Arizona silver belt., 1898-07-21
THE MONROE DOCTRINE NO
 LONGER TENABLE.


 The new issues evolved out of our war with Spain, az we'll as those old questions to be relegstsd, have a most important bearing upon our relations to the other powers of the world, as well as upon our internal policies, and while our signal victory over Spain will be of incalculable advantage to the United States, in both political and commer- cial sense, at the same time it involves new responsibilities, questions of colo uial government and our relations to the other powers, which will call for the highest order of statesmanship and diplomacy in their treatment and deter. imitation.
 While We afe assumiug new burdens it would seem the part of wisdom to cast of trammels which DO longer offer any csmpensating benefits, but act as a hindrance to the accomplishment of our new undertakings. One of the first of these to invite serious consider ation is the Monroe doctrine. It may be said to have been engrafted into our foreign policy from the time of its enuneistioh by President Monroe and John Quincy Adams, then secretary of state, since which time it has been ella bcrated and stoutly maintained, despite tbe remonstrsnces of European powers
 It is coincidence worthy of note that England, which, under the direc- ton of it's foreign policy by Lord Cas- tlereagh, had shown a disposition to support the holy alliance in it's efforts !o put down the rebellion of the Span ish colonies and strengthen mouarchial goysrnment in the western hemisphere, rsceded from that position snd joined issue with the United States iu opposi. ton to the designs of the alliance. Georgs Charming, who succeeded Lord Castlereagh, in an interview with Prince de PolignRc, the French ambassador, declared that while Great Britain would remain neutral in any war between Spain and her colonies, the junction" of any foreign power with Spain against tho colonies would be viewed AS con stituting "entirely new question, up OF which Great Britain must taka such decision as her interests required" This declaration, followed by that of President Monroe, defeated the plans of the alliance. Against England and the United States, the two great mari tine powers of the world, Russia, Aus tris, Prussia and France, composing the holy alliance, were powerless to en- force their aggressive policy. In 1866 when France and Austria sought to es- tablish q monarchy in Mexico under Maximillian, the prompt interpretation of the United States defeated .heir de l sign and restored the republic.
 But England and the United Ststes have not always been in accord on ques. tions of possessions in the western hem isphere. Complications have arisen at various times as to territory and bound aries, notably the title and boundary of Oregon; and in our support of the Monroe doctrins in it's broader sense the two governments have also clashed The latest and most serious complica. ton was the Venezuelan boundary dis pute, in which we sided with Venezas- la against Great Britain, and which for c time threatened to involve us in war, although the question was finally ami, csbly adjusted. But it is still debat- 1 able question whether we were not more exacting than prudent in espous- ing Venezuela's cause.
 The inquiry is pertinent: Whet has the United States to gain in defending South or Central republics against Flu ropean aggresaions, where our interests are not directly involved Why should we invite hostilities with England or any other foreign power for the sake merely of upholding principle which recent changes and developments in our foreign relations have rendered valueless |? WLat concessions or con- mercisl advantages have we derived from our southern neighbors for pro- tecting them from the despoiling hand of Europe ? Are they republics in but name ? Are their peo- pie nos for the most part of latin ori- gin, foreign to ns in language, customs and kindred ties. dominated by a for sign church, and carrying on the major portion of their commerce with the na- tions of tho old world The war with Spain viii have accomplished good if snly totear from the petty ovefnasAts < South America tho mask of pretend