The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1898-09-10
NOT A DEAD POLICY 4.
Mlsconception in Europe Regarding
the Monroe Doctrine.
The C0urse of United states in Pres.
eAt War Strengthens Rather
Than Weakeas Its
Position. av

The London correspondent Of the
New York Tribune writing under date
of July 20 says: English writer's on
American affairs assume that the Mon
roe doctrine, on behalf of which Pres
ident Cleveland issued a challenge to
England two years ago. has been aban-
doned or compromised by the United
States government in the present cen
flict with Spain. An expression which
We constantly hear in conversation and
read in print is: "Monroeism is dead"
The misconception arises from con-
founding the Washington farewell I'D.
dress doctrine with the complement Of
it in the Monroe doctrine. The WASH
ington principle was that Americans
must remain out of European alliances
and entanglements. The Monroe prin-
ciple was that Europeans must keep
their hands of the American con.
tinent, retaining their possession &C.
cording to the status quo, but not en-
larging their colonial holdings and
conquests. The status quo is not re.
spected in a war waged for the dehv-
erance of Cuba and Puerto Rico from
Spanish rule; but the essential prin.
ciple of Monroeism that European
powers are not to enlarge their ter
ritorial dominion and political SOW
ereignty in the western hemisphere
will not be renowned nor compro.
missed. The Monroe doctrine will be
strengthened rather than impaired by
the expulsion of the Spaniards from
Cuba. Monroeism, instead of being
killed of. is vitalized and reinvigor-
ated by the enlargement of American
influence in the West Indies.
What English writer's on American
affairs fail to perceive is the irreleven-
cy of their own Interpretation Of the
Monroe doctrine. The principle Of
Hands off the American continent" is
emphasized rather than minimixed
when Hawaii and the Spanish West In
dies are brought directly under the in
fluence of the United States. If Euro
pean governments respected the Mon
roe doctrine until 1898 and made
no attempt except on one occa-
sion-in Mexico-to increase their
holdings on that continent while they
were charging their possessions in
Asia, Africa and the South seas, they
will be unlikely to reverse their policy
when the American flag is raised in
Hawaii and the West Indies after a
successful war and significant demon.
stration of American naval efficiency,
If they were to do this they would
speedily be convinced of the vitality OF
Monroeism. The invasion and, occupa.
ton Of the Philippines imply renuncia-
ton Of the Washington doctrine Of
non-intervention of European affairs,
This is what English writers really
have In mind when they speak Of
reputation of Monroeism two years
after the Venezuelan question was
raised in an aggressive form. II the
doctrine IL at stake in the South seas
that quarter they viii enter upon 4
career of expansion which may
menace European interests and draw
them into entanglements with foreign
powers. The Monroe doctrine will NOT
be affected by the settlement Of The
Philippine question. The Washington
Americans proclaim protectorate In
and may be fatally compromisedif the
Philippines are retained as a per1na-
nent American dependeney. !.