The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-12-26
AN HISTORIANS VIEW.
Professor McMaster Talks About the
Monroe Doctrine.

Professor John Bach McMaster of the
University of Pennsylvania, the eminent
historian, was asked by the Philadelphia
Led ger for an expression of opinion on the
Monroe doctrine as involved in the Vene-
zuelan dispute. lie said:
"Mr. Cleveland message is timely and
sound in every particular. The day has
come when the Monroe doctrine, which
might more properly be called the 'Ameri-
can doctrine should either be enforced or
abandoned. Lord Salisbury's claim that
the doctrine was for particular time
and particular purpose is not tenable.
Before Monroe wrote his message OF De-
cember, 1923 be sent to Jefferson the
Canning-Rush correspondence. in which
England requested the United States to
join with her in a declaration that the
Holy Allies, who had Just put down con-
stitutional government in Spain should
not be allowed TO NEEDLE in the affairs of
the South American republics. In his
answer Jefferson said: The question pre-
scented by the letters you have sent me is
the most momentous which has ever been
offered TO my contemplation since that of
independence. That made us a Nation,
This sets our compass and points the
course which we are to steer through the
ocean of time opening on u.s. This is the
correct view. The doctrine was not for
1923, but for all time. 1t is applicable to
the state of things in which we live at the
present day. Monroe not only announced
a doctrine, but applied it at the same
time. Mr.. Cleveland upholds the doctrine
and makes another application. The ap-
plicatiops are different, but the doctrine
is the same.
'In 1913, when the case of Yucatan was
discussed, Calhoun, the only member of
Monroes Cabinet Of 1923 then living. de-
MED this and asserted the view now taken
by Lord Salisbury. He held that the first
part OF the doctrine related to the conduct
of the Holy Allies and persisted with the
events that called it forth, and that the
second part, relating to interpositon in
the affairs OF the South American repub-
lies, also belonged to the history of Mon
roe's time. In this view he had but few
followers.
when Great Britain did to us in the
case OF the Maine boundary what she is
now doing to Venezuela we considered if
an attempt to extend her system over q
part of our territory. We are bound, there
fore, to take the same view with regard to
Venezuela. She is now doing to part of
Venezuela what, in 1928. we declared that
Russia, Prussia, Austria, France and Spain
should not be allowed to do to all of Vene-
zuela.
Mr.. Olney's view that the United States
is practically sovereign OH this continent,
and that its fiat is law On the subject to
which it relates is not sustained by our
past record. Yet it must be remember
that we are the only people in America
who would announce the Monroe doctrine,
because we are the only one powerful
enough 10 make such an announcement
respectable. Mr.. Olney is getting near the
position OF England in 1872, when she as.
serted the right of search, the right of i'm
press, the right to lay paper blockades.
None of these, as Lord Salisbury says of
the Monroe doctrine, was to be found in