Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1896-01-02

PRESIDENT has come nobly up with
: his round turn. His message is n
splendid expression of an American
policy, in the true American spirit.
He reasserts the Monroe doctrine
as the settled law of this Continent.
What is that doctrine? Why mys-
tify and misunderstood so plain a
matter? 1t is nothing more nor
less than this. The United States of
North America say plainly and
firmly to the European Powers {:
we guarantee, as against all Euro
pean interference, the independence
OF the Spanish American republics
Of this Continent. We guarantee
the permanency of their bOunda-
ries, the inviOlability of their soil,
and the the independence and auton-
omy of their governments against
Europe and each and every one of
its Powers"
"The republics of America may
quarrel and fight among themselves
and manage their own affairs in their
own way, without our Interference;
but we guarantee them from all in
terference whatever from Europe.
We do this in the interest of the
could not stand, if subject to Euro
pean Vaccinations. We do this i'm
the interest Of the peace of this Con-
tinent, which would be in constant
jeopardy, if any European Power
could interfere directly or indirectly
in their quarrels. We do this, also
and largely, in the interest of our
own commerce with those States,
which is valuable to us and of which
we do not mean to be deprived"
Such is the Monroe doctrine
Half-informed and half-witted pro-
tessors of public law may say that
the doctrine is not tenet of inter-
national law. 1t is the law of the
Western Hemisphere, embracing the
governments of more than half the
civilized world. 1t is international
to that broad extent and that will
suffice for all practical purposes
The point made by the doctrinaires |
is immaterial.
The Monroe doctrine is a leading |
tenet of law benevolently applied |
by Americans in all America.
They have an equivalent doctrine |
IN Europe, inaugurated by the Holy |
Alliance,' and maintained by the |
ALLIED Powers In subserviance
to that doctrine Poland was oblit-
Grated from the map of the world, |
and the Polish race scattered as
homeless and countryless wanderers
over the surface of the globe. 1t
Is in the interest of that doctrine
that Turkey is protected and upheld
in her autonomy, and given the IL
in, Ha
massacre5 Of her Christian popula-
ton, of which we hear so much, to
England'S shame, every day. 1t is
in the enforcement of that doctrine
that Russia, after being driven away
from the Crimea and the contiguous
countries naturally assimulated to
her by race, religion, and language,
is denied a footing on any of the
shores of the Mediterranean sea.
In America the Monroe doctrine
of stand off is benevolentiy used for
the good of its people and in the in.
terest of human liberty and free in
stitutions, In Europe the doctrine
OF the perpetuation of present polit-
ical conditions is diabolically used in
the interest of human oppression,
of popular slavery and even of ia.
natical massaCres.
Shame upon the Americans who
refuse to understand the Monroe
doctrine ; who depreciate it's value
and who oppose its official assertion
and enforcement
A feeble voice is put up now and |
then, to the effect that the Spanish |
republics south of us are undeserv-
ing the protection Of our Monroe |
doctrine. True, their population is
Catholic; butt what denominations |
of American Christians have shown
more patriotic devotion to the
cause Of American liberty and free
institutions than our American
Catholics? By descent, blood, edu-
cation, predilection, conviction and
sentiment l am a Protestant; a
Protestant iatus ct in cute. But 1
am friend also of all the liberties
that are indigenous to our American
soil and in the holy cause of religion
and political freedom. I recognize
and shake hands with the Catholics
of America as brethren, heart and
soul with the best of us in the great
cause Of American liberty.
Unfortunately, the Spanish race
in the republics south of us are not
as we'll schOoled and practiced in
the ideas and feelings congenial to
free institutions as ourselves; but
by guaranteeing the possession and
enjoyment of these institutions by
the Spanish republics, free from
European machination, we give
them a chance to vindicate their ca
pacity for selfgovernment and by
our encouragement make them ca
paple of conducting republics of
their own.
l do not apprehend war. Our
cause would be too just to render
our triumph doubtful. Our military
resources are unbounded, incalcula-
BILE and would be irresistible. Such
power as ours is not often attacked.
But, if they were of doubtful suffi-
cheney to enable us to hold our own |
there would remain to us the inspir-
ltipg maxim, "thrice is he armed
who hath his quarrel just" itself
harbinger of victory.