New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-02-21
THE MONROE DOCTRINE.
.rop DAVIS IN SUPPORT OF THE
SENATE RESOLUTIONS.
,,o,>.rs FROM HIS SPEECH IN THE SEN
ATE LAST MoNpAY-THE MEANING
or THE DOCTRINE.

OF THE DOCTRINE
,.. % s,oak Mr. President. with the utmost
ro,eness of expression for in all controversies
h,y character IT is best to do So IL is IN the IN
-. - harmony and ultimate peace mat nauohs'
80, all their opponents. representative or legis-
,ooL with honest frankness In defining their
,,,,o and what they expect to assert. In way
T,,, .ii necessarily be dscursive | shall consider
va The origin of the Monroe Doctrine. its char
- and nature the various phases OF our Ma
,ona existence iii which il has been applied ana 70
sooe extent the present controversy.
understand the Monroe Doctrine as promulgated
- President Monroe in 1898 to be fairly summarized
. follows: That the American continents are not 10
he considered subjects for future colonization ~
any European Power; that we should consider any
ATTEMPT on the part of such Powers to extend their
s,eo 10 any portion Of this hemisphere as danger
ous 10 our peace and safety; that any nterpos'ion
nv European Powers for the purpose Of depressing
the INDEPENDENT nations Of the American continents
or OF controlling in any other manner their destiny
would be considered by the United States as the
manifestation of an unfriendly disposition toward
Us; that there shall be non-interference by the
United States with European possessions on this
hemisphere as they existed in 1923.
This doctrine which has become ndelbly Inscribed
upon our policy was submitted by President Monroe.
three months before he proclaimed IT, TO Manson
and jefferson then in their declining years ana III
the retirement OF private life. Mr.. Madison APP
proved II In characteristic terms or phllosVPiS 0
Grafton while Mr.. jefferson. the most president OF
American statesmen. the far-seeing man VINO ac-
ouired by the Louisiana purchase more territory 10
the United than he had assisted to wrest from
Great Britain BY conquest most warmly apPio'eu II
end pronounced 1t TO be the most important matter
that had been submitted to his consideration since
the Declaration OF Independence
The pending resolutions do not add single prih-
ciple to the Monroe Doctrine nor do they take
SINCE principle from Il. They make 1t apphcaDie
by particu arization TO existing or imminent exi-
sonc.es. They subtract nothing from It's re'ered
PRINCIPLES as ! think has been subtracteu ny the
message of the President The preamble is expressed
In the words of President Monroe himself Win inc
exception OF the recital that the doctrine and policy
promulgated by him have been repeatedly enunci-
ated bv subsequent executive action OF this Gov
eminent | will take the time OF the senate lot a
few moments 10 explain why the phraseoiosy OF 'he
resolution as it is adopted by the Committee on
Foreign Relations 1t has been SAID, as nave
stated by foreign authors foreign statesmen. for
e,gn publcists that the Monroe Doctrine died with
the occasion its birth. and therefore the resou
,,on reaffrms and confirms 1t as an everlasting
and continuing principle from the ia! OF It's origin
1t is stated that this Government
.'Wil regard any infringement thereof, ana par
tlcularly any attempt by any European Power 10
take or acquire any new or additional territory on
the American continent or any island adjacent
thereto
The phrase in regard 10 islands was put IN 10
make more certain what We deemed fair construc-
ton Of the expression of President Monroe VINO IN
his message spoke only of the continents OF the
Western Hemisphere And yet, In the light OF the
dinlomatic papers Of Mr. Webster and Mr. Clay.
which have read who viii deny that it is proper
construction Of the message Of President Monroe 10
include the West India Islands. and CUBA especia'!'
as falling within its provisions
CRUDE AND DANGEROUS IDEAS.
There is a class of enthusiastic patriots in this
country whose conceptions OF the Monroe Doctrine
have been such that they deem II the outy Vi ''is
Government to interfere in case any foFelsh Fo"ei
shall wage war upon any Of the Central or Sou'ef"
American Republics To those who consider more
carefully such an idea is extremely crude dangerous
o,a far-fstched but IL is one which has been ex-
csedngly prevalent and has done more harm 10
the efficient assertion of the doctrine itself thah all
other causes combined
Accordingly, the committee deemed IL pest ~ CA
,,ess in the resolution nearly in the language OF
Mr. Webster himself, and certainly In the spirit OF
that language that such construction OF inc Monroe
Doctrine ought longer to be entertained OUT
that reserv.ng to itself the right TO judge the
United States would 'n any case or instance as
N which the United States shall deem such attempt
"a he dangerous its peace or safety
There is nothing radical there Is noth'ng ag-
E. f. nse;hc in It's intentions and It's expressions. and
1, takes away the opprobriun which hosthe wl!Seis
haye n 20 en' ASSERTIONS that
establishing protectorate over me eh.lre S SHur
and vet nevertheless we were not responsive LOT
them; that position was an absurdiiy ana uii.
warranted by any proper relations that should exist
between nations
The resolution proceeds ,,., ,.-,..s
I'm any case or instance as 10 which the United
States shall deem such attempt 10 be dangerous 10
Nobody can object to that
purchase cesslon occupation ,..
Those words were designed 10 cover Just precisely
The Contingencies have described in my remarks.
namely: That South American State can Of her
away her territory sovereignty under the pretext
OF force purchase. or cession in any case where
such a transaction shall be deemed by the United
States dangerously 70 involve It's peace and safety
with reason. Pledge" In international law means
The hypothecaton Of territory TO secure the pay
MAS stated some six weeks ago apparently upon
authority. that treaty had been or was about to
volvng loan TO Spai by subjects OF Great britain;
whereby certain ports OF Cuea were TO Ge Piedged
would be the first act of acquisition SUCH a step
would be setting up the government OF foreign
Such an act would be the controlling OF the desti-
MES OF hat island BY sor reg Po@sr al hssTS
that to put the ports OF Cuba In pledge TO any for
and perhaps the designed beginning. OF the utter
extinction Of the sovereignty OF Spain and us trans
Ger TO another power
ENGLAND STILL COLONlZING.
TIE word colonization" is used. and why? Every
BODY supposed until recently that the Prohiot'oh
By President Monroe to colonization had done its
work long since and that by the passing OF the
American continents under the uncontradicted do
nlnion of civilized Powers the question OF COLOMBIA
ton was no longer open But upon looking into the
cOrrespondence between Venezuela and Great Brit
ain on this subject II is seen that In addition 10
the rights which Great Britain claims under her
treaty with the Dutch. she claims and made the
clam 70 Venezuela OF certain treaties and cession
by Indian tribes. The whole and original basis OF
colonization upon these continents was then In the
light OF the nineteenth century. asserted by Great
Britain IN diplomatic correspondence as the
foundation OF a territorial claim. More than that.
Mr.. President. Notwithstanding this vast area OF
territory. 1000 square miles is In controversy.
the merits of the entire contention says "ssme No.
Co British subjects have gone into this disputed
territory. and therefore must protect them" II
$500 or any number. less more Of British sub
Jects have gone into this territory. that gives
Great Britain no right TO protect them there her
subjects by virtue her asserted sovereignty over