Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1902-12-26
MONROE DOCTRINE.

an nations TO enforce SettIeuiCHe
of their claims against Venezuela
has caused considerable discus
sion concerning the Monroe doc ]
trine.
That league Of mona1chs
against the liberties of Europe,
the Holy Alliance, formed in
1875 by Austria, Russia and
Prussia proposed to aid Spain to
repossess her Spanish-American
lands. Great Britain regarded
this with great disfavor, and the
British Secretary, Canning, sug-
pested to President Monroe that
the United States, in considers
ton of her own political welfare,
should oppose it. In 1922 the
United States acknowledged the
independence of Mexico and the
South American states, and now
encouraged by the friendly atti-
tude OF the British government
president Monroe, in his seventh
annual message to congress, Dec.
2, 1898, boldly asserted that 1--WE
could not view an interposition for
depressing them, or in control
ling in any other manner their
destiny by any European power,
in any other light than as a man
Hesitation of an unfriendly disposi.
ton toward the United States.
The American continents are
not to be considered as subjects
for colonization by any European
power"
This was the death knell of
the unholy Holy Alliance, for it
practically enabled England to
direct all her diplomatic arts to
establishing and safe guarding
the balance of power in Europe.
Five years later, in 1928, Rus
sia having invaded Turkey, Eng
land and Austria interfered, pre-
vented the fall of Constantinople
and brought about peace. The
same year England, France and
Russia compelled Turkey to ac'
cept the independence of Greece
thus infusing new national life
into Europe.
Writers on international law
regard the right of Intervention
with considerable disfavor, and
discredit. Might decided Right
during so many centuries Of hu.
man history that a more rational
and humane doctrine has beer
accorded tardy, almost an un-
willing recognition. Since this
interference with Turkey, to pre-
serve the balance of power ir
Europe, it is admitted that any
European state may be restrained
from acquisitions and acts haz
zardous to the independence ane
national existence of its neigh
bers..
That a nation, within thes'
lines, should be permitted, with
out let or hinderance to work ou
its own destiny was a new,
startling doctrine. Yet this i
Just the scope of the Canning,
Monroe doctrine in both Europ'
and America. 1t has sheathes
the sword Of conquest in botl
countries, and restraints it every
where. It is true that even Eng
lish writer's, priorAto the close O
our civil war have expressed
doubts as to the Monroe doctrin
being part of our national policy
When Napoleon sd believed ou
hands tied by that struggle b
furnished soldiers to establish
and support an European govern
ment of Mexico. Quickly fol
lowing the surrender of Lee tn
French government was given t
understand it must quit Mexico
Looking across the Rio Gram
Napolean saw Sheridan and so,
600 trained soldiers ready to he'll
him out of the country. H
promptly withdrew, and Mexic'
took care Of the usurper and hi
government.
In 1895, during presiden
Cleveland's second term, Eng
land was given to understan
that she would not be permitte'
to extend her sovereignty owe
Venezuelan territory.
Unfriendly critics of the pres
ent administration refer to thi
incident as ii it were a case pal
alleled by the present condition
of Venezuelan affairs. There
no similarity whatever.
In 1895 there was a disput
between England and Venezuei
respecting the boundary of Brit
ish Guiana. 1t appeared tha
England sought to extend he
jurisdiction over Venezuelan ter
ritory. The president called th