The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1898-07-07
THE REDWOOD GAZETTE.
BY AIKEN E. scHMAHL.
THURSDAY, JULY z, 1898.
NATIONAL EXPANSION.
Monroe Doctrine not Opposed to,
and Presidents for 1t.

Monroe Doctrine not Opposed to.
and Presidents for 1t.
To THE EDITOR: is divided
opinion, at this time, regarding the
proper action of the government as to
retaining the PHILIPPINES, Cuba and
Porto Rico in the event they are in
our possession at the termination of
the war, as now seems probable. At
the same time appeal is made to the
Monroe Doctrine in opposition to the
proposed annexation of the Sandwich
Islands, concurrent resolution in ia
vor of which has passed the House of
Representatives and is under debate
in the Senate. We find in the press
and magazines of to-day such express
sions regarding the acquisition of ter
ritory, by reason of the war, as the fol-
lowing: ut is against the principles
of the Monroe Doctrine contrary to
tradition and policy" Ex-President
Cleveland and W. j. Bryan are both
reported as having openly opposed the
holding of any territory as result of
the war. Let US look moment at
the proposition that to buy new terri
tory or hold that acquired by conquest
is contrary to the traditions and set
tied policy of the Nation. The policy
so often quoted originated or rather
publicly voiced by President Monroe
in 1923, the occasion being q DISPOSE
ton of the leading powers of Europe
to assist Spain to regain revolted co:
lonial possessions on this side of the
Atlantic, the independence of which
had been recognized by the United
States. Buenos sAyres, Venezuela,
Chill and Mexico were included in the
number, showing that as early as 1907
disintegrstion OF moribund Spain was
going on in the western world.
The President, in his annual mes
sage of December 1923, said: "We
owe it to candor aud the amicable re-
lations existing between the United
States and those great European pow
ers to declare that we should consider
any attempt on their part to extend
their system to any portion of this
hemisphere IS dangerous to our peace
and safety. With the existing colonies
or dependencies of any European pow
or we have not interfered and shall
not interfere; but with the govern
ments who have declared their indie
pendence and maintained it, and whose
independence we have, on great con-
erations and on just principles, &C.
knowledged, we could not view any
interposition for the purpose of op-
pressing them. or controlling in any
other manner their destiny, by aoy
European power, in any other light
than as manifestation of an unfriend-
ly disposition towards the United
States"
The above gave the assurance that
at least the moral support of the
United States would be given to other
American republics in maintaining
their position and against future at.
tempts at colonization in America by
European powers. It is not the pur
pose of this letter to make an argu
ment for or against the acquisition Of
more territory hut to show that argu
ments against it have no foundation
in the history of the country. Sine,
the Louisiana purchase we have add
ed to the public domain, Oregon, BY
right of discovery by Capt. Gray o
Boston, the Lewis and Clark expedi