The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-07-14
Vale. Monroe DOCTRINE.


and Argentina have been strained, a
disputed boundary being the cause of
irritation. The cause continuing the
imminence of war increases until it is
now regarded as the next military di-
version of the nations. Wars have TAX
en- place between these Southern Sra
publics" heretofore and they have
fought them out to a finish without
giving other countries any great con-
Germ. We have looked placidly on, in
different to the outcome, while we have
Serenely hung Monroe'S famous doc
trine on our outer walls as warning to
Abroad" to keep hands off. And al
though there has been grievous provo
cation often enough, Abroad" has kept
clear of the rumpus. Germany kept
aloof while Venezuela let German in
vestors be robbed, and millions Of
francs went out of French stockings
into Leissep's ditch without Francs
making any claim to territorial rights
in Nicaragua.
Now, however, word comes from Lon
don that, if there comes war between
Chile and Argentina. Italy will take
hand In behalf of the latter country.
This information, that may be labeled
important if true, comes to London
from Rome, where it is said that great
activity prevails in the navy yards
and that a squadron has already gone
on some mysterious errand. 1t is sug-
gested that the present is an opportune
moment for interference because the
United States have a little affair of
their own On hand that is engrossing
attention. The reason assigned for
this interest of Italy is the large in
terests that country has in Argentina.
What they are is not stated, but for
! several years the tide of Italian migra-
ton has set strongly to Argentina and
now forms quite a respectable percent
age of the population But nations
never yet lacked excuses for interfering
when the desire to interfere moved
them strongly.
But, should this happen, what will
the United States have to say about
it? What can they say? That warn
ing banner no longer hangs upon the
outer walls 1t has been taken down
by our own hands. The Monroe doctrine
was jettisoned along with the Farewell
Address. We have stood for seventy
and more years upon the platform that
we would not interfere with the pos
sessions of any European nation on the
American continents, nor would We
permit any of them to interfere with
any existing governments on this hemi-
sphere. Now, however, we have dis
carded one Leg cf the proposition and
we cannot keep upright on the remain
ing one. We have interfered with a
vengeance with the possessions this
side the water Of one foreign nation
and are now fighting her to expel her
Not content with that we have sent
forces to take and occupy other Of ner
possessions in the Pacific, and, it is
pretty evident, with the intention Of
converting them to our own use and
occupation. Nations no more than
boys can eat their cake and have it.
We cannot gobble foreign possessions
and deny them the right to gobble also
We held logical grounds until April
"a Of this year, and then we abandoned
them. Should Italy deem herself suf-
ficiently interested in the squabble be-
tween these two Latin republics to in
terfere in their fight in behalf of Ar
gentina We have precluded ourselves
by the war resolution, from saying her
| nay. We may, and probably would say
it anyway, but with neither reason nor
justice to back us.