The Indianapolis journal., 1903-04-10
NOT A TOPIC FOR SARCASM.

A report of Professor Summers address
before the Contemporary Club says his sar-
castle illusions to the Monroe doctrine
greatly amused his audience, and that he
finally asserted that no one was able to
define that doctrine. The men who devised
the Monroe doctrine apd promulgated it
were not inclined to be sarcastic. John
Quincy Adams. who was the earliest cham
pion of the Monroe doctrine in this country,
danger to the Nation in the scheme Of the
Holy Alliance to unite to overthrow the
Spanish-American populations that had
won their independence in South America.
Red blood. with infusion of iron, ran in
the veins of the "Old Man Eloquent" and.
at the risk of war; he believed the Alliance
should be informed of the views of the
United States respecting its alleged designs
upon the South American republics. There
was nothing sarcastic in the views of Mr..
Adams or President Monroe to move
audience to laughter. 1t was a serious
proposition Again. Napoleon III secured
some allies and invaded Mexico during the
debts. Napoleon, however, proposed to
overthrow the republic of Mexico. The Lin
coin administration, in that most serious
period in the life of this Nation, caused it
to be indicated that under the Monroe doc
trine the overthrow of the republic Of Mex
leo would not be tolerated. That notice was
given when the civil war was in progress
and fields of carnage were too frequent,
but the red blood Of patriotism ran in the
veins of Abraham Lincoln, and he took the
risk Thirty-eight years ago yesterday.
April 9. 1855. the surrender at Appomattox
put the government in a place where 1t
could do something to save the republic of
Mexico. then partly occupied by Macmillan,
Napoleon's Emperor. AS soon as could be
10000 veterans were marched to the Texas
border. but the Mexicans had their dictator
so far defeated that it was not necessary
for Sheridan to go to the assistance of the
officers of the republic. All these men
Lincoln. Seward, Andrew Johnson. Grant
and Sheridan-understood the meaning of
the Monroe doctrine. So did Napoleon III.
since he deserted his dupe, who was shot
to death by his captors. There was nothing
in that enforcement of the Monroe doctrine
to be sarcastic about, to the delight of an
audience. All the country applauded, and
the United States was better nation for
thus espousing the cause Of a crushed re-
public. The real American reads that chap
ter of the countrys history with pride and
qualification.
1t may be added that before the war of
the rebellion closed. with the sanction of
Abraham Lincoln, General Grant sent Gen.
Lew Wallace and small force to the
Texas border for the sole purpose of OPEN
ing secret communication with the author
tiles of the republic Of Mexico with view
of furnishing them arms. General Wallace
did the work intrusted to him. This was
in January and February, 1865.
Professor Sumner is opposed to the Mon
roe doctrine because it's espousal may in
volve contention and possibly war. but If
all Americans had opposed all discussion
which involved danger anc war we should
be colonies of Great Britain. Since the
occasion, about twenty years ago. when he
declared that ''free trade is founded upon
assumptions, and that experience and facts
have no place in the discussion of questions
like the tariff" the brilliant professor has
evidently lost faith in definitions.