Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1895-11-08
FRIDAY MORNING. NOV. 8. 1895.
THE MONROE DOCTRINE.

THE MONROE DOCTRINE.
Tt is rare that any of the numerous South
American republics get into any trouble
with European power that we do not
hear more OF less about the Monroe doc
trine of the United States. And it is we
suspect the frequent hearing OF itand hear
ing some of the s'jingo" talk in this country
about it. that has deceived those republics
into the belief that in contest with
European power they would have the
United States at their backs. 1t certainly
SO deceived the little State OF Nicaragua
in her late trouble with Great Britain. and
the deception cost her dearly. The Mon
roe doctrine was announced under peculiar
circumstances and has found but one case
for application on this continent since Its
annunciation seventy-two years ago, ana
that was the case of Mexico at the close OF
our own civil war. Macmillan backed 10y
Napoleon Ill Of France, had attempted TO
subvert the republican form Of government
in Mexico and substitute for it monarchy
When it's own troubles were ended and IL
had time to attend to the matter. the U nlted
States notified the Emperor Napoleon OF
It's intention to uphold the Monroe doctrine
with regard to Mexico. Napoleon at once
withdrew his troops and his man OF straw,
Macmillan. lost both his new empire ana
his life. That was clear illustration OF
what this doctrine was, and now word
about it's history. After the treaty
of Paris in 1915, the kings OF Europe form
ed what was called the "Holy Alliance. "
The object was to put all governments back
to where they were before Napoleon turn
ed the European world upside down. One
of the objects of that Alliance was TO put the
South American republics who had revolt
ed from Spain, back under her rule again
This the United States did not intend to
permit, and President Monroe in his mes
sage to congress December I'd, 1923, thus
voiced that determination
nWe owe it, therefore, to candor and to the
amlcable relations existing between the
United States and those powers, to declare
that we should consider any attempt on their
part to extend their system to any portion OF
this hemisphere as dangerous to our peace
and safety With the existing colonies or
dependencies of any European power, we have
not interfered and shall not interfere. But
with the governments who have declared
their independence and maintained it, and
whose Independence we have. on great con-
sideration and on just principles. acknoWl-
edged, we could not view any interpostion
for the purpose of depressing them, OF con-
trolling in any other manner their destiny
by any European power, in any other light
than as the manifestation of an unfrien lily
disposition towards the United States. = = But
in regard to these continents, circumstances
are eminently and conspicuously different.
It is impossible that the allied powers should
extend their political system to any portion
of either continent without endangeIing oul
peace and happiness; nor can any one believe
that our Southern brethren, if left to them
selves, would adopt it of their own accord
1t is equally impossible, therefore, that we
should behold such interposition, in any form,
with Indifference
This is the Monroe doctrine and the
occasion of it's being put forth. 1t meant
and still means that 10 republic on this
continent shall be subverted in its
form of government and placed under
monarchical rule. The disputes which
have arisen between some Of these-tht
latest being Venezue]a-and tho European
powers, cannot be brought under the Mon
roe doctrine. Nor could the United States,
without going to war with the whole civi
LIKED world, bring them under it. The
South American republics are turbulent.
semi civilized series of petty governments
eternally embroiled either with each other
OF with some foreign power. Their ideas
of international law are haZy and theil
ideas of internal government are barbarous
In the Venezuela case it's dispute with
England is over territory. England derives
its title from Holland and Venezuela gets
its from Spain. Each party after many
surveys is claiming a piece of territory
made more desirable on account of the dis
covery Of gold. 1t seems impossible to get
1t out of the head of Venezuela and the
Limoges OF our own country, that it il
not a case for interference OF the United
States. Every United States Secretary OF
State for the last twelve years has had this
dispute under consideration, and none OF
them has gotten farther than the belief that
it is proper case for arbitration, if each
party is willing to accept that mode. 1t il
impossible, it seems to us, for our govern
ment ever to go farther than this. 1t is
equally impossible for US to take up the
quarrel of every semi-civilized South
American republic with European powers,
and make it our own. On the day when
we recognize it as other than impossible,
we will enter on an unending road of wal
and rumors of war. If this Nation propos
es to adopt the South American republics
as wards, it will find that Is nation Gil
earth has as troublesome and costly ones
THE INDICATORS ELECTION
NEWS SERVICE.