The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-01-01
THE TIME FOR REFLECTION HAS
COME.

COME.
The LIMOGES have persisted in their fool
ish course toward foreign Powers until.
n the news that comes from Washington
IL reliable. this country Is now confronted
with most serious position. X Is stated
,.;,n the apparent sanction OF our state
Denartment that every representative Oh
a EUROPEAN power at washington "s'.
received Instructions that the instant INC
United states officially espouses the eauSS
~ tho insurgents in Cuba against INC
uosser OF spain, a protest is 70 be en'ereu
AZ our State Department against IT.
The protest Is not to 10 consider o. f"
f. said. as war challenge TO TINS gov
ernment. II viii be no more t'"u
diplomatic hint that Europe mas cH'eu
halt on our pretensions OF protecuoh 10
oil American colonies. In other WORDS
the Powers OF Europe have reached an
agreement that this government must
prove SITS ability 90 enforce the new idea
Of the Monroe doctrine IL 1t expects the
rest OF the world TO accept It.
Those statements are given out IN
washington right under the caves Oh 'he
state Department with such positiveness
o,a aetau that we cannot help thinking
they are in the main true. nor are we
surprised that they should be true me
Moproe doctrine as announced py MI
nfoproe and endorsed by the leading
statesmen Of that day, is an entirely re'a-
sonable one that all the enlightened opin-
ION OF the world assented TO and ap-
proved. A combination OF arbitrary ana
autocrasc European soyereigns having
been formed 70 exterminate the Idea OF
civil liberty Oh the earth. and tiat COM
binafion threatening TO interfere in this
country in furtherance Of that idea 10
prevent any Of SPANS South American
colonies throwing off their allegiance TO
her. Mr.. Monroe declared that this
country would resist any such combina-
,ion I'm any attempt to interfere In Amer
lean AFFAIRS to accomplish that end. That
was the whole idea, and that idea COM
manded the assent Of every friend OF hui
man civil liberty wherever he dwelt.
But the Olney-Cleveland idea OF the
Monroe doctrine is a very different thing.
This new version sets up protecforate
nv this government over an the disordcrly
communities TO the south OF US, and II
might have been known from the-begin-
ming that the rest of the world would not
willingly submit 70 that proposition. We
are not at all surprised therefore at the
announcement new made. We have as
sumed a position that IS far in advance
of our own rights and in most serious
deroeation Of the rights Of other nations,
and il should cause us no sort OF sur
prise II these other nations. that have a
right to complain, should actually do so.
We should never allow ourselves TO be
deferred from asserting orr rights by any
peril, however great. But, when we
contemplate action that is most ques-
tionable 10 say the least Of It. we are
surely justified in pausing to count the
cost.
II the Powers OF Europe have united in
the protest mentioned. the case is one
which calls for very serious deliberation'
IL is a simple protest now, u Is true Out
these great Powers do not unite in such
a step as this without having resolved TO
make the step an effective one If that be-
| comes necessary. II this protest has
been ordered 1t is the same thing as no
tice that they will side with Spain II we
become involved in war with her. That
will be most serious business for this
country. We are colossal power with
out doubt, and we may be equal to
contest with all the rest Of the world.
But such a contest. however it termi-
mated. would necessarily be a disastrous
one for us. Is there any case now before
this country that justifes us in provoking
ii? Our own opinion is that there is
none, and that this whole Cuban business
should be dropped and left TO the usual
course OF diplomacy in such cases.