Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1898-12-08


American governments, IN the dis
cussion which arose over the accept
anee of the invitation, the question
was raised whether such course
might not have tendency to change
the policy advocated by Washington OF
avoiding foreign complications. It
was met by President Adams with the
argument that our territorial expan-
sion and national development In the
interval had been such that our in
terests required the application OF
Washington preeepts in the spirit and
not the letter." So at the very outset
there was acknowledged the necessity
of gradual modification of the doc
trine to correspond with our growth
and extension of interests.
In lS4S. the white population of Yu-
catan, against whom the Indians were
wagtng war of determination, APP
pealed In turn to, the United States.
Spain and England to assume actual
and permanent dominion over tho
peninsula. President Polk strongly
urged upon congress the necessity OF
preventing its transferenee to any
other power on the ground of uphold
ing the Monroe doctrine. A bill was
introduced in the senate authorizing
the president 10 take military occupa-
ton of Yueatan, and would In all prob
ability have prevailed had not the war;
ring factions settled their differences
by treaty while the bin was pending.
A tribe OF Indians called Mosquitoes,
living on the Atlantic coast of the
isthmus OF Panama, and having, "a
England claimed. sought and obtained
British protectorate about the middle
of the 18th century, engaged In a war
with the republic of Nicaragua In 184s.
England espoused their cause and ex-
PEELED the Nicaraguans from Greytown,
and took POSSESSION of the islands In
the bay OF Fonseca, ostensibly to en-
force claims for indemnity to her sub
jects. II Englands claim was well
founded. she had perfect right to de-
fend territory under her dominion
against armed invasion, and to demand
and forcibly compel the payment OF
indemnity. The American people,
thinking that England's action was due
to her desire to secure control OF an
inter-oceanic canal through the
isthmus OF Panama. should one be
built, insisted that 1t was direct vio-
lation OF the Monroe doctrine and de-
manded her withdrawal Relations
between the two countries became
al N iy,ad htf hn -
Secretary OF State Clayton and British
Minister Bulwer secured the conclusion
OF the famous Clayton Bulwer treaty.
The fact In the case pertinent to our
argument Is that the Monroe doctrine,
both by diplomatic avowal and In the
public mind. was now interpreted a.
an inhibition from foreign interference
OF any kind In American affairs unless
upon grounds admittedly just and
valid. The signing OF the Clayton Bull
wer treaty marked both an advance
and retreat from the original inter-
probation. 1t acknowledged Englahd's
right to joint control OF an inter
oceanic canal; gave to her ships, in
case OF war, equal rights with our own.
and bound us To joint offer of Our
good Offices In settling differences be-
tween Central American states through
which the canal should pass This
was a withdrawal OF contentious which
we had long made and even since have
reafilrmed. 1t was an advance In that
1t showed the public recognition OF the
fact that. to conform with Its true
spirit. the doctrine must be interpreted
to meet the needs of the hour.
The French Intervention in Mexico
need not be referred TO as 1t was
fragrant violation OF the doctrine as
originally intended, and left us but
one course to pursue. The popular de-
mand that the Monroe doctrine be in
voked to prevent the building OF the
Panama canal by De Lesseps can be
cited only as indicating the enlarged
sphere which. In the popular mind. the
demand never received official avowal.
President Cleveland's stand in the
Venezuela boundary dispute was a dis
tinct advance In the broadening scope
OF the doctrine. as II asserted our duty
and intention TO prevent. by force q
arms II need be, foreign interference
in American affairs on any ground the
justice of which we ourselves did not
recognize. This stand received an en-
thusastic popular confirmation ana
congress, in authorizing the appoint
ment OF the Venezuela boundary com
mission, showed very plainly where It
stood on the question.
The message OF President Monroe
contained this language with the
existing colonies or dependencies OF
any existing European power, WE have
not interfered and shall not interfere.
but. etc. Our interposition betweeH
Spain and her rebellious Cuban CUB
jects was "A iat-footed reputation OF
this declaration. We offered as our
reasons, our badly crippled interests.
and. our duty, as a civilized, Christian
nation to humanity. They we're suf-
ficient and justlfying Yet there Is the
plain, undeniable fact that the Ameri-
can government and people. with hard
ly dissenting voice, deliberately went