New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-11-18
THE MONROE DOCTRINE.
A REASONABLE EXPRESSION OF 4 cOMMENDA-
ABLE NATIONAL FEELING.

4 REASONABLE EXPRESSION OF \ COMMENDA-
ABLE NATIONAL. FEELING
To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: "The Evening Post" continues to infct upon
IS readers numerous editorials Illuminating
against the Monroe Doctrine and deridng jngosm
Amercansm and general patriotism unless OF rs
own anonymous type In assuming thas it alone
understands the purport Of the doctrine. and that
the press and public alike ignorant and unprin
ciped In their Interpretation Of 1t. The Post"
triumphantly prOpOunds 4 series Of foolish ques
lions, and not receiving or publishing any answers,
launches forth another editorial. congratulat!ng
itself in having routed and COMPOUNDED all jngosts
Nothing is more apparent. however than that
THE Post quite fails TO grasp the spirit and
meaning Of the Monroe Doctrine. No supposes
f. - be a principle OF International law any more
than Eng;ani's opposition to the seizure OF Con-
stantinopic or Afghanistan by Russia. No one sup
noses that It has any bearing upon reparation for
insults to a foreign flag officer and
through the Est Of ridiculous assumptions which
The POST credits 70 jingoists. and to its
satisfaction brilliantly refutes.
The Monroe Doctrine the expression of
sound policy dictated by the law of sef-preserva-
ton and Of a generous sentiment for weak peoples
struggling for independence. such IT has remained
ever since. and if We hear moro Of it now than at
any other time since its inception it is because "A
wave Of aggressive patriotism has swept over the
United States. over Europe.
in part would not have shared A similar fate with
Africa and Asia had not the United states. armed
with the double power OF disintereatedness and
strength opposed the aggressive tendencies OF
European nations? There have been plenty Of
cuses not only fer intervention. bui even FOR tenn
porary occupancy. to secure an indemnity or to
exact payment Of A debt EnsAnd in particular
has IN other countries skfuy and unsrrupuioUsly
awaited Of them to annex territory. OAly the Wig
lance II the United States only the barrier OF the
Monroe Doctrine has prevented her pursuing the
same course in South America. .-,..,-. =. -.
rope ana in the United States to be deplored 1t is
IT, very GSsenee I ne om lT H of G'' by
luxury. ceased it's policy ~ expansion. II was over
whemed by the hordes Of barblrians which swept
in successive waves over Europe and laid the foun-
dat!ons Of higher and noDer civilization than that
vlduas it is the aw Of the survival of the fttest
which prevails. To cease to grow and expand is
death.
The great nations Of Europe recognize this, ard as
the sphere al home is restricted. direct the energy
and annexation OF the less civilized portions Of the
earth. There Is no Jngoism IN this 1t Is ne vitality
makes a nation live. In the United States the
same feeling exists put as the sphere OF expansion
and grow,ns desire for expansion In large sphere
In the mean time the aw OF self presfrvaton de-
mands that we maintain the hegem9ny OF the
weaker weaker central and South American states
rope Any riiicule or negation Of the spirit Of
what The Post" terms "Americanism" or lingo
ism, and what is simply love OF home and country,
patriotism IN its broadcast sense. is for an American
making light Of his citizenship ana country and
United States to assert its independence It's fore
sight for the future and its power and authority
Until civilization eliminates the strongest passion
OF man q, behooves the individual, the nation TO
b, prepared to resist aggression and maintain It's
independence. not always by passlyely waiting but
by foresight and action to avert and perhaps avoid
danger and destruction. G..
New-York Nov. L. lSS