Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-12-21
MONROE DOCTRINE
It Has Not Been Stretched by
President Cleveland.
HIS STATEMENT A CONSERVATIVE One
Possible Cases Where the United
States Would Interfere.
REP UBLICS THE ORDER

Some of the English criticism of the
Presidents message leads to the assertion
by many public men over here that Mr.
Cleveland has underStated rather than
overstated the Monroe doctrine. They con-
slider that he is wholly conservative in his
statement of the case. and they offer Illus
traticns in support of their opinion.
The MnNimilinn Episode.
Suppose. at the close of the civil war,
when the armies of the United States were
moving toward the Mexican line to empha-
| size the notice already given Louis Napo-
leon to get out of that country, Mexico had
| suddenly declared that the French program
was entirely acceptable to her; that she
| desired monarchy under French auspices
and guarantees. Would the United States
have acuuiesCed? Would it have consented
to the establishment there of branch of
the second empire. with all the train of in
trigues and corrupticns that characterized
| the home institution Or would it not have
continued to warn the k'renchman off, at
'he same time explaining to Mexico that
she would not be permitted to assist in set
| ting up a monarchy on the ruins of re-
public? Would not the United States have
| had the right to take such position, and
| would not that position have been taken?
Possible Nicarasuan Deal.
Suppose Nicaragua, for a consideration
! approved by all of her people, should sur
| render herself absolutely. land, title and
| government, to Great Britain, and Great
| Britain should propose a monarchy there
| and send over an English prince 10 occupy
| the throne-would the United States con-
! sent to that? Or would it not veto the
! whole transaction, and notify both Great
| Britain and Nicaragua alike to call the
| trade Off.
As to Brazil.
Suppose that the monarchists Of Brazil
| should suddenly grow strong and over
! throw the republic there; that in order to
| still further strengthen themselves they
should invite some European prince over
to ascend the throne; that this prince so
| invited should accept and present himself
| at Rio Janeiro, backed by the approval OF
| England, Germany, Spain and Portugal
would the United States stand that? or
| would it not, speaking rot only for Itself
! but for the republican spirit still left i'll
| Brazil, forbid the contamination of the
| monarchical deal and practically order the
/ prince back home? Would it not have d
| right to do that?
| 4 Case for Canada.
| Suppose taking an extreme case, that
| Canada should throw off the English yoke,
| but instead of going forward in the path Of
| progress and setting up republican form
| of government. she should so in for a des-
potsm, with some graduate OF a European
or Asiatic school of that description import
| ed to put the new machine in motion ana
| guide it with a corrupt and debauchins
| hand. Would the United States be silent in
| the presence of that? Or would it not
promptly put stop to the whole business,
| and either assist in the establishment of an
| independent republic there, or annex the
| country? Could il afford to remain passive
| or Indifferent in the presence OF such a
| menace? Would the fact that Canada was
| Ierself appearing to desire the change of
| government from a limited monarchy to
despotism operate as the slightest restraint
whatever on the United States? Should it
| so operate?
Republics the Order of the Day.
| 1t is in this way that some of the ablest
! men in America are now canvassing this
most momentous question of the Monroe
| doctrine. Is it not true, they are sai.Ii. Z.
| that, in the large sense, the whole of the
| western hemisphere is dedicated to free
| dom? Great Britain, it IS true, and Spain in
! q small way, have posses sioES, but, REACHING
| from the Canadian line to the extreme
| southern limit of South America, republics
| are the order of the day. and the people in
| the best serse are sovereign. Must not this
| condition be maintained? Should any back
ward step. especially under foreign inspira-
| ton be tolerated? The United States IL
| such circunl stances, in protesting. woGld
| speak not alone for itself. but for the spirit
|
! of liberty and sslf-sovernment everywhere.
| Speaking for All Free Governments.
| But this argument is not offered in any
criticism of the President The case in
point is accepted as he states it. The
contention merely is that if Great Britain
| or any other foreign power. fancies that
| the President has gone too far it has only
| to look into the matter a little further
itself to be properly enlightened. The
| Monroe doctrine it is insisted, instead Of
being stretched in the present case is
scarcely unfolded in its full size. The
United States. as the greatest of all re-
publics, is not speaking for itself alone in
| this matter, nor would it in any matter
| affecting its integrity a govern
ment. 1t speaks for all free governments.
and all the possibilities of free govern
ment, and whether trade langushes for
| time or not in the effort TO keep the torch
| of liberty alight is very little to be con-
| sdered.