The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1895-12-19
THE MONROE DOCTRINE.

THE MONROE DOCTRINE.
Such reply is embodied in two COM
munications addressed by the British
prime minister to Sir Julian Pauncefote,
the ambassador at this capital. 1t will
be seen that one of these communica-
tions is devoted exclusively to obseva-
tions upon the Monroe doctrine, and
claims that in the present instance a
strange extension and development of
this doctrine is insisted on by the United
States, that the reasons given for an
appeal to the doctrine enunciated by
President Monroe are generally inapplic-
able "to the state of things in which we
live at the present day." and especially
inapplicable to that of controversy in
volving the boundary line between Great
Britain and Venezuela.
Without attempting argument in reply
to these positions, it will not be amlss to
suggest that he doctrine upon which we
stand is strong and sound because its en-
| forcement is important to our peace and
safety as a Nation and is essential to
| the integrity of our free institutions and
| the tranquil maintenance of our distinc-
| tive form of government. 1t was intend
| ed to apply to every stage of our National
| life and can not become obsolete while
our republic endures. If the balance of
power is justly cause for anxiety among
| the governments of the old world and q
subject for our absolute non-interference,
none the less is an observance of the
Monroe doctrine of vital concern to our
people and their government. Assuming,
| therefore, that we may properly insist
upon this doctrine without regard to
"the state of things in which we live" or
any change conditions here or else
where, it is not apparent why its applica-
| ton may not be invoked in the present
controversy.
| If European power by an extension
| of it's boundaries takes possession of the
soil of one of our neighboring republics
against it's will and in violation of its
rights, it is difficult to see why to that
extent such European power does not
| try to extend its system of government to
| that portion of this continent which is
| thus taken. This is the precise action
which President Monroe declared to be
"Anxious to our peace and safety and it
can make no difference whether the
European SYSTEM is extended by an ad-
vance of frontier or otherwise.
1t is also suggested in the British reply
| that we should not seek to apply the
Monroe doctrine to the pending dispute
| because it does not embOdy any principle
of international law which sis founded on
| the general consent of Nations" and that
"no statesman, however, eminent" and
| no Nation. however, powerful are com
petent to insert into the code of interna-
| tional law novel principle which was
never recognized before, and which has
not since been applied by the govern
ment of any other country.
Practically the principle for which we
contended has peculiar, if not exclusive,
relation to the United States. 1t may
not have been admitted in so many words
to the codeof international law, but since
| i'm international councils every Nation is
entitled to the rights belonging to it, if
| the infringment of the Monroe doctrine
| is something we may claim, it has its
place in the code of international law as
certainly and as securely as if it were
specifically mentioned and when the
| United States is a suitor before the high
tribunal that admires international law,
the question to be determined is whether
or not we present claims which the
Justice of that code of law can find to be
right and strong. The Monroe doctrine
finds its recognition in those principles OF
international law which are based upon
the theory that every Nation shall have
its rights protected and its vested claims
enforced.
Of course this government is entirely
confident that under the sanction of this
doctrine we have clear rights and un
doubted claims. Nor is this ignored in
the British reply. The minister, while
not admitting that the Monroe doctrine
is applicable to the present condition
states:
'In declaring that the United Statei
would resist any such enterprise If i
was contemplated, President Monro'
adopted a special policy which received
the entire sympathy Of the English gov
crnment at that day."
He further declares:
although the language Of Presiden
Monroe directed to the attainment of oh
iects which most Englishmen woul'
agree to be salutary, it is impossible :
admit that they have been inscribed b