The record-union., 1898-08-03

NEW YORK Aug 2-The London
correspondent of the Tribune" writing
under date of July 22d, says: English
writer's on American affairs assume
that the Monroe doctrine, on behalf
of which President Cleveland issued a
challenge to England two years ago,
has been abandoned or compromised
by the United States Government in
the present conflict with Spain. An
expression which 1 constantly hear in
conversation and read in print is:
''MonToeism is dead"
The misconception arises from con-
founding the Washington farewell ad-
dress doctrine with the complement of
it in the Monroe doctrine. The Wash
ington principle that Americans must
remain out of European alliances and
entanglements; the Monroe principle
that Europeans must keep their hands
off the American continent, retaining
their possessions according to the
status quo but not enlarging their
colony holdings and conquests.
The status quo is not respected in a
war waged for the deliverance of Cuba
and Porto Rico from Spanish rule, but
the essential principle of Monroeism
that European Powers are not to en-
large their territorial dominion and po-
litical sovereignty in the Western Hem
isphere will not have been renounced
nor compromised. The Monroe doctrine
will be strengthened rather than i'm
paired by the expulsion of the Span
iards from Cuba. Monroeism, instead
of being killed off. is vitalized and re-
invigorated by the enlargement OF
American influence in the West Indies.
81, r
affairs fail to perceive is the irrever-
ancy Of their own Interpretation of the
Monroe doctrine. The principle of the
hands off the American continent is
emphasized rather than minimized
when Hawaii and the Spanish West
Indies are brought directly under the
influence of the United States. If Euro
pean Governments respected the Mon
roe doctrine from 1893 to 1898, and
made no attempt except on one occa-
sion in MeXico-to increase their
holdings on that continent, while they
were enlarging their possessions in
Asia. Africa and the South Seas, they
viii be unlikely to reverse their policy
when the American flag is raised IN
Hawaii and the West Indies, after a
successful war and significant dem
onstratiCn Of American naval efficiency.
If they were TO do this they would
speedily be convinced of the vitality of
Monroeism
The invasion and occupation of the
Philippines imply renunciation Of the
Washington doctrine of non-intervtn-
tion in European affairs. This is what
English writer's really have in mind
when they speak of reputation of
Monroeism two years after the Ven
ezuelan question was raised in an ag-
gressive form. If the Americans pro-
claim a protectorate in that quarter
they will enter upon a career of eX-
pansion which may menace European
interests and draw them into entangle-
ments with foreign Powers. The Monroe
doctrine viii not be affected by the set
tlement of the Philippine Islands. The
Washington doctrine is at stake in the
South Seas. and may be fatally COM
promised if the Philippines are main
tanned as a permanent American de-
pendency.
The Americans must be credited with
carrying out annexation policies on a
large scale with intelligence and prac-
tical efficiency. They have begun where
the English imperialists hope to end
some time between the opening of the