Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1895-12-27

ezuela and recited the substance of a
representation made by this govern
ment to her Britannia majesty's govern
nent, suggesting reasons why such dis
pute should be submitted to arbitration
FOR settlement and inquiring whether
would be so submitted. The answer
bf the British government, which was
then awaited, has since been received,
and, together with the dispatch to which
It Is q reply, is hereto appended. Such
reply Is embodied in two communica-
lions addressed by the British prime
minister to Sir Julian Pauncefote, the
British ambassador at this capital
1t Will be seen that one of these COM
nunications is devoted exclusively to
observations upon the Monroe doctrine
ind claims that In the present instance
/ new and strange extension and devel-
Spment OF this doctrine Is insisted upon
~ the United States, that the reasons
tustifying an appeal to the doctrine
bnunciated by President Monroe are
generally inapplicable to a controversy
Involving the boundary line between
areat Britain and Venezuela.
I. Without attempting extended argu-
hents In reply to these positions 1t may
bot be amiss to suggest that the doc
Cblne upon which we stand Is strong and
bound because its enforcement Is impor-
liant to our peace and safety as ma
Ton and Is essential to the integrity Of
bur free Institutions and the tranquil
Maintenance of our distinctive form of
government. 1t was intended to apply
10 every stage OF our national life and
kannot become obsolete while our re-
public endures. If the balance OF power
ID Justly cause for jealous anxiety
among the governments of the old world
and q subject for our absolute non-in-
reference, none the less is an observ-
lnce Of the Monroe doctrine of vital
concern to our people and their govern
nent.
Applicable to Present Time.
Assuming, therefore, that we may
properly insist upon this doctrine with
out regard to the state of things in
which we live" or any changed condi-
lions here or elsewhere, 1t is not ap-
parent why its application may not be
Invoked in the present controversy. If
! European power. by an extension of
Its boundaries, takes possession of the
territory of one of our neighboring re-
publics against its will and in deroga-
ton Of its rights, 1t Is difficult to see
why, to that extent, such European
power does not thereby attempt to ex-
tend it's system of government to that
portion Of this continent which is thus
taken. This is the precise action which
President Monroe declared to be dan
gerous to our peace and safety" and 1t
tan make no difference whether the Eu-
ropean system is extended by an ad-
vance Of frontier or otherwise.
It Is also suggested in the British re-
ply that we should not seek TO apply
the Monroe doctrine to the pending dis
pute because 1t does not embody any
principle of international law which sis
founded on the general consent of ma
tions," and that mo statesman, how
ever eminent, and no nation. however
powerful, are competent to insert into
the code of international law n novel
principle 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
relation to the United States. 1t may
not have been admitted In so many
words to the code Of international law,
but since. in international councils,