The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1899-08-31
Tho South American Alliance
The Baltimore Sun says

The Baltimore sun says
Our kind purpose OF protecting the
states OF Central and South America
under the broad mandate of the
Monroe doctrine, as interpreted by
Secretary Olney, seems to be poorly
appreciated by the states concerned.
Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay are
now negotiating an alliance, the OBJ
ject of which, 1t IS stated, is TO
counterbalance the Influence OF the
United States - in South American
affairs. There are official" de
mails, of course, that this is the ob
ect Of the combination now forming.
This is to be expected. But some
important consideration must have
been had IN view when these South
American republics consented to put
an end to their chronic quarrels and
patch up a friendship. What has
happened recently. it may be asked,
to induce President Roca, of Argen-
tina, with a large delegation Of Ar
gentins Congressman, to visit Presl-
dent SALES, Of Brazil, at Rio Janeiro,
and TO cause him to be received there
in the enthusiastic manner described
in the dispatches Bauquets, regat
tas, receptions and elusive speeches
testify 10 tho warmth of the feeling
with which the allies look upon their
new understanding. So far does the
enthusiasm go that the Brazilian
Secretary of the Navy actually pro-
posed last Wednesday in the CHAINS
Der Of Deputies that Brazil cancel
the debt of Paraguay to Brazil :
This was a practical favor which can
hardly fail to cement more firmly the
new bonds Of amity aud policy. II
is additionally significant that Brazil,
Argentina and Chile, the three
strongest aud most stable of the
South American states, have by
treaty agreed to settle all future diff
fculues by arbitration. Evidently
these states have felt the cOmpulsion
of some interest, or danger, common
TO them oil.
Our acquisition of Porto Rico,
protectorate over Cuba, high tone
with regard to the Nicaraguan canal
route and ruthless war Of subjuga-
ton in the Philippines probably ac-
count for the new disposition of the
wiser Latin republics to drop their
squabbles and combine for the com.
mon defense. Not only have we be
come a closer neighbor to the South
American states by Selling Cuba and
Porto Rico, but in connection with
our interference on the Continent
itself IN behalf of Venezuela we have
announced far-reaching principles
well calculated to alarm the weaker
republics south of us. Most citizens
OF the United States no doubt repud
late Olney's extraordinary expansion
of the Monroe doctrine. They deem
bis dispatch on that subject the
monumental folly of the century.
This. however, is not understood in
Central and South America, where
1t is naturally held that the ideas of
Mr.. Olney, not having been officially
repudlated by his successor at the
State Department, must be under
stood to disclose the present policy
of the United States. Our recent
war upon Spain and its sequel must
be supposed to explain and confirm
tho Secretsry's declarations. Mr..
Olney held that the whole of this
hemisphere must be considered to be
under our exclusive influence. Even
England, whose interests in this
hemisphere are older than our own,
was Informed by him in effect that
she must expect to relinquish her
possessions in Canada, the West In
dies, South and Central America.
The interference in Venezuela's
aft air was in virtue of our exclusive
rights as the suzerain power in this
hemisphere, not because of our great
love of the Venezuelans. We should |
have interferred, on Mr.. Olney's |
principles. without Venezuela's re-
quest. and even against her will.
Should Brazil, for example, give |
Germany territory for a colony, or
should Argentina permit Italy TO
found an Italian colony within her
broad area, we should be bound, I'M
der Mr.. Olney's Monroe doctrine, to
forbid it. Our domination is exclu-
sive and extends to preventing the |
states Of Central and South America
from doing what they please with |
their own territory. Recent events
in the West Indies having shown an
aggressive and practical assertion of |
Mr.. Olney's principles, the time has |
arrived, according to the view of the |
independent Latin republics, to take |
steps to maintain their independence.
They respect us as big brother, but
they begin to fear that, like big
brothers generally, we shall, if un.
opposed, end by spproprlsting the
hi 6 II ho II