Eagle River Democrat. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1893-1896, 1895-12-23


lister to Sir Julian Pauncefote the British
ambassador at this capital. 1t Will be seen
that one of these communications is deyot-
ed exclusively to observations upon the
Monroe doctrine and claims that in the
present instance q new and strange extern
Sion and development of this doctrine is
insisted on by the United States; that the
reasons justifying an appeal to the doctrine
enunciated by President Monroe are gen
orally inapplicable ito the state Of things
in which we live at the present day and
especially inapplicable to controversy in
volying the boundary line between Great
Britain and Venezuela.
Without attempting extended arguments
in reply to these positions, it may not be
amiSS to suggest that the doctrine upon
which we stand is strong and sound be-
cause its enforcement is important to our
peace and safety as nation and is essen
tial to the integrity OF our free institutions
and the tranquil maintenance OF our dis
tinctiye form Of government 1t was in
tended to apply to every stage OF our ma
tional life and cannot become obsolete
while our republic endures. II the balance
of power is justly a cause for jealous any-
iety among the governments of the Old
world and a subject for our absolute nom
interference, none the less is an observance
of the Monroe doctrine of vital concern to
our people and their government.
May Properly Insist on the Doctrine.
Assuming, therefore, that we may proper
ly insist upon this doctrine without regard
to the Estate Of things in which we live, "
or any changed COn0lUlOuS mere OF else
where, it is not apparent why it's applica-
ton may not be invoked in the present
controversy. If a European power, by an
extension Of its boundaries, takes posses
sion of the territory of one of our neigh
boring republics against it's will and III
derogation of its rights, it is difficult to sec
why, to that extent such European power
does not thereby attempt to extend it's sys-
TEN of government to that portion of this
continent which is thus taken. This is the
precise action which President Monroe de-
clared to be dangerous to our peace and
safety" 1t can make no difference wheth-
err the European system is extended by an
advance of frontier or otherwise.
1t is also suggested in the British reply
that we should not seek to apply the Mon
roe doctrine to the pending dispute because
it does not embOdy any principle of interna-
ton law which lis founded on the general
consent of nations" and that mo states
man. however eminent, and no nation, how
ever powerful, is competent to insert into
the code of international law novel prin-
ciple which was never recognized before
and which has not since been accepted by
the government Of any other country"
Practically the principle for which we
contend has peculiar. if not exclusive, rela-
ton to the United States. 1t may not have
been admitted in so many words to the code
of international law, but since in interna-
the rights belonging to it, if the enforce
ment of the Monroe doctrine is something
we may justly claim, it has it's place in the
code of international law as certainly and
IL
toned, and when the United States is a
sutton before the high tribunal that adj
ministers international law, the question to
be determined is whether or not we pre-
sent claims which the justice of that code
of law can find to be right and valid.
The Monroe doctrine finds it's recognition
which are based upon the theory that every
nation shall have it's rights protected and
its just claims enforced. OF course this gov
eminent is entirely confident that under
the sanction of this doctrine we have clear
rights and undoubteo Claims. Nor is this
ignored in the British reply. The prime
minister. while not admitting that the Mon
roe doctrine is applicable to present con-
ditioRs. states: 'In declaring that the Unit
ed States would resist any such enterprise
if it was contemplated, President Monroe
adopted q polio which received the entire
sympathy of the English government Of
that date.
He further declares: "Though the Ian
guage of President Monroe is directed to
the attainment of objects which most En-
glshmen would agree to be salutary, it is
impossible to admit that they have been
inscribed BY any adequate, authority in the
''They cher maiesty's government fully con-
cur with the view which President Monroe
apparently entertained, that any disturb
in that hemisphere by any fresh acquisi-
tons on the part of any European state
would be highly inexpedient change
In the belief that the doctrine for which
we contend was clear and definite, that it
was founded upon substantial conSidera-
lions and involved our safety and welfare.
that it was fully applicable to our present
conditions and to the state of the world s
progress and that it was directly related
to the pending controversy, and without
any conviction as to the final merits of
the dispute but anxious to learn in salts
factory and conclusive manner whether
Great Britain sought under a claim Of
boundary to extend her possessions on
this continent without right, or whether she
merely sought possession of territory fairly
included within her lines of ownership. this
government proposed to the government of
Great Britain a resort to arbitration as
the proper means of settling the question,
to the end that a veXatiouS boundary dis
determined and our exact standing and re-
lation in respect to the controversy might
be made clear
Britain's Reason Not satisfactory.
1t would be seen from the correspondence
herewith submitted that this proposition
has been declined by the British govern
ment upon grounds which under the cir
cumstances seem to me to be far from salts
factory. 1t is deeply disappointing that
ly feelings toward both nations directly con-
cerned, addressed to the sense of justice
and to the magnanimity of one of the great
powers of the world and touching its re-
lationS to one comparatively weak and
small, should have produced no better re-
government in view of the present condi-
ton does not appear to admit Of serious
doubt Having labored faithfully for many
years to induce Great Britain to submit
this dispute to impartial arbitration, and
having been now fully apprised of her re-
fusal to do so, nothing remains but to ac-
cept the situation, to recognize its plain re-
and deal with it accordingly.