The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-01-19
DEFINING THE MONROE DOCTRINE

To any one who will sit down and
calmly read the message Of President
Monroe in which he puts forth the cele-
brated doctrine that bears his name,
that doctrine will seem perfectly clear
and easy. of comprehension. Within
month it has become more famous than
ever because of President Cleveland's
invoking of it in the Venezuelan ooun-
dairy dispute; so famous that PUBIC
men are anxious to link their names
with that they may shine from its re-
fected glory.
Within the week there have been two
sets of resolutions introduced into Con-
gress to define anew this doctrine. The
resolutions of Senator Sewell were IN
the nature of a condemnation of Mr..
Cleveland, ana may be regarded as
party measure They are restrictive
of the doctrine as enunclated IN the
Venezuelan message.
Friday the senate committee on for
eign affairs adopted a resolution
drawn up by Senator Davis. the full
text of which has not been made pub
lie. The Geographic synopsis of it
shows it to be even a broader inter
nretation of the Monroe doctrine than
Mr.. Cleveland gave it The resolution,
II is said. asserts that when disputes
on the American continent between for
eign governments and American gov
ernments are decided by arbitration.
agreement, purchase, or in any man
ner whatever, the United States shall
be the sole judge as to whether the
Monroe doctrine has been violated in
such arbitration or agreement. The
Geographic synopsis further says that
this means that arbitration or agree
ment between foreign governments and
governments on the American CONT
nent as to boundary disputes cannot
become binding or effective unless
sanctioned by the United States, and
that this government must be satisfied
that no part of the American CONT
nent has been coded to a foreign power
by such arbitration or agreement
Whatever else this doctrine of the
Davis resolution may be 1t is not the
Monroe doctrine nor the doctrine that
President Cleveland invoked and cham
pioned. Mr.. Cleveland was particular
to draw the distinction between the
peaceful and warlike acquisition Of ter
ritory Assuming the Geographic &C
count to be correct, what does this
( Davis doctrine assert? 1t practically
asserts that the Independent and SOW
ereign governments Of the American
continent are not independent and SOW
ereign, for a single limitation on their
/ powers deprives them Of independence
and sovereignty. Under this new doc
/ trine it would be an impossibility for
! France, which is q republic, to en-
/ large her Guiana boundaries by friend
/ ly negotiations and purchase, unless
/ the United States government should
/ consent and France were not willing
/ to make enemies of US and go to war.
| Moreover this new doctrine will have
/ the effect to ALLEVIATE the republics of
/ Central and South America from the
! United States rather than to draw
them to this government. If this gov
eminent should see fit to dispose of
Alaska to any foreign government, no
matter what its form, we would brook
no interference from the republics to
the south Of u.s. And in this case can
we demand for ourselves more than
we concede to our sister republics?
In American polity the Monroe doc
trine stands out as clear and distinct
as Teneriffe rising from the ocean. It
should not be beclouded by commenta-
tors. It requires no definition; it only
needs enforcement.