The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-05-01
THE MONROE DOCTRINE IN DAN
GERf

While 1t Is true that every once in a
while public men and the newspapers
have something to say about threatened
attacks on the Monroe doctrine and the
necessity for upholding that doctrine un-
der any and all circumstances, it is doubt
full II anybody ever felt seriously alarm
ed at the possibility of It's being attacked.
Therefore the speech of Mr.. Root, the
Secretary of War, at the Grant dinner in
New York, last Friday night, in which
he said that in his opinion the American
government would soon be called upon to
use force in upholding 1t, has been the
subject of a good deal OF comment.
AT first the Secretary's utterance was
looked upon as an effort to impress upon
the people and Congress the necessity for
providing an army capable of meeting any
emergency that might arise The army
bill is now pending, and as It calls for
a pretty large appropriation-larger than
Congress is disposed to allow. in view of
the charge OF militarism that is being
made against the Republican party--the
opinion was expressed In some quarters
that the purpose of the Eeeretary's sem
sational utterance was to create a public
sentiment in favor of giving the army the
appropriation asked for rather than Sc
riousiy convey the idea that there was a
probability that the time was near at hand
when the United States would have to
defend the Monroe doctrine with their
army and navy.
1t seems, however, that 1t is fact that
the administration is in receipt of infor-
nation that Germany has plans in view
that, If carried out, would require pro-
tests on our part backed up by force. She
is sending emgrants to Central and South
American states and particularly South
ern Brazil in large numbers. These emil
grants are not scattering through the
states in which they settle and becoming
identified with the people They are not
becoming citizens. They are retaining
their German citizenship and are keeping
well together.
The suppostion is that as soon as they
become sufficiently numerous to make
good showing, trouble between them and
the natives will be provoked, and that
Germany will interfere for the protection
VI CltlZeHS. Inc interference Will not
be temporary. German troops will be
landed and territory will be taken possess
sion of. The purpose will be to hold what
is taken. The German citizens will be
protected and in this way German colonies
will be formed.
1t is probable that Secretary Root had
Germany In mind when he referred to the
danger which threatened the Monroe doc
trine. The German Emperor is very anx-
ious to extend his empire. The Central
and South American states are rich coun-
tries and might be easily conquered by
a powerful empire such as Germany is
The German army is a very large one and
Is as perfect a fighting machine as the
world has ever known. The German EN-
peror is using all his power and influence
to get appropriations from his Parlia-
ment for the building of a great navy.
While there is nothing definite indicat-
ing, that Germany has designs on the Gen.
trail and South American states-that is.
as far as the public knows-there is moth
ing improbable in the belief that she has
Secretary Root may have sounded a note
of warning that 1t would be well for this
government to heed