Daily Kennebec journal., 1898-12-01
The Monroe Doctrine Not Affected.

end to the noisy clamor of the anti
annexationists, and those who feared
the abrogation of the Monroe Doctrine.
1t is no longer subject of discussion.
but fact, for few can imagine that
the treaty of peace will not be ratified
by Congress- There never was an in
telligent basis for the cry of imperial
ism. There were serious objections to
the acquisition of the islands, but they
consisted of the difficulty and expense
of administering them. The war. how
ever, had created situation from
which there was no honorable escape,
except in the manner adopted by the
administration. 1t would have been
innuman to leave the islands in the
possession of Spain, and the United
States could not make them a present
to any other European power. Occu-
pancy and administration by the
United States were made necessary by
the irresistible force of circumstances.
Now that the question is settled it
is possible to analyze soberly this cry
of imperialism and show it's unreason-
ableness. 1t was claimed that pos
session of the Philippines would COM
pei the United States to take part in
European politics and would abrogate
the Monroe Doctrine. The Philippines
are a group of islands about seven
hundred miles from the coast of Asia.
The European powers, aside from
Spain, have no rights in them what
ever, and have never claimed any. and
can offer no excuse for claiming any
hereafter, unless the United States by
its own acts lays the foundation. They
are as completely apart from European
politics as Alaska. The anti-annexa-
tionists may with as much justice say
that the possession of the Bahamas
gives Great Britain the right or COM
pels her to interfere in the politics of
the United States. Islands in the
ONCeih may w q l'Ce%AAe NSANAA7S 1oSAiAi''- >
aggression. but they have not hitherto
played an important part in the grasp
ing policy of Europe. The Philippines
in the hands of the United States are
not likely to prove an exception.
The Monroe Doctrine remains pre-
cisely as it was before the cession of
these islands. That doctrine is sub
stantially that the European powers
shall not interfere in American affairs.
and, as a corollary, the United States
shall not interfere in European affairs
This country has not and does not pro-
not even in Asia. where it has as much
right to go as any European power
Spain has ceded the Philippines, and no
other European power has any right
or interest in them, or, for that matter,
in any other of the islands of the Pa
cific, save where it has already estab-
ished it's authority. The Monroe
Doctrine has nothing to do with the
islands of the Pacific or with the
continent of Asia, except so far as the
latter is already occupied by the Euro
pean powers. Neither Asia nor the
Pacific islands We're in contemplation
when it was promulgated, and there has
been no authoritative declaration of
their inclusion SO far as we are aware.
If European powers construe the occu-
patton of the Philippines as interfer-
ence, that is their business. We are
not responsible for false Interpretation,
| but the United States is fully prepared
to maintain her rights, a fact so uni
| versally known that the anti anneXa-
| tionists need have no fears of a COLI
sion. 1t may also be noted that doc
| trines and policies relating to foreign
affairs are good just as long as a gov
ernment is able ito maintain them, and
no longer. r..