New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-03-12
THE CHARTER OF PEACE.

Certain irresponsible journals are just now
untiring In their efforts to decry and to dis-
credit everything that savOrs Of American indie
pendence and American patriotism. The very
word American seems hateful TO them. while
INV Droposition to endOw this country with mill
tarv and naval strength BETTING its dignity
nuts them in a rage Even diplomatic guar
dionship of the National welfare is denounced
by them. and for this country to manifest the
slightest humanitarian interest in what may
be happening in neighboring lands is held to
be little short of infamous For England to
snend $4,000. 900 year on warshps is all right
of course: but fer us to build a torpedo-boat or
q revenue cutter Is crime. The bloated arlna-
ments of Europe are agencies Of sweetness and
light. while our miniature Army and modest
Navy are a menace TO civilization. The military
Powers of Europe are quiet and well-bred, while
this Nation is an unmannerly swagserer. The
envious and malicious comments of the foreign
press are echoes of eternal wisdom, but word
spoken by an American in behalf OF America
Is imbecty and blackguardiSm. The balance
Of power in Europe and all the aggressiohs
Of European nations. are forces that make for
righteousness, but the Monroe Doctrine IS the
sum Of all iniQuity.
But what is tne slilplc uulh II - ''"' "
the Monroe Doctrine. and to our own strong
and sef-reliant spirit that has maintained II,
We owe our freedom from war and from the
evils of militarism. Such freedom Is often al
tributed to our isolation from the European
Powers Yes: but that isolation Is no less
diplomatic than geographical circumstance.
We owe ii to the Monroe Doctrine as much as
TO the Atlantic Ocean. Suppose we had let
fha LAX 20
with her war fleets and were now TO let her
seize Venezuela and Honduras Suppose we had
let France establish military empire in Mexico.
and Spain reconquer Santo Domingo. and Ger
many seize some ample foothoid elsewhere on
the American Continent. Where then would
be our isolation and our freedom? We should
be in direct contact with the military Powers,
and we either should be compelled TO burden
ourselves with huge ornaments Ike theirs. or
should sink TO the level Of China, to be bued
and preyed upon by them at will.
1t was evident to the clear-sghted statesmen
of the first quarter Of this century that II we
could keep European Powers from increasing
their hold on this continent we should forever
be free from serious acknowledgements with them,
and might pursue our own way in peace ana
quiet. regardless Of their wars and rumors Of
wars. i nat Is equally eNlutHt tO-ud! tdHiuu,
Cuba, the Bahamas the Guianas. can never be-
come q serious menace to us. They cannot even
successfully serve as a basis OF hostile opera
tons against us As for the various republics
south OF us. 1t is nconceivable that they should
ever be dangerous foes. The only possible peril
Is that European Powers may increase their hold
ngs on or near our bordcrs 1t was that which
the Monroe Doctrine was intended to prevent,
and to prevent for the sake Of our own security,
and they who now condemn that Doctrine and
resist efforts to maintain it are themselves enc
mics Of American peace. They are, whether
| they know It or not, seeking to bring us to a
| point where We shall have either to adop, the
military system or to abandon our independence
| God bless the narrow seas. would they We're
| whole Atlantic broad is the exclamation Of
| the loyal Briton. We have the whole Atlantic
for our bulwark. and we propose not TO let it
| be contracted to the compass OF narrow seas
That is the purport Of the wise, bcneficcnt and
farseeing Doctrine OF Monroe. TO save us from
the need of militarism, and to keep us forever
| free from wars and from embarra ssing en-
tanglements with foreign Powers. 1t Is the
| charter Of our honor abroad and Of our peace
| at home