The St. Louis Republic., 1902-12-21
MADIsoN-MoNRoE DOCTRINE.

MADISON-MONROE DOCTRINE.
There is nothing of international philanthropy in
that chapter of American international law which
for eighty years has been known as the Monroe Doc
rinc In its origin and in its subsequent application
it has always been nothing more nor less than doc
rinc of enlightened self-interest the part of the
United States. dogma proclaiming to Europe that
we would never tolerate in the Western Hemisphere
neighbor that might sooner or later became danger
Gus TO the peace, safely welfare of the American
people
President Monroe was not the author of this doc
rine. George Canning. the great British Secre-
tary for Foreign Affairs. who suggested it to Mon
roe, nor President Madison, who. in Il coniden-
iial message TO Congress on January .. lSll, pro
claimed it in narrower but no less emphatic form
than did Monroe in his message of December = 1S25
lts real is in the temper and experience of the
English speaking people of America who could never
rest content while there was Il neishbor who might
prove troublesome anywhere within striking distance
Or beyond it.
Long before Monroe or Canning Madison the
spirit Of the Monroe Doctrine was abroad in America
Its first direct appca ton against European Power
is clearly i'll the opposition which the English
settlers in Carolina acting through friendly relations
with the Chicka&lw Indians of Northern Mississippi
made TO the navigation Of the Mississippi River by
Bienvies French coloniss at and near the mouth OF
the river. Sixty years later, by our French and In
dian war. colonial boundary was moved west
ward to the Mississippi River and the French were
eliminated from Canada
During the Revolutionary War the pioneers CT
Kentucky became weary of the dangers threatened
by their English and Indian neghbors north of the
Ohio and the irritation was sootled by George
hogers Clarks expedition against kaskaskia and
Nincennes After the Revolution the pioneers of
Tennessee, Kentucky and Ohio fretted against the
restraints placed upon their freedom of trade by the
SpaniardS at New Orleans until jefferson. by the
Louisiana Purchase. wdened the American horizon
to the Rocky Mountains with fair view of the
Columbia Valley and the Pacific Coast beyond.
The American people now had more territory than
they could we'll occupy in half century. but there
neighbor on the South whose presence there
they did not like. By the treaties Florida and mar
strip of the Gulf eastward Of New Orleans
were reserved to Spain. The Americans wanted this
strip of coast. known West Florida claimed it and
at last occupied il while Europe was busy with the
NapoeOnic Having thus planted themselves
firmly on the Gulf of Mexico the United States pre-
ceeded cry hands off, to all the rest of the world
The hand of Spain palsed as it hnd been for
more than a century England wished to recover
from her the Florida peninsula, and when President
Madison heard of the scheme he sent confidential
message to Congress with few documents attached.
This message bears date of January 3. 1911 The
most significant paragraph of it is nearly identical
in tenor and purpose with Monroes later declaration
that it is we'll worth quoting and reading. Madison
said: s. =
Taking into view the intimate re-
lation of the country adjoining the United
States eastward Of the Perdido River to-
their security and tranquility. and the pc
cuiar interest they otherwise have In its
destiny. recommend to the consideration
of Congress the seasonableness of declara-
ton that the United States could not
without serious inquietude any part of
neghboring territory in which they have
in different respects. deep and SO just
concern pass from the hands of Spain into
those OF any other foreign Power.
If this is not Monroes Doctrine. it is so nearly ii
that the difference is more in verbiage and circum
stance than in real meaning. When Madison wrote
this message all Latin America that cared about
was nominally in the control of Spain Nowhere
she a dangerous neghbor and if she should
become a troublesome neighbor she could be
easily expelled We could tolerate Spain in Florida
as we long tolerated her in Cuba but Power
strong enough to make trouble for us would be per-
mitted to take Spains place as our neishbor. This
is the meaning of Nladisons message and it is the
meaning which practical American craftsmanship
has placed upon Monroe's declaration
If there is a suggestion of international philan-
thrOpy in the language used by Monroe it is due,
perhaps, to the personal equation Of Canning. who
against the growing spirit of liberty there He hated
the Holy Alliance as the devil hates holy water
But the sting of Monroes declaration is in the tail
of it, After the words which usually quoted as
containing the doctrine, he rectes that during the
wars for independence Of Spain's American colonies
had adhered to the policy of neutrality and to
this we should continue to adhere, provided no
change shall which in the judgment of the
petent authorities of this Government shall make
corresponding change on the part of the United
States indispensable to their security"
In this, Monroe stands flat-footed on the platform
erected by Madison in 1911. They both tell Europe
that shall be very well satisfied to attend to
own business until Europe does something that
to threaten the peace and security Of the
United States. Then shall drop neutrality and
pick up the sword. And the Madison Monroe Doc
trne is still vital force.
ACTOR SOTHERN AND "IRIS'S" MORALS
Actor sothen is deeply ncensed at Chicago