The evening times., 1900-04-30
MONDAY. APRIL 80. 1900.
MIR. Root and the Kaiser.

An opinion was abroad in Washington
yesterday that Secretary Roots Monroe
Doctrine speech. at the Grant dinner in
New York was so pointedIy aimed at Ger
many that it would be made the basis OF
diplomatic enquiries by the Berlin Gov
ernment. In ordinary circumstances we
should not expect Germany TO take the
least notice of the incident. After-dinner
speeches do not always mean all that they
seem to when read in the chill of cold and
cruel type. They are apt TO be seasonable
exuberances, partaking Of the spirit OF the
passing occasion. rather than of the retro
spection which comes after the next morn
ing's papers have gone to press. Captain
Coghlan. on his return from Manila, also
expressed after-dinner views of Monroe
nature and recited a poem in rich dialect
There was slight flavor of anti-Teutonism
about both of the Coghlan numbers, but
not enough to cause the smallest friction
between two great and closely related peo-
pies. 1t is said that when the Kaiser was
shown the verses recited by Dewey's gal
liant captain, after being on shore leave for
half a day. His Majesty laughed heartily
and was heard to murmur words from a
German proverb-something about bier
auf wein.''
We are afraid that Mr.. Root will not get
of so easily. Unfortunately for him, he
represents an Administration which is de-
terminedly bent upon destroying the Men
roe Doctrine. and has through the fo-mu-
lation Of the proposed Hay PauncefOte
n
sent of the European Concert, given
pledge of that intention to the seyel az
Governments interested. In arranging tie
terms of the agreement referred to BY
means Of pourparlers and protocols in the
usual way, defnite and sufficient notice
was given TO the Old World nations that.
so far as the present Republican Admins
tration was concerned, they need give no
further heed to the prohibition expressod
in the Monroe declaration.
OF course. foreign rulers and cabinets
were and are quite aware that il would
require ratification of the Hay -Pauncefote
Treaty by the United States Senate actu-
ally TO work the destruction of the famous
American doctrine But they have been so
fully assured that the Administration
could and would achieve the object agreed
upon. that tlbey have been almost inelired
10 look upon il as already un fait accom-
phi. This inter-cabinet situation adds
great delicacy to the question raised by the
Hon. Elihu Root. As a gentleman holding
high station in the country and one re-
garded both here and abroad as the brains
of Mr.. MeKinley's official family, his Non
roe utterances viii be certain to create a
painful impression in diplomatic and Gov
ernment circles throughout Europe
Indeed it may become necessary for the
British. German. Russian, French. Aus
trian. and Italian foreign Offices to ask Mr.
Hay II the formal proposition to get the
Monroe Doctrine out Of the path Of Europe
an territorial acquisition in the Western
Hemisphere. has been abandoned. and. II
II has. why they have not been advised of
the fact and the -Pauncefote Treaty
withdrawn from the Senate? As matters
stand between the ministries. Mr. McKin-
ley appears bound TO secure the abandon
melt and surrender of the doctrine. vet
his influential War Secretary has declared
in public place and with vehenence that
1t Is to be maintained at the cost of an
early and terrific naval and military strug-
glei
According to popular opinion that warn
ing was intended for one of the great DOW
ers which have been promised that Mon
roeism should no longer stand in their way.
IL this be correct view, it follows that a
grave mistake has been made in gratui-
tously affronting a friendly sovereign and
country with whom the Administration is
on terms OF amity and private understand
ing. There is always the possibility that
the ebullition may have been merely de-
signed as campaign jlngoism TO catch
votes. and that it may have been arranged
for in advance by a secret convention; but
we do not incline to that theory In such
an event the -Pauncefote Treaty would
have to be Withdrawn as a matter of con-
sisteucy. or the elaptrap would hardly be-
come effective In short, il is hard to know
what to think about the embarrassing ep-
iSOde.