The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-07-18
A Lame Defense.

The Monroe doctrine has become so
thoroughly a portion Of American
thought that it is not surprising that
there comes strong protest when, WITH
SO little consideration, in spasm of
blind impulse, it is discarded. Nor is 1t
surprising that there are those who
either really believe or, what is more
likely, affect to believe that the vener-
able doctrine remains intact. Among
these we find the Dispatch with COM
ical affectation of commiseration for
those who see the old doctrine in the
rubbish heap. 1t hastens to assure
them that they are mistaken; That
some one has misled them, and that
the revered policy is as virile as ever.
We accept this merely as a tribute
from the imperialists to the strength
of the feeling in which Monroe's policy
is held, and a desire to lull it into
false security.
To sustain it's contention, the writer
quotes from the famous message
proviso, but omits that which was it's
precedent. After laying down the gen.
eral principle, Monroe went on to say
that lin the war between those new
our neutrality at the time of their
recognition, and to this we have adj
hered and shall continue to adhere"
and it was to this declaration that
Monroe appended the proviso which
the Dispatch quotes End applies to TIE
declaration since krown as the doc
trine." This proI $50 rea DIS: prov ded
no change shall occur which, in the
judgment of the competent authorities
Of this government, shall make a CO.
respor ding change on the part of the
United States indispensable to their Sc
curity.' The scope of this becomes
clear when viewed with the attendant
conditions. At that time war between
Spain and her colonies was still raging.
Our position was one of neutrality.
The Holy Alliance was formed for the
express purpose of repressing republic
anism. and buttressing monarchy. A
French army had invaded Spain to re-
store a monarch and overthrow the
constitutional government 1t conte~-
plated aiding Ferdinand VII. In re-
gaining his American pos essions. T is
interference would have caused that
corresponding change" in the neutral
attitude of this country necessary to
the security" of those new govern
ments."
But no apologist for the imperialists
has yet ventured full statement of
Monroes declaration, for it would ma Ike
1t too plain that their scheme involved
Its complete abandonment. After stat
Ing the reasons for his policy, Monroe
said: I'VE owe it to candor and to the
amdcable relations existing between
the United States and those powers
the Holy Alliance) to declare that we
should consider any attempt on their
part to extend their system to any
portion of this hemisphere as danger
Gus to our peace and safety With
the existing colonies or dependencies
Of any European power we have not
interfercd and shall not Interfere"
And for seventy-five years that prom
Use not to interfere has been kept.
During all those years Spain has pos
sessed Cuba and Puerto Rico. For all
that time England possessed British
Guiana. A boundary dispute between
that colony and Venezuela arose. The
latter insisted that her territory was
being encroached upon. Cleveland said
that this set the Monroe doctrine in
motion, and warned England off. And
the imperialists of today were then
loudest in their praise Of his action.
Now, with no cause that is not hoary
with years, we do interfere with the
possessions Of a European power in
this Western hemisphere and trucu-
lently order Spain forthwith to evacu-
ate Cuba and Cuban waters. The Mon
roe doctrine pledged US not to inter-
fere. 1t was the half Of the whole doc
trine; an indispensable half Suppose
he had said: European powers shall not
extend their system to any part of this
hemisphere, but the United States will
whenever they see fit, expel their sys-
TENS from any part Of the hemisphere
You shall not interfere, but we will
whenever we wish. Would there have
been acceptance of it by the powers :?
Would such doctrine have stood for
three-quarters of a century? But is it
not exactly such a doctrine that is now
being adopted?