The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1895-12-20


tatlon of an unfriendly disposition tow
ards the United States"
IT MEANS.
Briefly stated, the declaration meant
that the United States would consider as
perilous and unfriendly to it an attempt
on the part of the Holy Alliance, engaged
in a crusade against free government, to
extend its operations to this continenet;
and that, viewing the attempt In such a
light, 1t would act as circumstances
should demand. The meaning Of the Ian
guage cannot be extended so as to COM
NIT the United States to interfere against
the mere acquisition of American soil by
a European nation through either pur-
chase or conquest.
The Holy Alliance expired long ago, and
its work has been undone by the Euro
pean revolutions which have occurred
since that time. Constitutional govern
ment Is in the ascendency today in the
very capitals where the schemes of the
Holy Alliance were formed, and reaction
is hardly possible Absolutism cannot no
it's own in the land Of its birth, much less
extend It's power to the Amerlcani conti-
nents. Yet It's only to such an attempted
extension that the Monroe doctrine refers
1t follows, therefore, that the time has
passed when that doctrine furnishes
guide for the settlement of any question
of foreign policy which actually conf. ont
cur government.
1t is not here contended that foreign
government should be allowed to acquire
a foot of American soil; that Great Brit
ain should be allowed to collect any in
demnity from Nicaragua, or to extend her
boundaries in Venezuela. But whatever
course the United States may take In
these matters, II cannot pretend to bf
guided by the Monroe doctrine, for that
doctrine relates to wholly different mat
ters, and is of no more value as rule
for the decision of these questions than.
the doctrine Of the eternal damnation OF
non-elect infants. Further, the M nroe
doctrine as thus understood does not to-
day suggest vigorous foreign po'cy."
Its application meant vigorous foreign
policy in 1898, when It was promulgated;
but foreign policy which today depends
for it's vigor upon the application of hi
doctrine would be very weak policy,
for there is no state of affairs at present
existing to which the Monroe doctrine
could be applied. The political candidate
or party declaring his or Its adherence
to that doctrine upholds policy the oc-
casion for which long ago disappeared,
and is likely never to occur again.
LEGAL STATUS.
One word as to the legal status Of the
doctrine. 1t was statement Of the opin-
ion of the president upon matter of for
eign policy, given to congress In pursu-
ance of his constitutional duty to give
to congress information of the state OF
the Union, and to recommend to Its con-
sideration such measures as he shall
iudge necessary and expedlent." 1t was
within the power of congress alone-the
Legislative branch of the government tc
adopt for the United States the policN
thus recommended by the pres d mt. Con-
eress might have taken directly oppo-
Site course, and in such an event the
opinion of congress, and not that Of the
president, would have guided the policy
of the country. In fact, resolution In
troduced by Mr.. Clay, in the house OF rer-
resentatives at the session during which
this message was sent, and which was In
tended to commit the house of represen-
tatiyes to the sentiments conta ned In
the message, was quietly ignored, Even
II congress had been in accord with Tho
president in the matter, the doctrine
wotild not have had the force Of proce-
dent-sufficIently binding to commit the
United States to the same policy at any
future time-so long as no occasion lad
arisen for carrying It into effect. and the
United States had not actually done 81,
The declaration was simply proposition
by the president to congress, OF a pole
which congress never adopted, and which
the country did not act upon. 1t was
popular sentiment expressed by q popular
president, and nothing more.
1t would be interesting to review the
debates and the action of congress IN the
Panama and Yucatan questions, for the
light which they throw on the attitude OF
congress, to the Monroe doctrine: the ac-
ton of the United States with reference
to the Inflated expedition of Maximillian
into Mexico is, for the same reason, inter
esting In this connection; but my space
will not permit such review II Is SUM-
Client to say that a study of these events
will confirm the soundness Of the position
here taken,-that the Monroe doctr' ne wa
intended to apply to state OF facts
which no longer exists, and that II canro
today have any influence upon the policy
of the United States towards the remain
der of the American continents, much les
the potent and far-reaching influence
which is claimed for It by many writers
and speakers.