Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1896-01-03
THERE IS A DIFFERENCE.

England wants TO Know "What the
United States would have said in 184S
II England had undertaken to protect
Mexico against the wantonly agyres-
sive war by which President Cleve-
lands predecessors settled the Texan
boundary dispute?" Evidently she
does not see the point. Either that or
else she does not want to see it.
Now, suppose as an illustration, that
the United States would 60 over into
Africa and interfere in the partition of
some Of the African boundary lines, or
seek, by force of arms or otherwise, tn
acquire territory there. What would
England say? She would say in tones
not to be misunderstood or mistaken
that we had no business there and
naturally and properly she would seek
to drive US out. She could not, and
more, she would not, put up with it..
Her statesmen would soon warn us to
keep away and cease our meddling.
Her people would become wild and de-
monstrative. Meetings would be held
here and there and condemnatory reso-
lutions passed. And she would further
more notify US that if such aggression
were persisted in that it must be
stopped even at the cost of blood.
But suppose England interfered in
the settlement Of an African boundary
line or sought to acquire, by force or
otherwise, additional territory there,
what could the United States do?
Why simply nothing. However much
we should deplore such proceeding on
the part Of England and to whatever
extent our sympathies with the op-
pressed African country might reach,
we could not, 90 far "a the Monroe doc.
trine Is concerned, give assistance to
them or control England's course in
the premises.
But to recur to the Mexican boundary
line. This was difficulty to which
the Monroe d0ctrine did not apply.
The difference in that controversy was
between two American countries and
not between an European power and
an American country. It is the theory
of the Monroe doctrine that no Euro
pean power shall add to territory on
the American continent. The doctrine
applies to that domain that lies therein.
So here, II England does not see, the
United States wishes to point out to
her, that the difference lea It would
be well f0r her to understand It as soon
a. possible. The Monroe doctrine ap-
plies to the American continent, and
provides that the power and territory
Of European nations shall not be in
creased here. This Is fact that Lord
Salisbury and his cO-statesmen should
assimilate as rapidly ~ possible, for it
will be maintained.
No; THE Monroe doctrine isn't inter
national law; nor was the declaration
Of independence. but it wa made bind
ing all the same, just a. the Monroe
doctrine will be made binding if it is
seriously disputed.
THE railroad statistics of the state of
Pennsylvania show that only passen-
ger out Of every 4,S25. .7ls carried was
killed during last year, and only
out of every 0O4, ,947 injured, but the
employees were not so fortunate, as l
out of every 432 was killed and out OF
every % was injured. We have all
along suspected that it was safer to b.
a passenger than an employe, even il
you travel on pass.
CONGRESSMAN PAYNE, of New York.
who was the leading republican mem
ber of the Ways and Means committee
Of the last House, is not doing any
kicking because he was not made
chairman. He says: II wanted to b.
at the head of the Ways and Mean.
Committee, yet I think the House |.
well organized, and that the Speaker
has done the best he could under all the
circumstances" If Mr.. Payne has n,
kick coming to him surely no other
member Of the House has.
WHILE we are talking we will refert'
the prOmiscuOus habit of flirting in.
dulged In by some young girls and
some young women. A young woman
who INDUCES In this, what may seem
to her harmless pastime, may meet and
have perfectly lovely time" with
man who ought to be in Jail. Yer!
sad experiences have been brought on
through this habit, and not infrequent.
ly the wreck of the character of al
otherwise innocent girl has come
through 1t. This Is true: The moment
a young woman begins tn fiirt with n
stranger, that stranger or someone be-
gins to question her character. This
prOp0sitirn Is also true: Not all women
who hirt are bad but all bad women
flirt. Don't you see, girls? Your char
acter Is what you really are, your repu-
tation IL what people think you to he.
A good character and a good reputa-
tiOn uonerai1v on hand In hand IF WI,