New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-09-10
orR ATTITUDE IN HAYTI.

Some good may come out OF evil in Hayti, to
wit, further vindication, II any be needed, OF
this country's good faith and reasonableness IN
its insistence upon the Monroe Doctrine. 1t has
been urged in Europe, though too often in an
iniudicious manner, that il the United States is
to warn all Europe of the Americas II should
itself keen order here and be responsible TO
Europe for the conduct Of its wards That
point is not well taken. because the Central
and South American nations are not our wards,
and because the United States does not warn
Europe to keep hands off In the ordinary en-
forcement OF rights and the obtaining of re-
dress for injuries It would be well If all who
strive to make that point. as some are doing at
the present time, would read. mark and digest
the contributions of our Washington and Lon
don correspondents on this subject in yester-
days paper The fact is that this country has
never attempted TO screen the misdeeds OF its
Southern neighbors behind the Monroe Doc
trine nor thus to protect them from the pen
atty Of disorder nor to give them immunity
from the collection Of just debts and proper
indemnities The Monroe Doctrine is not
bankruptcy ACT for the benefit OF delinquent
debtors 1t does not say that European rights
in the Americas shall not be respected, or that
infringement upon them shall not be resented
and punished II merely asserts that European
powers shall not spoliate the territories OF Amer
lean States nor Cypress them nor control their
political destinies.
The United States did not, therefore. protest
when a German warship destroyed a Haytian
insurgent cruiser which had been acting In an
unlawful manner. 1t recognized the fact thar
Germany was not attacking the sovereignty or
independence Of Hayti, nor seeking territorial
acquisitions. nor trying TO control the course or
politics in that unhappy republic. but was SIM
ply vindicating the sanctity Of her own flag and
the rights and immunities Of her own citizens
II recognized the fact that Germany was stand
ing for the very same principle OF international
law for which this country had STOOD ana was
dealing with an impudent laworeaker 10 the
same effect as this country would have done.
though perhaps by different methods mus
negatively has the United States again SHOWN
the Monroe Doctrine.
It has done the same thing, too, posluVeiy' IN
the course Of the same and of recent incidents.
During the Panama troubles the United States
protected the commercial interests of other
countries SO effectively as TO elicit from the
German Government striking letter or ap-
probation and thanks During the Haytian
troubles no fewer than six European powers
have confided to the United States the protec-
ton of their interests In that country. ana the
United States has discharged the trust EN-
GENTLY and to their satisfaction. The United
States did not Of course. solicit such business
and II does not regard the Incident as prece-
dent making this country forever the common
policeman of the Western Hemisphere But 1t
has. we trust. made 1t plain that the amenities
Of international intercourse and the Obligations
of international comfy are not suspended IN the
bailiwick of the Monroe Doctrine but that the
United States is capable Of answering an ap-
peal for Justice against as well as for one Of Its
Southern neighbors. and Of taking the side OF
Europe against them as well as of taking their
side against Europe The Monroe Doctrine is
charter Of security in well doing. It Is not
license for general deviltry.