The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-02-07
STATUS OF THE MONROE DOCTRINE

STATUS OF THE MONROE DOCTRINE
The average American is wont to re-
gard the Monroe doctrine as an inviol-
able tenet of international law to which
the civilized nations of the earth have
subscribed. Nothing could be further
from the fact
The Monroe doctrine has been recog,
nized 10y Two nations, only, one through
diplomatic negotiations. the other by
reason of a show of force.
International law arises from the
usases of nations, expressed and amp,t-
fed through treaties and conventions.
One nation alore can not add to or take
from this code of national ethics, except
Icy consent or by a show of superior
force.
England maintained as a principle of
man once a British subject was always
d British subject. She was welcome to
this doctrine 50 long as she could main
tain it by force of arms, but it was such
an infringement on the common rights
OF man that war was the result and the
doctrine was abandoned.
The Monroe doctrine had its origin in
a desire to control the trade of the
South American republics In the early
part Of the century when the epidemic
of instruction broke out in South Amer
Ia against the authority of Spain, Henry
Cay, eager TO secure the friendship and
the trade of the new nations, urged upon
the government the policy of recognizing
their Independence. This humane and
patriotic policy at length prevailed and
I'm 1922 congress passed an act recognize
ing the new states as sovereign nations.
The next year, the Holy Alliance"
proposed to intervene in tie contest of
the American states with Spain and ex-
ercise a protectorate over the new Latin
states. This proposition brought from
the president of the United States the
celebrated message to congress embody-
ing the Monroe doctrine. He said: I'VE
owe it to candor and to the amicable
relations existing between the United
States and the European powers to de-
clare that we should consider any at
tempt on their part to extend their sys-
TEN to any portion of this hemisphere. as
dangerous to our peace and safety"
The king of England having refused to
enter the Holy Alliance" which was
-al
STA, and having no schemes for further
colonization on the Western hemisphere.
tacity supported this new doctrine of
the republic.
Twenty-Five years later, by the terms
of the CIayton-Bulwer treaty. England
formally subscribed to the doctrine as
to the portion of the Western continent
known as Central America, thus estopp1ng
her from disregarding the doctrine in
tote in the future.
So when Cleveland extended the doc
tIine to cover the boundary DISPUTE be-
tween England and Venezuela the Brit
ish government had gone too far 10 -
trace its policy.
The doctrine took its origin from &C.
sire to check the march of absoIutism
as represented by the Holy Alliance and
in the more selfish desire to control the
future trade of the struggling states.
So long asg the nation stood like an
angel with the flaming sword at the gate
Of this Garden of Eden, there was no
attempt TO question the doctrine But
when the nation was torn by civil strife.
when the energies OF the country were
taxed to the utmost to maintain national
integrity, Napoleon III took advantage
Of the situation to conquer Mexico and
place a European monarch on the throne
In vain did the government of the Unit
ed States protest-in vain did Secretary
Seward assert that the Monroe doctrine
was international law. Emperor Maxi.
milan sat his throne and Europe smiled
at our impotency.
But when the war was over-wher
Grants veterans were returning from
their battles, Napoleon was informed thai
it would be announcement. graveIy in
convenient for the French troops to re-
main longer in Mexico"
At the same time a significant move.
ment was made toward the Mexican
frontier-and Napoleon deemed it prudent
to recall the French army, thus acknowl-
edging the force of the Monroe doctrine
AS long as the United States held to
the policy of non-interference with the
politics of the Eastern hemisphere II
could with consistency maintain by force
OF arms, if necessary, the position OF
guardian OF American interests. The
Intervention in behalf Of Cuba was in d.
rect line with this policy, and had the
Intervention ended there, the war with
Spain would have strengthened the Mon
roe doctrine with all the civilized powers
But when the administration. urged on
we think, by mistaken greed for terri
tory, Inserted into the treaty of Paris
a clause transferring the Philippine isl
ards to the United States, it robbed
the Monroe doctrine OF every semblance
OF justice ard consistency. Although the
Monroe doctrine as expressed, said moth
ing about the conduct OF tie United