The Portland daily press., 1895-12-27
A WARNING ITO ENGLAND.
One of Her Sons Discusses the Monroe Doc
trine In Distinctly Reasonable Sort of
Way.

(GOldWln Smith IN Inc oaUurudy h6-
view.
The Monroe doctrine seems to have been
of late the theme of active discussion in
the British press, and to have been treat
ed by different journals in different ways.
Some journals seem to have treated it as
an aggression, others as fanfaronade,
and others again as hypothesis which
they might safely concede in dealing with
the Venezuelan question. By this time
Englishmen must all know pretty we'll
what, the Monroe docurine really is. They
must be aware that there are, in fact, two
doctrines comprised in thu same message
of President Monroe, oognate, yet distinct
from each other, and directed as warning
to different powers.
To Russia is directed the warning that
the American continent is no.longer to be
regarded as field for European colonial
ton. To the Holy Alliance, which was
inclined to NEEDLE with the newborn
republioanism of South America, is di-
rected the warning that no European
power can be allowed to interfere with
| the political elf-development of Ameri-
can communities In intimating that
interference with the political freedom
of the South American Republics will Ebe
regarded as an unfriendly act by the
United States, Monroe manifestly claimed
for his Republic tutelary power. On
the other hand, there is nothing in the
message that can be construed as a pre-
tension to territorial aggrandizement on
the part of the United States.
Whether the Monroe doctrine thus
stated is a part OF international law
seems not v3ry practical question. In
| ternatiOnal law is a law without 8 legis-
lature, without policeman, and without
a Judge. Its highest court of appeal is
the cannon. The Monroe doctrine will
| be law If America is strong enough to en-
force it. Louis Napoleon did not regard
| 1t as law, but he nevertheless had to &C
cept it and retire from Mexico. In this
respect it seems to stand Oh much the
same footing as the European protector
ate of Turkey, the guara nj eed indepen-
denee of Belgium, and other understand
ings respected in diplomacy, which rest,
not on universal law, but on the readi-
ness Of the parties interested to fight for
their enforcement.
1t is, however, not with the Monroe
doctrine as formulated in the famous
contact, and, If Mr.. Chamberlain pursues
his Edream" of imperial confederation,
may be one day brought into collision,
SO much as with the Monroe sentiment.
The Monroe sentiment imports that the
New World shall be free from interference
on the part of the Old World; that it
shall be allowed to follow its own desti-
MES, and to work out its own civilization :;
that it shall not be made the field or. the
highway of European war; but shall be
left without molestatio1 to dedicate itself
to peaceful industry and the improvement
of the human lot. There is in this at all
events, nothing of vulgar ambition or
rapacity.
OF mere territorial aggrandizement 1
have never in thirty years of intercourse
detected the slightest desire in the
American breast. The Americans refused
San Domingo. they refused St. Thomas,
and they would very likely have refused
Alaska, if they could have done it with
out offending Russia, who had been their
friend in the civil war. The land hunger,
economical or political, fed with slavery.
But the Monroe sentiment as to the indie
pendence of the continent has always
seemed to me to be strong, and strong
| believe it would be found by any one who
| should venture to defy 1t.
| 1t showed its force in the fixed resolu-
| tion to eJeot Louis Napoleon and his
Latin Empire from Mexico, while the
Americans have never betrayed any dis
position to annex Mexico themselves, easy
as the acquisition would probably be.
Nothing seems to be more certain than
that Canada. if she were Independent
and chose SO to remain, might rest in per-
feet security by the side of her mighty
neighbor. Opinion in the United States
is even divided as to the expediency of
admitting her to the Union. If she Is
the object of any hostile feeling on the