New-York tribune., 1900-12-02
AFTER SErENTY-sETEN YEARS.

Just seventy-seven years ago to-day the Mon
roe Doctrine was promulgated to the world
In the circumstances of it's origin il was a
singularlv bold and mOmentous utterance, prac-
tically setting at defiance the leagued Powers
Of Continental Europe. Ii was, however. as
effective as il was bold sending forthwith TO
limbo all schemes for the mOnarchiCal recon
quest of America. And its efficiency extended
far beyond that achievement and beyond that
time. OF the three men most concerned in its
formulation and PRONUNCIATION. Canning Adams
and Monroe probably not One-unless indeed.
Adams-had any notion that il was TO serve
more than the temporary purpose of battling the
Holy Alliance. Yet while for many years that
alliance has been dead and dshOnOred thing.
the Doctrine is still vital and potent force.
which for seventy-seven years has been grow
ing in strength and In extent of influence until
to-day il is one of the fundamental principles
governing all relationships between Europe and
the American continents
These seventy years. then. have at least
in political and diplomatic sense. abundantly
vindicated the wisdom and the efficiency of the
Monroe Doctrine. They have. however. to a
sad degree left the higher significance of the
Doctrine unfulflled For in assuming certain
political guardianship over it's lesser neighbors
- 'HO AoutA tLV Nulttu NldttS dlSO dSSuIQeu
logically n certain social industrial and COM
mercial leadership among them. 1t became
properly incumbent upon this country TO make
IFS relationship with those countries more init
mate than that of the Powers which it had
warned Off In such a cultivation of inter
course were TO be found at once the best justifca
ton of the Monroe Doctrine and the best gTIaran-
tee OF its maintenance. For while truly trade
follows the flag" so conversely does the flag or
political influence. follow trade. 1t is a re-
proach upon this country that for these seventy
seven years it has so largely overlooked and
neglected this phase of the case that the South
American States have become far more closely
related 10 Europe than 10 the United States
European cOlonists have taken up their lands
European capitalists have financed their gov
ernments, European manufacturers and trades
men have supplied their wants, European ship
ping lines have carried their commerce. and
European politicians have made deep impress
upon their institutions and the whole trend of
their affairs. so that to-day the nation which
has so long protected them with its Doctrine is
actually far more of an alien 10 them than are
the very nations against whom that protection
was given
For this unsatisfactory state of affairs the
United States has no one to thank-or TO blame
-out ltself. Happily II is not too late to make
some amends for our neglect of South America
and 10 accomplish some of the things which
should have been accomplished long ago. The
treaty with Nicaragua which is being negotiated
and the isthmian canal which will doubtless
soon be constructed under it will materially
strengthen the ties which unite us not only with
Central America but also with the northern
and western States of South America. The
coming year will see a great Pan-American ex
mbition held in one Of the great cities of the
United States, which should greatly increase
mutual knowledge, intercourse and friendship
between the two continents of the Western
Hemisphere. And in the wonderful exponsion
OF United States industry and commerce which
Is now IN progress il will he strange If
marked extension southwark does NOT occur
In such manner. though after nearly fourscore
years. the Monroe Doctrine NAV he transformed
from technical abstraction. however noten+
into concrete and controlling factor Of intar,
national life.