The times., 1901-04-24
Circulation stetement.
I'll. Penalties of world Power.

axpansiOn to the acquisition OF ad]oih-
inp territory. the Old World was COM
naratively indifferent to this nation ana
its doines. 1t is true that the pro
mitigation Of the Monroe Doctrine Of
Tended the Continental Powers. and
that they never have been reconciled
u it. But the doctrine was backed at
the time of its formulation by Great
Britain. and that fact disposed of open
resistance.
In truth. the Monroe Doctrine did
not interfere particularly with any Eu-
ropean nation, Spain excepted. II en-
forced it would prevent that State from
regaining control Of any of her colonies
in the Western Hemisphere which had
reyolted and secured their indepen-
dence: but it was as evident In 1873 as
il is now that Spain was utterly with
out hope of retaking them, even If free
from opposition from without Other
wise the doctrine presented merely
menace of trouble in the remote fu-
ture should any Old World Power at
tempt to plant colonies and acquire
sovereignty in Central or South Amer
lea.
In the early days Of the Monroe Doc
trine America was not the dreaded
commercial rival Of other nations that
she is today Then it was England $
advancing and expanding trade that
held the attention and excited the
alarm cf Europe. But since the era to
which we are referring. and which IN
a general sense came to an end when
both the United States and Germany
grew to be aggressive competing manu-
featuring countries. conditions have
radically changed. Germany gradually,
and the United States suddenly, began
TO challenge British commercial su-
premacy; and then the final economic
change at the end OF the nineteenth
century occurred. in the upgrowth Of
the great American trusts and monop-
olies and their progressively success
ful attempts 10 capture the worlds
markets from both Germany and Great
Britain, and also, to a considerable ex-
tent. from other industrial nations like
France. Belgium. and Austria.
In the course Of this startling Amer
lean evolution il has not been Euro
pean manufacturing interests which
alone have suffered. The agricultural
and pastoral interests Of France, Ger
many, Austria, Hungary, and other
areas have been seriously affected by
the invasion of our cereals and meat
products. In fact, we have expanded
our export trade in every direction al
the direct cost Of Identical interests in
IL
planted our commercial flag. It is.
then, no longer the civilized world op-
posed 10 Great Britain, and complacent
toward the young Republic of the
West. because Of it's tendency to check
the domination Of the mother country;
but the whole world against the United
states. and determined If possible TO
prevent il from becoming the chief sup
Ply source and the banker and creditor
Of all Europe.
When we became a world Power, we
did not acquire the right to Asiatic
possessions. and 10 be classed as a
great Asiatic as well as an American
Empire. without also assuming the re-
sponsibiIities and risks Of such a posi-
ton We may say with justice that
the fortune OF war compelled us 10
take over the Philippines. and that a
due regard for the promotion Of ciyili-
zation and the good Of humanity force
US 10 keep, rule, and develop the isl
ands ROW that we have them. But. OF
the other hand, it might be objected
that We could have abstained from oc-
cupation of the archipelago and prob
ably would have done so If the neces,
sity Of finding new markets for our
ever increasing surplusage OF produc-
tion, and Of discovering new fields fol
the Investment Of American wealth, haC
not imposed the policy Of expansion
imperatively upon our Government and
people.
Having adopted this policy, and with
out any conceaIment concerning oui
reasons for doing 50. il would be Hog
ical for us in principle TO deny the righ
OF ~ =r States 70 pursue a similar
course. But. from the European poin
Of view, we are inconsistent and W.
are pilloried by the Continental pres.
as a dog in the manger. German, Aus
trian. and French newspapers complain
lEdA- MElit w are SiAHS III our SdiiS-
faction over capturing the Philippines
we are unwilling 10 allow other civilized
Powers 10 effect a like acquisition oi
territory on the Asatic mainland il
China. They say that we are virtuoU.
as to the partition 81 the Celestial King
dom only because real estate witEil
Ats boundaries for our purposes would
be an unnecessary and annoying bur
den Perhaps this criticism need no
concern US particularly, since the Rus
So American cut and scuttle from
Pel1in deprived this country Of its pres
tige among the Concert Powers, anC
quilted whatever influence we NIGH
have had previously in connection witt
the Chinese question.
1t is much more important TO not,
the rapidly growing sentiment Of hos
tiuty toward the United States, due {.
our Monroe Doctrine position in respec
of Central and South America. Again
il is charged IN the foreign press that
assuming and demanding recognition
Of absolute American overlordship o
the western Hemisphere, we are no
content TO stay on our own side Of tht
world. but must invade the natura
openings for the enterprise Of others il
the Far East Yet. as Cur German con
temporaries hald, il is hard TO see wh.