The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1895-04-27
THE MONROE DOCTRINE.

1HE MONRUE DOOA AhhNEs
On all occasions when there is
any interruption Of the friendly re-
lations between any one of the
Spanish republics on this hemis.
phe re and any European power,
there is instantly a public appre-
hension that the European Iower
may resort to war, with the result
of The acquisition of territory and
the establishment on this continent
of an European colony. Our Gov
ernment is then urged to apply the
Monroe doctrine and to interfere
by force If necessary to prevent its
violation. 1t is assumed that this
doctrine establishes guardianship
by this nation over Central and
South American republics. Its
purposes and authority have been
greatly misunderstood by many
who write and speak upon the sub
ject. Probably the prevailing i'm
preston is that the Government of
the United States has thereby COM
mitted itself to the policy of inter
vention in every case where an
American republic may be embroil-
ed with an European power. In
brief, the Monroe doctrine is ap-
pealed to by many as barrier
against any attempt by European
powers to even redress wrongs to
which they have been subjected.
Eighty-five years ago the Span.
American republics were colo
nies of Spain. Moved by desire
for freedom, and encouraged by the
successful establishment of the re-
public of the United States, one
after another they revolted during
the next IL years. After Spain
had lost her authority over them
she attempted to re-establish it by
the aid of other European powers,
known as the "Holy Alliance." 1t
was then that President Monroe,
in his annual message of 1928, made
a declaration which has since been
known to the world as the "MonrOe
Doctrine" Here are its words:
eve owe it to candor and to the
amicable relations existing between
the United States and the allied
powers to declare that we should
consider any attempt on their part
to extend their system to any por.
tion of this hemisphere as danger
Gus to our peace and safety. With
the existing colonies or dependen-
cies of any European power we
have not interfered. and shall not
interfere; but with the Govern
ments which have declared their
independence aud maintained it.,
and whose independence we have,
on great consideration and just
principles, acknowledged, we could
not view an interposition for op.
pressing them or controlling in any
other manner their destiny, by any
European power, in any other light
than as manifestation of an un-
friendly disposition toward the
United States"
This expresses the will of the
Americe people to-day as truly as
it did then. The European System
of government" cannot be extended
to any portion of this hemisphere
The governments OF this hemi
sphere are to continue free and in
dependent of any European control
Whatever nation calls this in ques
tion does 1t with the full knowledg.
that 1t will be regarded as "man
Hesitation Of an unfriendly disposi
ton toward the United States"
This policy does not carry will
it, however, denial of the right o
any European power to demant
and enforce redress for any wroni
done against it by any American
republic. While this Governmcn
will interpose its powers to the full
est extent to repel European ag
gressIon against the weakest of ou
sister republics, it will not sustain
either of them in any infringement
of the law of nations or any un
friendly act against foreign powers
The Monroe doctrine carries witt
1t no such absurd inference.
But the Monroe doctrine did no
exhaust the subject. TWAS intend
ed rather as pledge to American
Republics as against European
Monarchies from which they ha,
successfully revOlted, 1t was tn
American svstem against the Eur