Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1896-01-24
N'ashlngton Staudara
OLYMPIA. WASH.
fEIDM EVENING, JANliRI u. 1896.
Its Scope Defined.

1t is probably wei! that the exact
meaning and scope oil a principle 30
universally accepted by our people a.
the Monroe doctrine, should be def
nItely and finally settled, and to effect
that object Senator Davis. Of the Sem
ate Committee nn Foreign Relations,
ia, reported resolution which, al
though accompanied by favorable
recommendation, is not the unanimous
sentiment OF the committee. The
resolution, after preamble, is as fol-
lows:
Reso'r,d. That the United States Of
America reatirms and confirms the doe
trlne and principles promulgated by
President Monroe in his message of De
cemher2, lS23 and declares it will assert
and maintain that doctrine and those
principles, and will regard any infringe
mrnt thereof, and particularly any at
tempt 10y any European power to take or
acquire any new territory on the Ameli
can continent or any islands adjacent
thereto Tor any right OF sovereignty or
dominion in the same, in any case or in
stance as TO which the United States
shall deem such attempt to be danger
GUS TO its peace or safety, by or through
force, purchase, cession, occupation,
pledge, colonization, protectorate, or by
control OF easement in canal or other
means of transit across the American
lsthmus, whether on unfounded preten.
sionS of right in cases of alleged bounda-
ry disputes, or under other unfounded
pletensions, as a manifestation of an I'M
friendly disposition toward the United
States, and as an interposition which it
would be impossible in any form for the
United States to regard with indiffer-
ence.
1t will be observed that the resolu-
ton extends the application of the
principle to foreign acquisition Of
territory OF the American continent or
any island adjacent thereto" by pur-
chase, as we'll as by conquest, as in
imical to the interests of the United
States. The development of this
principle was doubtless the result of
the alleged contemplated sale of Cuba
to Great Britain. While neither the
President nor the Secretary of State
have waived objection to peaceable &C.
QUESTION Of American territory by
European power, they had by implica-
ton at least admitted that such q
course would not be regarded as an in
reference with we'll settled policy OF
this government.
It is quite evident that this enlarged
construction of the Monroe doctrine
will not meet with the unanimous
support of Congress. Senator
Sewell, Of New Jersey, has submitted
q resolution which restricts its appli-
cation to those cases in which the in.
terests of the country are directly in
volved. This, it will be seen, leaves
the question, just where it now is,
and settles nothing for future guild
ance. This resolution is based upon
the view held by some eminent pro-
fessors in jurisprudence that the
Monroe doctrine was not intended to
be permanent principle of foreign
policy, but to meet the exigency ex.
listing at the time it was promulgated
when England readily conceded its
justice from existing environments
The adoption of the Sewell resolution
would be practically to do away with
a law which is none the less powerful
because it does not appear ON the
printed page and because its precise
scope may not be accurately deter.
mined. 1t is based upon a feeling
that is deeply rooted in the American
heart, and instead of the necessity
having passed by for its maintenance
the present emergencies amply de-
monstrate its necessity if the equality
and perpetuity of free government is
TO be secured.