The evening times., 1900-05-14
The Root and Lodge Paradox.

Suppose We accept the alarmist speeches
of Secretary Root and Senator Lodge as
truly disclosing a great danger TO the
American Republic. and assume that Ger
many is in fact making preparations to
test the Monroe Doctrine" and to chal-
Ienge the position of the United States as
the paramount power of the Western
Hemisphere! In such a terrible condition
of affairs. whatever may be the attitude or
duty of the country at large in the prem
ises. it does not lie in the mouths of the
gentlemen referred TO. TO complain Of
situation which the Mckinley Administra-
ton, to which they are attached, has de-
libeTately created.
Granted that Germany does regard the
Monroe Doctrine as a dead letter. Has
she not every excuse? When the perfdi-
Gus proposed Hay-Pauncefote Treaty was
in process of incubation. was II not hawked
about among the foreign Offices Of Europe.
and cut and trimmed in them until II was
nodded into a form satisfactory. not only
to the unholy McKinley-SaIisbury alliance.
but to the whole Concert of Europe? Why
was it finally accepted by the British and
continental governments and signed be-
fore any member OF the Senate Committee
on Foreign Relations was allowed to know
of its contents? II was because il offered
to the European nations what they had
long earnestly desired. but had never ex-
Peeted to achieve. namely. surrender of
the Monroe Doctrine by the United States.
coupled with an agreement to place the
future inter-oeeanic canal across Central
America in the hands of Great Britain and
the Concert, in peace and war
Unless the American people have lost all
traces Of patriotism and manhood. that
treacherons movement to change American
paramOuntcy into Il condition of interna-
tiOnal dependence under a foreign suzer-
ainty. will never be permitted to succeed.
The country will not tolerate the Hay
Pa5G-11ote Treaty. will not consent 10 an
isthmian waterway under foreign control
and will not 1andon but will maintain and
fight for the Monroe Doctrinei But that
is one thing, ind the VI ,enable and ridicu-
lous position assumed by the AdministEa-
tior. through it's prophets. Root and Lodge
is quite another What right has il TO
complain If European governments accept
in good faith the plain terms and implica-
tioDs OF the Hay y-Pauncefote Treaty. and
get ready to take advantage of them? It
is known that strong assurances were given
TO representatives in Washington of lead
ing nations, that the Administration was in
absolute control of the Senate. and could
procure, and even compel. favorable action
on the proposed treaty. These diplomats
in turn reported to their home foreign Of
fees that ratification might fairly be as
sumed as IN fait accompli, and that meas
ures might be at once inaugurated to Sc,
cure the benefits promised under the new
order Of things by the Mckinley Salisbury
alliance
In II ese circumstances, while we might
deplore the fact as one due to misinforma-
tion as to the power of the Administration
and Tire temper of the American people. 10
one could blame the Kaiser If he believed
in the pledges of our STATE. Department and
confidently assumed that no further OBJ
struction would be placed in the way Of
German colonial extension on this side Of
the Atlantic. In adopting the Hay
Pauncefote Convention on the initiative
of Great Britain, assuming its paternity.
and attempting by every means of influ-
ence and coercion to force it upon the Sen
ate and the country. the Administration
holds out to the Old World the promise
that, as -ar as it can control the situation.
this Government will surrender its right
to fortify and defend its own coast line.
and VIII not interpose any future objections
10 the establishment of European monarch
ieal institutions in the Western Hemis-
phere.
In view Of .he foregoing, we cannot
blame the Gesnan press for taking deep
offence at the speeches of Messrs. Root
and Lodge. They can only be regarded
as in Europe as well as at home they are
as mere electioneering claptrap If they
represented a sincere determination on the
part OF the Administration to preserve
and. il need be, go to war in defence of
the Monroe Doctrine, that policy long ago
would have been eXemplified in the with
drawal OF the Hay -Pauncefote Treaty. and
in executive eomplaceney toward the Hep
burn bill. which provides for an exclusive
ly American eanol As It. is, the chancel-
leries OF Europe have right to think that