The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1895-08-10
JINGOISA PREVALENT.

There appears to be considerable
jingoism in the editorials of the lead
ing papers OF this country regarding
the Monroe doctrine, and its reference
to international complications on this
continent. When the boundary ques-
tion between Great Britain and Vene-
zuela first came into prominence there
was loud and long howl in some of
the metropolitan papers regarding this
sentence in President Monroe's mess
age regarding foreign interference
with American affairs, commonly
known as the Monroe doctrine. The
same was true when British feet en-
forced the demand for indemnity for
outrages perpetrated on British SUBJ
ject in Nicaragua. and President
Cleveland and Secretary Gresham were
roundly abused for not ordering our
navy to Corinto to drive the British
tars away. Recently, when the Eng
lish standard was raised over q desc
late island off the coast of B"azil. ana
which Great Britain had claimed for
centuries, there was the same squirt OF
jingoism about the Monroe doctrine,
and this has not yet quieted down.
All this time an American citizen, Ex-
Consul Waller, has been unjustly i'm
prisoned in France, and there has been
nc demand for his release. The atten-
ton of the state department and of
the president has been called to the
fact, but no action has been taken. In
dependence day has been celebrated
by orations denouncing British greed
and insolence regarding Nicaragua,
Venezuela and Trinidade; but not one
word has been uttered to arouse the
people to demand that the case of
Waller be brought to the attention of
the French authorities. He lies in
loathsome dungeon, sick and helpless,
and his appeals to his government for
aid have been UNDECIDED.
If the suggestion in President Mon
roe's message is to be the policy of this
country it should receive the author
ity of an act of congress and the en-
dorsement of the chief executive.
This mouthing Of bombastic words
and phrases in stump orations amounts
to little or nothing. and their principal
effect is to incite the populace. Of
course a presidential election Is rap
idly approaching, and the prejudices
of the masses have to be endorsed and
cajoled so that their votes may be con-
trolled. The anti-British feeling is
stronger in the United States among a
certain class than any other, and this
element is power at the ballot box.
But it should be beneath the dignity
of statesmen to excite the animosity
of the masses against a friendly nation
simply for personal and political OBJ
jects, and such course is only worthy
of the time-serving oface-seeker. If
the Monroe doctrine is the policy of
the nation there should be little talk
about it, but decisive and prompt ac-
tion in every instance where it. has
been inf-inged, whether in South
America or the Sandwich islands.
Protection to our ot n citizens is of
greater Importance than the protection
of neighbo"ing republics. 1t is only a
few days since that an American citi-
zen in Havana was forced to call on a
British consul to be rescued from the |
hands of the Spanish police, and
Americans are frequently maltreated |
and abused in foreign countries with
out any redress being demanded for |
the injuries. There should be less |
bombast and more action in interna-
tional affairs, and the government
should carry out it's policy with no
flourish of trumpets, but with its war
ships. A nation is respected by it's
citizens when its sheltering arms are !
thrown them in every cline and in
avery emergency, and by other coun-
,ries when it has few words but
prompt and decisive policy.