Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1895-12-19
DOCTRINE STRONG AND SOUND.

| "Without attempting an extended argument
and replyi it may not be amiss to suggest that
| the doctrine upon which we stand is strong
| and sound and sound because its enforcement
| is important to our peace and safety as nation
and essential to the integrity OF our free Insult.
tons and the tranquil maintenance of our dis.
tinctiye form of government. 1t was intended
to apply to every stage Of our national life and
cannot become obsolete while our republic en-
dures. III the balance Of power Is a just cause
for jealous anxiety among the governments Of
the old world and u subject for our absolute
non-interference, none the less is the observance
| of the Monroe doctrine Of vital concern to our
people and government.
Assuming, therefore, that we may properly
insist upon this doctrine without regard to the
state OF things in which we live,' or any
changed conditions here or elsewhere, it is
not apparent why It's application may not be
invoked In the present controversy Ii a
European power, by the extension of its bound
aries, takes possession OF the territory of one OF
our neighboring republics against its will and
in derogation of its rights, 1t is difficult to see
why to that extent such European power does
not thereby attempt to extend its system OF
government to that portion of this continent
thus taken. This is the precise action which
President Monroe declared dangerous to our
peace and safety and it can make no difference
whether European system is extended by an
advance OF frontier or otherwise.
SAYS 1T is APPLICABLE.
at is also suggested In the British reply that
we should not seek to apply the Monroe
doctrine to the pending dispute, because 1t does
not embody any principle OF international Law
founded on the general consent of nations, and
that no statesman, however eminent, and nc
nation, however powerful, is competent Il
insert into the code of international law
novel principal never recognized before which
has not since been accepted by the government
OF any other country.
"Practically, the principal for which we con
ted has a peculiar, if not exclusive, relation to
the United States. 1t may not have been ad
mitted in so many words to the code of inter
national law, but since, in international
councils, every nation is entitled to rights be
longing to 1t. IL the enforcement Of the Monroe
doctrine Is something we may justly claim II
has place In international law as certainly
and securely as IL specifically mentioned, and
when the United States 10 sutton before the high
tribunal that administers International law the
question to be determined Is whether or not we
present claims which In justice that code can
find right and valid. The Monroe doctrine finds
recognition In the principles of international
law based on the theory that every nation shall
have Its rights protected and its Just claims en-.
forced.
OUR CLAIMS ARE CLEAR
"Of course, this government is entirely con.
ndent that under the sanction OF this doctrine
we have clear rights and undoubted claims.
Nor is this ignored in the British reply. The
prime minister states that I'm declaring the
{ United States would resist any such enterprise
President Monroe adopted policy which re.
: ceived the entire sympathy Of the English gov
J eminent Of that date. He further declares
though the language OF President Monroe
! was directed to the attainment Of objects which
, most English en would agree to be SOLITARY II
Z is impossible to admit they have been inscribed
by any adequate authority in the code of inter.
national law Again he says: They (hel
majesty's government fully concur with tn,
view which President Monroe apparently EN-
+ tertained that the disturbance Of existing ter
ritorial distribution In that hemisphere by any