The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1902-12-27
WHAT IS THE MONROE DocrRlNE7

| HIS Deell S;llu iLOuC Ine Monroe DOC.
| trne in connection with the Nenczuc.
Ian imbrOglio, the Irish Standard
quotes the following passage from
President Monroe's memorable mes.
sage Of Dec. 2, 1923, when referring
to steps taken to arrange the respec
| tive rights of Russia, Great Britain
and the United States OH the North
| west coast of the American continent
'In the dicusSiOns to which this in.
| terest has given rise, and in the ar.
engagements by which they may termi
nate, the occasion has been deemed
which the rights and interests of the
United States are involved, that the
American continents, by the free and
independent condition which they have
assumed and maintain, are henceforth
not to be considered as subjects for
future colonization by any European
power. 81
I'VE owe it, therefore, to candor and
to the amicable relations existing be-
tween the United States and those
powers to declare that we should con-
slider amy attempt on their part to en-
tend their system to any portion of this
hemisphere as dangerous to our peace
and safety. With the existing colonies
or dependencies of amy European power
we have not interfered and shall not
Interfere.
but with the governments who have
declared their independence and MAIN
tain it, and whose independence we
have, on great consideration and on
just principles, acknowledged, we
could not view amy interposition for
the purpose Of expressing them or con-
trolling in any other manner their des-
tiny by any European power in any
other light than as the manifestation
of an unfriendly disposition toward
the United States"
That is all there is concerning the
declaration of which so much is said ut
present OH both sides Of the Atlantic,
and for the maintenance of which tho
American people are willing to fight
both Germany and England il they
seize any Venezuelan territory in pay
mcnt of any claims against the little
republic Not in eighty years have
any European powers tried to grab
any land on this continent. During
Clevclands administration England
showed a disposition to encroach on
Venezuelan territory. hut tile famous
Olncy note scared her off. Perhaps in
alliance with Germany she may try
again to obtain foothold. The Lon
don Sunday Review, of Dec. ID, thinks
the United States is inundated, for ii
says:
'"rhe reason the United States has
not applied the Monroe Doctrine in the
present instance is she is powerless to
do so. The statement that she would
only interfere to prevent the loss of
territory is an idle boast, and must re-
main so as long as the American navy
is not equal to the combined navies of
the Allied Powers. The European
concert can parcel out the whole of
South America. President Roosevelt's
declarations are valueless."
We think President Roosevelt is
strenuous enough to defend the doc
trine Of his distinguished predecessor.
When this country was much weaker
than it is now, it was ready to fight
for the principle enunciated by Mon-
roe in his message to Congress. Per.
haps the United States made n mis-
take in going to the Philippines. If Il
war ensucs over the Venezuelan mat
ter, we could not very we'll protect Oul
Oriental possessions from attack. Ii
Germany and England 40 too far w,
have two old-timc friends to help us
France and Russia. In amy event. it is
we'll to be ready to meet any hostile
demonstration OH the part of the Anglo
German allies. If they are permitted
! by the United States to place Il mort
gage on Venezuela for the payment OF
doubtful claims, the Monroe Doctrine
will he practically worthless to thu
whole OF the South American II puhlics