The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-05-04
IMPERIALISM AND THE MONROE
DOCTRINE.

In the course of a speech made in New
York recently the secretary of war, Nh.
Root gave utterance to the remark that
the time is coming when the American
people VIII either be forced to abandon
the Monroe doctrine or fight to maintain
it. Coming from a member OF President
McKinley's cabinet. an active member of
a government which has by its policies
done more to endanger the Monroe doc
trine and TO create dangers for It than
any previous American government. Mr..
Roots remark is significant. 1t shows
that all the members of Mckfnley'S gov
eminent are not blind to the fatal ten
denotes and inevitable outcome of an i'm
perial' policy 1t shows also that the re-
tention of the present government in
power will result, owing to the threaten
ing dangers they have created and which
Mr. Root refers to, in this government
being compelled to force large increases
in the naval ard military strength of the
nation. with the large expenditures there
by entailed, upon the people.
Mr.. Root clearly indicates that Press
dent Mckinley and his cabinet have
knowledge of whittier they are drifting
on the iInperialistic current into which
they have steered the ship of state, and
that they are aware that the most sacred
traditions of the American people are be-
ing imperiled by their course.
That Mr. Root was not in error when
he drew attention to the dangers menac-
ing the Monroe doctrine and its main
tenance by this nation is shown by the
tone of the German press In discussing
his speech. The Vossische Zeitung. of
Berlin, regards Mr.. Roots words as a d.
rect threat to Germany on account Ct
It's ambition to secure foothold In Brazil
1t says that 1t is not respect for the
Monroe doctrine that stays the hand of
Germany. and that the American state
department, in continually stretching the
America, pleases nobody less than 1T
pleases the South American states them
selves.
The Zeitung, continuing, strikes the
Keynote of the situation when it draws
attention to the anomalous position the
United States now occupies in It's main
tenanee of the Monroe doctrine. thanks
to the imperial policy OF McKiniey's gov
eminent Secretary Roots interpreted
ton, says the Zeitung, is not in good
taste after America has secured a foot
hold In other parts Of the world and at
time when America is threatening Tur-
key with a naval demonstration.
OF course, the remarks of this news
paper as to the demands of the United
States on Turkey are not applicable. as
they would no doubt have been, made ii
the United States had not possessed itself
of Spain's islands in the Philippine archi-
pelago. But the reference to the Philip
pines and the aggressive action of the
United States regarding them is an indi-
cation of the view taken by European
powers Of the acquisition by the United
States, and the attitude they are likely
TO assume towards the monroe doctrine
In consequence. 1t serves them as a
weapon and an argument against the
doctrine.
The United States Is strong enough TO
maintain the Monroe doctrine against all
corners; with Imperialism 1t must main
tain 1t by bleodshed and war: without
iTYlnpr-ia hor "a
by peaceful means.