Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-10-10
AN ENGLISH PAPERS COMMENTS
ON PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT.

The London Spectator, an English
paper of figh, standing #nd influence
which always taxes deep interest il
the political affairs OF this country,
makes President Roosevelt topio il
ITS issue for the week ended September
2lst Besides dealing With his position
and views, it alludes to him personally
in the following language :s-l
we will only say here that besides
being statesman Of high character
and LOFTY aims, ne is mau of gre at
courage, moral as we'll as physical.
People talk as II, he were Jingo, but
he is probably not more imperialistic
in his ideas than the majority of Ameri-
cans. lie is, however, not in the least
afraid of greRt responsibilities for him
sell or bic country, and would never
shrink hack from Foley hs believed
In because he found 1t too big He is
a man who likes the ides OF Big duties
In q big future. lle hos been called
an aristocrat, but this ia only the
pictures3usneHs ID which the Ameri.
cnns, being an imaginative race, de
light. If by '.aristocrat', is meant a
man OF good birth, education, ana in
] dependent Ineaps, President Roosevelt
is, we suppose,gone, but that he has
any notion OF conducting himself in the
way popularity supposed to belong to
aristocrats is Ridiculous He will be a
thoroughly American President. As
proof Of his statesmsnlike moderation
We may note his retention Of the Score.
tary OF State, Mr.. John Hay, -one of
the ablest and most sincerely patriotic
OF living American statesmen. That act
Is sign of the new Presidents breadth
OF vision ana strength. People have
described Mr.. Roosevelt both as the
friend and as tho enemy OF England,
He is. In truth, neither. He will not
try TO quarrel with this country, but he
will show her no special fayors. The
chief danger before him is that in in.
sisting on the policy of hands off, he
may come into violent collision with
Germany. and that this collision may
take place while America is unrrenared
and Germany prepared. We may be
sure that Germany will only respect the
Monroe Doctrine as long as she feels
tnat she Is too weBk at sea to challenge
it. when she thinks herself the stronger
In ironciads she will "call'' the Ameri.
can fleet. -
We doubt IL President Roosevelt will
lind anything to disturb or annoy him
HsS Pou Plctufo urhWu Dy an aOI6
British journal, while his admirers will
find much in it to delight them. For
3 long range focus 1t is a highly tisttsr.
ing picture.
But to the general reader the chief
interest in the Spectators zen portrait
OF Roosevelt will be found In the closing
allusion to the possible attitude of the
Pre9ident towards Germany. For ii
may be assured that the London Specta.
tor, being nearer to hand, has clearer
idea of German sentiment than can be |
obtained In this country, five thousand |
miles or go distant.
While We need entertain no feas of |
any attempt by Germany's navy to |
call" the Amer lean fleet, in bluff or |
IN earnest, as challenge to the Moprue
doctrine, neither do I'VE want any |
trouble with Germany, or any other |
foreign Power, over the Monroe Doc
trine, or anything else. So far as the
Monroe Doctrine is concerned, there Ia
nothing in IL shat need be considered an
international issue at this day, The
conditions that led to 1t have long since
ceased to exist. There is now no ''Holy
Alliance" threatening to disturb The
political and religious equipose of the
american Continent, and no occasion
for any Monroe Doctrine to meet con.
emergency.
The Monroe Doctrine was merely n
declaration contained in the seventh
annual message of President James
" onroe, under date OF December 2d.
1873, to this effect: with the exist.
ing colonies or dependencies of ans
European Power We have NOT inter.
Tered and shall not Interfere. But with
The governments who have declared
their Independence, AID maintained IL.
ana whose independence we have. on
great consideration and on Just erin.
,iples, acknowledged, we could not view
my interpretation for the purpose of
Expressing them, or controlling in any
manner their destiny, in any other light
han as the manifestation of an I'M.
friendly disposition towards the United
States -
Thls. announcement of AN opipion
entertained by President OF the United
states nearly four score years ago.
'ithough 1t was doubtless timely and
pertinent then, can not be accepted at
, ms time, and under the changed con.
iihons that prevail, as any sort of a
to war from the United States G
o any foreign Power.
Luz tpo Anonioe Doctrine Is Invariably I
brought forward when. the subject Of 4
ne construction OF an Isthmian canal
-either at Panama or Nicaragua is I
lnoer consideration, and il is in this I
onnection that tho London Spectator '
lluoes 10 " Assuming that Presi- I
lent Roosevelt holds that America must |
revont the European Powers obtainine i
ny new foothold in North or Snuth |
Imerica, or extending the settlements q
hey now possess In any form, direct or 4
Indirect, and that the American uon- a
rol OF any Isthmisn canal should be d
bsolute and without any kind of t
the Spectatoi adds: d
= 1t remains to consider whether these q
Jews OF Mr.. Roosevelt necessarily bring a
he policy that will be pursued by him d
nto conflict with British interests. In d
agard to tine Monroe Doctrine IL ia o
united that we hive no cause or a
esire to quarrel with America. The a
octrine only deals with new aoouisi. 81
ons, and does not concern Canada. q
10 West Indies, or our colonies In W
entral or South America. In truth. 81
10 true Monroe Doctrine ls in no sense
FURIOUS to this country. We do moi is
ish to acquire new settlements m W
ther of the American continents. nor m
extend those which we have already pl
otained. On the CONTRARY, we greatly Il
'eier the status quo. The reasons. u,
lat IS. which originally induced a hi
flush statesman to suggest the Monroe d,
ootrine 10 President Monroe still hold j,
'od and the more effectively ID is bI
piled by America the better we ouoht sh
De pleased. We hold, indeed, That al
would be wise policy for us formally til
notify to America our recognition of NJ