Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1896-02-06

/ think the public ought to know
whether the omission was intentional
or an oversight. Hitherto he has not
seen fit to reply. would not press the
question were 1t not for the fact that
| DR.. Adams Is man of more than ma
| tional reputation as an author and
| stands at the head Of our state uni
versity. His high standing as a scholar
and educator adds weight to his words
and gives him every facility for mould
| ing public opinion, and J. as IL citizen,
do not like to see public opinion mould
ed In that way anent the Monroe doc
trine. DR.. Adams utterances amount
to nothing less than severe criticism
! on the position taken by the president
of the United States, the secretary of
state and congress in the Venezuelan
| controversy with England and, while ]
do not doubt DR.. Adams patriotism,
] cannot help looking upon that kind Of
criticism on this subject and at this
time as unfortunate | now take the
liberty OF propounding another question
to President Adams.
In vol. VIII. Of Johnson's Universal
CyclOpacdia, edited by President G. x.
Adams, there is an article signed by
G. x, Adams on the United States. 1t
Is signed by two other writer's, but |
may be permitted 10 take 1t for granted
that he Is the author Of the historical
portion OF 1t. Under all circumstances
he has endorsed the whole article by
signing 1t. In this article and in the
historical part Of 1t he discusses Presi-
dent Monroe's administration and, in
cnumerating its noteworthy events, he
says on page 37G: "rhe enumeration Of
the Monroe doctrine, that is, that all
attempts of European governments to
acquire new territory on the American
continent, or TO recOnquor provinces
that had achieved independence, would
be regarded as hostile acts, the dcclara-
ton being especially aimed at Spain
whose South American colonies had re-
VoItcd and had been acknowledged as
republics by the United States"
This Isl splendid and natural sum
mary Of the Monroe doctrine, but one
that Is, | am sorry to say, at direct
variance with the position he took in
his recent lecture. The summary In
the cycIopacdia harmonizcs sufficiently |
with the attitude taken by President ,
Cleveland and Secretary Olncy. Here
he admits that the Monroe doctrine in |
hibitS "all attempts of European gov
crnmentS to acquire new territory on
the American continent as hostile" He |
does not here limit the inhibitions to .
the holy alliance and TO the "establish-
ment Of new colonies" as he distinctly |
does IN his recent lecture. would |
like to have President Adams explain /
the discrepancy between his CycIopac-
din article and his lecture. Both ut |.
tcrnnCcA are recent. Has he changed |
his mind on this important subject |.
since he signed his name to the cyclic |
pnedin article?
" u European power attempts to eX-
tend its boundaries and for this pur-
pose takes possession of the territory
Of one of Its ncghboring republics, then
to that extent such European power
does thCrby attempt to extend Its syS- |
tom Of government to that portion Of
this continent" and increase It's terri |
tory, and this IL substantially what |
Cleveland said In his message to con
grCss last December. 1t makes no diff |
ference whether Great Britain extends |
It's system simply by an advance of
frontier or by setting all OF Venezuela.
rho great question now Is whether
Great britain under n claim of bound
AIRY iR seeking to extend her territorial
possessions on this continent That Is
the very matter which Ia to be in
veRtlgatCd and arbitrniCd, but to state
In advance that this Is mere boundary
dispute Ia clearly begging the ques-
ton, Great britain might MS well claim
n right 10 govern two-thirds of Ncnc2u
ella and proclaim 1t to the world as
rmply u boundary question. In every
boundary dispute between a Europe
nm government and an American re-
public the Monroe doctrine must be
Invoked to prevent the European power
from "ncquiring now territory,'
IT | own farm and II president
Adams PROMISES to protect me from
losing IN acre OF land he will have to
Interfere every time have n boundary
dispute with one of my ncighhors or
his promise Is worthless,
Any citiHrn may take part in the
discussion of public questions, and the
moro scholars we have in our politics
the better. but when the president of
the ruited States and his cabinet have
taken position against II foreign GOV
crumeut and when they have in effect
been endorsed by both houses Of con
gress, II is In my opinion, serious
matter tor Il university president or
amy other leader of public opinion ia
publish antagonisttc views,