The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-12-29
THE MONROE DOCTRINE.

The New York World having taken
the position that President Clevelands
message on the Venezuelan boundary
line question was a blunder it en-
deavors to sustain it's position by nu-
merous quotations from the utterances
of such statesmen as jefferson, Madi-
son, Benton, Clay and Webster on the
Monroe doctrine. There is no neces-
sity, however, for reviewing the opin-
ions entertained on the subject by the
statesmen quoted. It is doctrine not
difficult to comprehend. nor is the ap-
plication hard to understand. The
plain people of the United States have
understood its essential features from
the time it was issued. President Mon
roe asserted as a principle, first, that
the American continents, by the free
and independent condition which they
have assumed and maintained, are
henceforth not to be considered as SUBJ
jects for future colonization by any
European powers; second, we owe 1t.
therefore, to candor and to the amic-
able relations existing between the
I
/ declare that we should consider any
attempt on their part to extend their
system to any portion Of this hemi-
sphere as dangerous to our peace and
safety. With the existing colonies or
! dependencies of any European power
we have not interfered and shall not
interfere. But with the governments
who have declared their independence
and maintained it, we coulo
not view an interposition for the pur-
pose of depressing them, or controlling
in any other manner their destiny, by
any European power, in any other light
than as the manifestation Of an I'M
friendly disposition towards the
/ United States" This is the Monroe
doctrine European powers must not
attempt to colonize America; they
must not interpose to Cypress the ma
tions of America, nor seek to control
their destiny; any attempt to extend
European systems Of government on
the continent of America is dangerous
to the peace and safety of the United
States. An examination of the Vene-
zuelan boundary affair will reveal the
fact that it touches nearly every part
Of the Monroe doctrine. England
claims such a part of Venezuela's ter
ritory as amounts to nearly the same
in area as the state of Maine, and in
wolves British possession of the mouth
of one Of the most important rivers Of
oil
ways disputed England's right to this
! large territory. England refuses to ar
bitrate this right of possession with
Venezuela. She refuses to do so even
at the request of the United States.
England is strong; Venezuela, in COM
parison, weak May not the course Of
England towards the weak republic be
unjust and oppressive? And if so, does
/ it not involve the Monroe doctrine?
! England may have no just claim what
ever to the disputed territory. If not,
does not the unjust extension of her
borders as a matter of fact amount to
a colonization of part of America?
And if so, is not the Monroe doctrine
violated? Even Lord Salibury on this
point comes precious near admitting
the whole case when he says in his
communication to Secretary olney:
Her majesty's government g.
fully concur with the view which
President Monroe apparently enter
tanned, that anv disturbance of the
existing territorial distribution in that
hemisphere by any fresh acquisitions
on the part of any European state
would be highly inexpedient
change"
When England extends her bound
airy line. does she not extend with it
her system of government on the
continent of America? And if so, is
not the Monroe doctrine violated?
It is useless for the World to say
this Venezuelan boundary dispute does
not come within the scope of the Mon
roe doctrine. Great as is the Worlds
influence. it will not be able to carry
either the people Of this country or its
statesmen with it on such an issue. 1t
may quote Clay, Calhoun, Webster and
the rest of them until it is blind, but
the facts are SO plain of comprehen-
sion, the doctrine so easy of applica-
ton that the common people will not
be misled in relation to it. Let the
World become more American.