The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-01-22
DEPEW ON MONK0EIsM.
Says It Ia the Lawyers Duty to Make War
ImpossibIe in the Future.

,
Impossible in the Future.
ALBANY, N. Y, Jan 22.-The an
nua1 session of the State Bar associa-
ton opened last night at Odd Fellows
hall in the presence of a large number
of auditors. President William H.
Robertson introduced DR.. Chauncey
M. Depew, who delivered the address
of the evening on Patriotism and
Jingoism, the Lawyers Duty" Mr..
Depew said in part:
The events of the past few weeks
have demonstrated how easy it is to
arouse the fighting blood among our
own people. A generation have come
upon the stage since the civil war who
are eager for battle. The greatest
ministers and leaders for peace whom
have ever met were the generals
whose fame fills the world, and whose
victories were in our civil strife
Grant, Sherman and Sheridan. Dur
ing the whole of their lives after the
war they were the apostles and preach
ers of peace.
The principal dispute between Eng
1ish speaking races, which is agitating
the world. calls for both practical wis
dom and legal acumen for its solution
There is no dissent in this country
from the Monroe doctrine as promul
gated by President Monroe and inter
preted by Jefferson, Madison, Web
ster and Calhoun.
The Presidents message to Congress
presents novel view of the principle.
If there is a dispute as to boundary
line between a South American Re-
public and a European power, no mat
ter how Insignificant the territory in
volved or how distant1y it affects the
independence of the country, or how
1~nr faIv int act Ct
demand that the two governments ar
bitrate the line, and if they refuse, we
must find out as best we can which
line is correct and enforce it by war.
If, however, pending our inquiry, the
two parties agree, we have no further
rights or duties. This seems to sur
render the doctrine, if Venezuela or
Brazil chooses to sell a portion of its
lands.
A slight extension of the principle
compels us to assume a protectorate
over all these republics. Their enter
prises and industries are almost en-
tirely owned or controlled and carried
on by Americans, English, Germans,
French and Italians. Their govern
ments are in almost perpetual revolu-
ton, and the military dictator of the
hour cOnfiscates property right and
left, except that of foreigners. If he
could rely upon the United States to
protect him he would treat the lives
and property of the Germans, English,
Italians and French with the same i'm
partial appropriation as he does those
of his countrymen. These nations
would demand reparation and redress.
This would involve the collection OF
substantial damages and we would be,
in measure, bound to assume the
quarrel We might, at the within or
necessities of the successful military
Il T1fu to- - al
tines, of Brazil or Bolivia, of Paraguay
or Peru, of Yucatan or Honduras, be
involved in frequent wars with the
powers of Europe. This would re-
quire immense navy and large
standing army.
According to the census of 1899, we
have 9, 100000 fighting men The ex-
perience from the civil war has shown
that from them could be drafted,
modified and instructed in three
months 3, O0O, 900 of soldiers. All the
transports and navies of the world
could not land upon our shores an
army which could march loo miles
their ships With all the world in
arms against US, the vast interior of
our continent, except in its industrial
and economical phases, would know
nothing of the trouble and would never
see a foreign uniform-except on
prisoner OF war. Secure IN our lSOla-
ton, supreme in our resources, I'M
equalled in our reserves and free from
dangerous neigh bors, we occupy among
the nations of the globe a position
so exalted and safe that to compare US
with other counties would be absurd.
The idea of securing at an early
date an international court represent
ing and embracing all the nations of
Europe and of North and Sonth
America is probably at present uto-
plan. 1t is possible for Great Britain
and the United States, out of this
present difficulty. to evolve a tribunal
of international law and justice, which
shall be in perpetual session, whose
members will be selected with such
care, whose dignity shall receive such
recognition and whose reputation
shall be so great that each nation can
submit to it any question in dispute
and bow to its decree with safety and
honor.
We, the lawyers of the United States
and our brethren, the lawyers of
Britain, faithful to the traditions of
our profession and the high calling of
our order, can agltate and educate for
the creation of this great court