifference 10 this car
dinal doctrine Of continental diplomacy, it is
not strange that the Spanish republics have
never been seriously impressed with its inn
portancc Soon after the Monroe Doctrine was
proclaimed Congress of Spanish American
representatives was held nj Panama. To which
the United States Government WAS invited To
send delegates. Mr. clay. who was Secretary
Of state warmly advocated the project. but
President Adams the real author of The Mon
roe Doctrine. threw cold water upon II while
nomnaly supporting it, and it was only after
acrimonious debate in the Senate that the dele
gates were authorized to act and then after
ao much delay that the Congress was Il failure.
Then followed the Central American compli-
cations, in which the Monroe Doctrine was
compromised in the Canal Convention. and the
United States Government was cheated in
bad bargain. The convention with Colombia,
involving Il protcctoratc OF the Panama Rail
way. WAS practical achievement In lin" with
the Monroe Doctrine; but when the Ishmus
canal was projected Il generation afterward Il
French company secured control of the line
and IL seemed 10 be llnpracucaDlc 1OT the
United States Government To adopt definite
canal policy The expulsion of the French from
Mexico was FASTENED by The action of Sccrc-
tary Seward; but the Monroe Doctrine has
been powcrlcsS TO prevent cncroachments upon
Venezuelan territory from British Guiana.
It was not until the Pan-Amcrcan Congress
was held in 1889 that Spanish America was
seriously impressed with the idea that Wash
az ,i,bt k. h.lr,
That was statcsmanlike attempt to substitute
for the high sounding phrases of the Monroe
Doctrine Il basis of economic union between
the nations Of the American Continent. The
most important recommendation of that Con-
grcss related 10 the negotiation of partial reel
pr0cty treaties. IL was acted upon with sig
nal success by the Harrison Administration
But hardly has the ink dried In the text of the
conventions before Democratic Congress re-
pudaes the whole policy, and brings to naught
OF the Monroe Doctrine as n proclamation Of
the essential homogcncity Of the interests Of the
American Continent. In view Of this amazing
proof of Indifference to continental policies Sec
rotary Gresham may perhaps he excused If he
considers the British invasion of Central
America an affair Of no importance whatever.
Tncre never was a more monumental piece OF
impotence than the attempt OF Tammany Off
Gals to secure an increase In their salaries from