The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1896-05-22
CLOSING SPEECH FOR THE MEGA TIVE.
MAMIE HAMILTON

| MAMIE HAMILTON.
President Cleveland's message, as a literary
| production, was for the most part, unobjectiOn
able, but when closely scrutinized as a public
document II was found 10 contain an extension
of the Monroe Doctrine never before attempted
by an American Stateman.
Any one who studies the Monroe Doctrine
will see that in every case except where there
is a fragrant violation, as in the French invas-
ion OF Mexico, the application of it should be
the subject of judicial determination Presi-
dent Cleveland evidently believes that. If there
is boundary line dispute between European
nation and South American Republic, no mat
ter how Insignificant the territory involved Or
how remotely it interests US, IL at once becomes
eur duty on our own motion and without the
request of either party to demand that the two
nations arbitrate and if they refuse we must
locate the boundary as best we can and force
the issue with arms. If, however. before we
have determined the location of the line the
two parties agree we have no farther rights or
duties. This seems to surrender the doctrine
lfVenezuela chooses to sell a portion of its
lands
By President Cleveland's Interpretation we
are forced to assume a protectorate over all
these South American Republics although
their industries and enterprises are controlled
almost entirely by other nations. The eivili-
cation Of these countries is of the lowest type
aud their governments, which are in almost
constant revolution, are republics only in name,
Venezuela like many of these is and has been
for many years military tyranny. Power won
partly by force. partly by money has passed
from one military leader TO another with no
frae no oil
things are understood in our own nation. The
military dictator coniscates at will the property
of all except foreigners. If this person could
rely on the United States to protect him he
would treat the lives and possessions Of Eng
lish, Germans and French with the same i'm
Partially as he does those of his own country
men. The nations to which these persons
belong would certainly demand reparation and
redress AS the protector Of these republics
we would be forced to assume the quarrel.
Thus, at the within of a military dictator We
might be involved in continual trouble with
European powers.
The simple fact that England refused to sub
NIT to arbitration very small part Of the dis
puted territory while accepting it for the rest
was surely not sufficient ground for unfavor-
able presumptions. The portion of lan3 Eng
eolonists who have settled there in the belief
that they were safe under colonial laws and ad-
ministration. This territory England cannot
without moral obloquy submit to arbitration
and thus render her subjects liable to be turn
ed over to country having such q govern
ment as Venezuela. If France should, for in
stance, claim portion of Kansas the United
States would never think of arbitrating the
claim but such an idea would be no more abb
surb than to believe England would accept ar
bitration for this claim that so effects her
honor.
The Monroe Doctrine was applied on its orgi-
inal ground when Napoleon III, overthrow
the republican form Of government in Mexico
and had Macmillan chosen Emperor Napo-
leon committed. exactly those sggressions
against which 1.-THE United States warns all
foreign nations. In that instance our country's
safety was obviously at stake. A European
power exercising protecto-ate over an Ameri-
can country so near our borders would no doubt
have been standing menace to the United
states. In the present case the country in dis
pute lies over two thousand miles from our
borders. In the invasion of Mexico the form
of government and independence Of q nation
Continued on page s.