The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-30
A Case Of Political Roofing.


accorded due consideration and value, the
Monroe Doctrine speech Of the Hon
Elihu Root at the Grant birthday dinner
in New York is nothing like as surprising
as it appeared at first. The Administra-
ton. Of which Mr.. Root is a part, is no.
toriously IN sore straits for some sort OF
popular issue with which to go before the
people. Anything which would tend to eN-
cite an active sentiment CT patriotism
would be a godsend to Hanna, Rocse-
Teller. Carnegie Havemeyer, and the
other proprietary Republican leaders. be-
cause il might serve TO obscure the great
issue Of the trusts against the Constitu-
ton. which they have been foolish enough
to create and render dominant in the cam
paign.
Mr.. Roots New York speech is of a
piece with the party trust policy. The Re
publican machine and Administration are
owned by and are the servile tools OF the
trusts. The latter have bought them, body
and soul. with campaign contributions, in
exchange for contracts. the exclusive priv
IeEe OF looting the new territories, oppres-
sive and unconstitutional taxation Of do
nestle trade for trust profit, the promise
of the Subsidy bill. defeat Of the Nicar-
aqua Canal proposition and other similar
things. The Republican organization gees
into the Presidential struggle of 1900 hop
ing to win only because Of the advantage
it will have in the possession Of a vast cor
ruption fund, subscribed by the benefci-
aries of accomplished or promised trust
and monopoly legislation. Yet its mana
gers have the impudence to pretend that
the party is unfriendly to its owners and
masters, and would bring their tyrannical
or criminal operations under control Of the
law. Naturally nobody is much impressed
by antics so amazingly unreasonable.
In an equal spirit Of effrontery the Ad-
ministration. through its ablest and least
unpopular exponent. the Secretary of War,
declares its readiness to fight for the
Monroe Doctrine. Yet this doctrine it has
been trying for months 10 surrender, under
the terms OF a treaty secretly peddled
around among the foreign Offices Of the old
world. and cooked and whitfield at until
the Hay Pauncefote agreement in the
form in which il was finally eonfided to the
Senate. became one Of general understand
ing between the Hanna Administration and
the Concert OF Europe, that the former
should enact the ClaytoR-Bu lwer Treaty,
never operative for want Of constitutional
ratification by the United States; should
guarantee the powers against an inter
oceanic waterway in any sense American,
and would surrender and abandon the Mon
roe Doctrine.
That perfidious treaty is still being
pressed in the Senate by the White House
and the State Department But the War
Department rises after dinner and warns
the country that we Will never give up the
Monroe Doctrine. and that before long We
shall be called upon TO fight for it and will
do so TO the bitter end. This. we presume,
is what might be called an exhibition Of
Mckinley consistency. If the Administra-
ton had any idea Of standing by a declara-
ton so dear to every honest American. 1t
would instantly withdraw the Hay-Paunce-
fote Treaty from the Senate, and ask the
countrys pardon for ever offering it.
We do not like to be driven to the con-
clusion that Mr. Roots Monroe effort was
a bit OF cheap political claptrap, but it is
hard to accept 1t as anything else. Ad-
ministration people are explaining with
much JUNCTION that it was intended to
warn Germany that her alleged designs
upon territory in South America cannot
be carried out without violent collision
with the settled foreign policy OF
this Government. and hence, with
ont war. But Why should such
warning be necessary. or even sane,
under existing conditions? AS a faith
ful servant OF the Republican machine,
Mr. Root must be supposed to wish success
10 the Hay Psuncefote Treaty. Its ratin-
cation carrying as It would a surrender
Of the Monroe Doctrine. would relieve the
Kaiser from the possibility Of any OBJ
gtruction by this country in case he
should decide 10 build up a German CO.
Ionial empire in Brazili In fact. it has
been widely suspected and not infrequently
charged that one Of the chief purposes OF
the Hay-Psuucefotc agreement is to end
: American opposition to the extension OF
British and German power in Central and
f South America Whether such a purpose
+ can be proven. or not. the effect would be
accomplished by ratification Of the treaty
II should moi be forgotten that the I'm
perial Chaucallerie at Berlin is said to
/ have been fully consulted regarding the
text of the Hay Pauncefote Treaty. before
its contents we're known to even a single
. member Of the Senate Committee on For
eirn Relations. So obvious a fact as its
inpliea. IL not expressed, abandonment Of
the Monroe Doctrine could not have es-
ca1ed the trained intelligence Of Count
Won Buelow and we may say with complete
+ confidence that the reason the agreement
/ has been acceptable 10 every world power
c1cept the United States. is because that
ancient Western prohibition would be re-
/ movea by its terms.
( WHY then. we ask again do Mr. Nc
Kinley and llr. Hay fight tooth and nail
/ with The American element in the Senate
I To destroy the Monroe Doctrine, while Mr..
/ Root. presumably speaking for them, SOL
! emily declares that we will never abandon
or hesitate 10 do battle for it.
Wise Plan.
The President and Fellows Of Harvard