St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1895-03-30
THE MONROE DOCTRINE.


The lingo papers are taking up the
cause of Venezuela in the matter of
the disputed boundary with England,
and are flashing themselves into a
fine frenzy over the assault the Brit
ish lion is making both on the ter
ritory of Venezuela and the cher
ished Monroe doctrine, and the in
ertness of Secretary Gresham, who
has not, as yet, given the lions tail
vigorous twist. The demand of
England, they declare, is an invasion
by a monarchy of the Eastern hem
isphere, of American soil, with in
tent to extend its institutions, and is
therefore a distinct and direct de-
lance of the revered doctrine.
It is just within the limits of pos
sibility that these jingos are sincere,
but, as they are all of the party in
opposition to the administration, it
is fair presumption that they are
actuated by partisan motives, and
moved by desire TO put the admin
istration ''in a hole The facts in
the case of the claim of England,
Monroe doctrine, make this presump-
ton a certainty. 1t will clear the
situation Of the cloud of dust kicked
up to state these briefly. While "the
era of good feeling" characterized
the politics of the nation during
President Monroe's administration,
there was war and tumult in the
,f,.,o -
Spanish and Portuguese colonies
were III open and successful revolt.
The creation of more republics
aroused the fears of Europe's
crowned heads, who feared a pos
sible spread of the contagion, and
when the Holy Alliance congress
convened in 1922 it was intimated
that the allied powers would aid
Spain and Portugal in reducing to
subsection their revolted colonies.
1t is singular coincidence, as
bearing on the present case, that it
was British minister, George Can
ming, who Informed our minister at
the court of st. James, Mr. Rush, of
this intention of the allied powers
in order that our government might
take position in opposition. Mr..
Rush advised the president of the
project, and he sent to congress in
December, 1928, his message contain
ing what has since been called the
Monroe doctrine, and has been the
poilcy OF our government since. This
declared that any attempt of the al
lied powers ito extend their system
to any portion of this hemisphere'
would be regarded "as dangerous to
our peace and safety" England fol-
lowed, and aided in baking the plan
OF the allied powers by a recognition
Of the South American republics.
mus the Monroe doctrine owes it's
origin to British suggestion and CO.
operation.
Prior to this, in 1914, England had
obtained by cession from Holland
what is known as British Guiana.
which adjoins Venezuela on the east.
The western boundary of the prov
1nce was the Essequibo river. This
river is formed by the confluence.
fifty miles from it's mouth, of two
rivers, and the dispute between En-
gland and Venezuela is as to which
OF these two is a continuation of the
Essequibo, and therefore the west
ern boundary of Guiana. Some
country west of the Essequibo hay-
ing been occupied by the Dutch. En-
gland claimed the territory and
seeks to extend the western limit
OF Guiana to the Orinoco.
The Monroe doctrine is not in
VOWED. That was aimed at a res
toration of the dominion of Spain
and Portugal, and involved the
overthrow of republican govern
ments. The present case is merely
one OF disputed boundary between
TWO powers established before the
oc'clrlne was promulgated. That
was aimed against monarchical gov
ernments, and had the support and
cooperation Of England; this in.
wolves only the question whether
certain territory belongs to repub-
nc de Jure or a republic de facto. !
1t does not seem to raise anv ones
tlon involving an application of the
FAMOUS doctrine of President Mon.
roe.