Okolona messenger., 1902-09-10
THE MYSTERY OF THE MONROE DOCTRINE,

THE MYSTERY OF THE MONROE DOCTRINE.
I'm discussing the Monroe Doctrine
~ in some of his New England spec
A@AI ches, President Roosevelt gave the
2~TE&@ statesmanship of the country an
NJ n TFSS-T uneasy feeling The president
a 81 ~FA came well out Of the subject with
SSdI12lES out in any manner compromising
~. his administration, but the fact re-
mains that the less government officials have to
say in the way OF general discussion of this great
American doctrine, the better it will be for the
country says the Kansas City Journal. The truth
is that when this doctrine is brought under discus
sion by statesman, editor historian there is ever
present temptation to tell what it means-to give
it metes and bOunds-and to prophecy with respect
to it's future Just at present all Europe is trying
to get the United States on record with definite To-
terpretatOn. Recently it was proposed by Joseph
Chamberlain that if the Washington government
would make detailed definition OF the Monroe doc
trine, England would officially accept and ratify it
But the safety Of country requires that the doc
trine should be left unexplained. What we have
said to Europe for seventy five years is: "TheTe Is
the broad dOctrine-explain it generally II you can;
we shall the right to say whether or not 1t
fits exigeneies as they arise" AS 1t stands now, It
ia really notification to the world that the United
States proposes to exercise such supervision as 1T
chooses over both of the American continents. To
narrow it down by attempting to tell IN advance
what it will be held to mean in this or that contln'
gency, is to weaken its power and invite contrOVer,
Recently, in discussing the matter, we noted the
change in the fundamental attitude OF the Monroe
doctrine which has taken place in the last halcen-
tury. Originally the enunciatiOn OF the doctrine
was inspired by the fear that the mOnarchies OF Eu-
rope would come to America and overthrow our
own republic. Now we have no such fear, for the
mOnarchies of Europe have all they can do to pre-
serve themselves against the growing feeling OF
democracy without crusading the world in search
81 aIds tha aod ~ thnir
And as the fundamental aspect of the doctrine has
changed once in fifty years, it may change again
meaning something in the future that 1t is not con-
ceived to mean now.
Once in New England President Roosevelt seem
ed on the verge Of saying that while the Monroe
doctrine forbade the coming OF the nations OF Eu'
rope, it also contemplated q restraint upon the
United States in the matter Of territorial aggrands
ment. That would have been sad mistake. We
have no need to protect our own disinterestedness
In the wOrlds's view a nation is justified in doing
that which is needed for its own preservation OF
prosperity. In the worlds view the Monroe doc
trine means that have reserved the continent Ol
South America to our own uses. The governments
Of Europe, have been restrained from serious move
ment upon South America by the belief that we are
looking to that continent, as Russia looks to the
Pacific region Of the Orient for territory over which
to spread our own Institutions If they felt thai
our interests in South America were no more sub
stantial than mere sentiment, they might move on
fight for soil over which we had no intent to raise
our flag. Recently, in discussing the Monroe doc
trne the London Spectator spoke of United States
rule in South America as though it were matter o
course. It said; eN aaa~
eve have no desire 10 see the status quo violent
" altered by the efforts of our Continental neigh
Ors to carve out for themselves colonial empires II
Central or South America 1t suits us no more
than it would suit America to have Germany estab
ished in South Brazil Dutch Guiana, Mexico o.
abe Central American republics We do not, OF
Ehe other hand desire to extend our possessions II
south America or the West Indies. We would no
AXE Hayti, San Domingo, French or Dutch Guian'
Is q gift, and as for annexing or conqueTlng an!
portion Of Brazil Argentina Chile or Peru, w
ave no sort Of inclination in that way. Brazil, NJ
Oubt ia the most splendid undevelOped estate II
he world, but It's mixed races constitute portion
the white mans burden which we have no desir
o take up That is a task for the young Hercules
ghOse arms stretch from the Atlantic to the Pacific
nd not for his less ambitious and less strenuOu
aOther."
IN the American mind there is at present n,
hOught Of taking Brazil or any other SOutl
american country. Still, four years ago there va
70 thought in the American mind Of taking the Phil
oDines In the lives Of nations emergencies aris
al are beyond the reach Of prophecy. What des
nv has in store for us and the South American
Dntipent s sealed with q veil which cannot be pen
rated. What we know is that the whole world /
rodually coming ts the conviction that something
ust be done in South America-that her war
ust cease and that her splendid resources mus
me to the uses Of civilized humanity While e
" We may be assured that our country has no an
tiOns in that direction; who can speak for tomoI
W. And why, then, should we go on making II
rpretations Of the Monroe doctrine that may ris
haunt us-tO haunt rs like that other unnecessar