Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1903-01-08
Communicated.
EDITOR LINES:

there is no accounting for the
views, as expressed by some men.
Now, case in point is the ex-
pressed opinions of Henry Water
son on the "M ,nros Doctrine"
Being an American citizsn. we
h ad always supposed thrt the Mon
roe do ,trine was based upon JUS
tice and right; its Cornerstone be-
ing laid in the principle OF tn }
stron! protecting the weak, and
the benefit accruing therafrom
would be the undying friendship of
those protected. and their strength
added to that Of the protector.
The Monroe Doctrine disclaims
any disposition to interfere with
governments already established;
it recognized the right of England
in Canada, and Spain and Portu-
gal in the West Indias and South
America, but said: "Thus far, but
no farther"
1t recognizes the right of peop-
lie to govern themselves when they
so desire, and guarantee to the Re-
publics of the western hemisphere
the exercise of that right, and
when France sought to acquire
control of Mexico, and place on
the throne Macmillan, this gov
eminent simply reminded France
that they we're denying to the peo-
lie of Mexico the right of self gov
eminent, thatsacred right guaran-
teed to them by the this country;
and the result was that by virtue
of that guarantee, the Mexican Re.
public still exists.
A few years ago when England
sought to acquire territory from
Venezuela, such wave of indig-
nation swept over this country as
to cause the Chief Executive of
nation to again give notice that
the United States stood by it's old
guarantee; and England obliging-
| ly retraced her steps; but now the
great Waterson says that the Mon
roe doctrine is nonsense, old,
worn out, and good enough in it's
day. but too back woodsy for the
enlightenment of the present day.
Now, isn't it strange that the
American people have been so long
mistaken? We have been hold
ing-been taught to hold, and
have been teaching our children to
hold to the principles of protection
for the weak against the strong,
and the right OF self government
as almost sacred, and can it be pos
lsible that we have been mistaken
all these years until Mr.. Water
son found out our error! Certainly
he should be elevated to peer
age, and appointed general guardi-
an over other peoples opinions.
Is it possible that the civiliza-
ton OF the twentieth century finds
no room for equity and justicei
Is 1T true that the American PEG.
pie in their mad race for CONNER
cial freedom have smothered all
conscience? Can it be that the
mother, in order to keep in the
mad whirl of society, must throw
her children to the wild beasts 80
she may be unincumbered? Can
we of the United States of Ameri
ca, who have always been taught
that GALL men are born equal, and
with certain inalienable rights,
among which are life, liberty, and
the pursuit of happiness," stand
quietly by and aee seething wave
of Monarchy sweep over this fair
land, this free America? Shall we
invite to our country and to our
homes that cursed thing which we
as Americans have learned to des-
pise, subsection! Bury the princi-
pie of the Monroe Doctrine, and
the blighting shadow of serfdom
and slavery, pauperism and crime
will sweep forward across the dial
of time in the next decade, than
they have been driven back in the
centuries past, and the tentacles Of
Royalty will surround this fair
land even as the octopus envel.
opes it's prey. Shall this be soi
God forbid; and may the man,
American though he be, who car
condemn the Monroe doctrine, be