The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-05-15
MUST WE FIGHT ABOUT IT?

MUST WE FIGHT ABOUT II?
When the Secretary of War of the
United States Mr.. Elihu Root, made the
!orash announcement in public speech
In New York city some two Or three weeks
back, that the people of the United States
had as well make up their mind that they
had to either give up the Monroe doctrine
or prepare themselves for it, the country
was Very much startled to say the least
of it. The average citizen Of the United
States had supposed that the Spanish war
had left us in a position that made war
between US and any European power one
of the most improbable things in the world.
Spain being driven out of Cuba and Porto
Rico, it seemed impossible that we could
get into serious complications with any
European power on this side OF the world.
It is true that our position in regard to the
Philippine. Islands brings US into. contact
with European interests in the far East,
out of which complications might grow.
but our interests there are so isolated that
there seemed no probability that any I'M
broglio could arise out of them. 1t was
remarkable thing, therefore, 10 the people
of the United States to hear this sort of a
se1ni-oflicial deciarat ton that we were upon
the verge of war with some European
power What power that was the country
was unable to conjecture until Senator
Lodge made his equally startling state
ment in the Senate of the United States,
power, that In building tllirty-six battle
ships the German Emperor was getting
ready for this conflict, and that the pur-
pose of it all was that he would nourish
the German colony in Brazil and build 1t
up into a great realm attached to and
part of the German Empire.
The cable informs us that the German
press is making merry over these sensa-
honal speeches and ridiculing the idea that
Germany contemplhtes anything of the
kind charged against her. We are dis
posed, ourselves, to think that Mr.. Root
and Senator Lodge have been carried
away by a desire for notoriety, and that
they made these sensational statements to
get themselves talked about and fix for
themselves a place in the public eye that
was rapidly being closed against both of
them.
But for our own part these declarations
have brought the matter of the Monroe
doctrine UP before the American people
in such an accentuated form that we think
this country should take some authorita-
in, 70 hat ,,,I-a
every American know just where his
country stands in regard to the matter.
So far the Monroe doctrine has stood as a
sort Of traditional myth the boundaries
and circumference of which no man was
able to define. It could not be said that it
forbade monarchical institutions upon this
continent, for England has always had ter
ritory here, and 50 has Spain, until very
recently. It is equally certain that it did
not forbid all relations of every sort be-
tween America and the morarchies Of
Europe. II has been impossible. therefore,
for any American to say just what the
Monroe doctrine forbade and what it did
not forbid, and if it is to haze a place in
our institutions it should be defined au-.
thoritatively, so that every American
he was without its pale. What President
Monroe meant to make the world under
stand In issuing his proclamation is per-
fecuy plain. The French Revolution at
the beginning of 1900 had been spreading
the seeds of liberty and Democra tic insti-
a11
cratic sovereigns had banded themselves
together in what they called a, holy ALI
ance' to arrest the spread of Democratic
institutions and to eXtrpate the already
planted seeds of liberty. When they had
overthrown that colossal outgrowth OF the
1t looked as thoug, their task might be
an easy one. President Monroe gave
warning to all mankind that these United
States would resist the attempt of this
..loly alliance OF autocrats to the death
In any attempt they might make to spread
their autocratc theories on this continent
in derosation Of liberty and Democracy,
and all of The people of the United States
o. that day and all wise and patriotic
Americans since then applauded his utter
anee.
But ignorant and unthink!ng men have
perverted this noble utterance of Presi-
dent Monroe, and it is now gliby de-
ciared in all sorts of quarters that thu
Monroe doctrine Is broad enough to lead
US into war with European powers when
ever particular administration of this
government thinks that il viii be for the
public good and that ne should have such
a war, It's time that this state Of un-
certainty should be brought to an end. The
Congress Of the United States should take
the subject up. and II the Monroe doctrine