Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-07-02

st. Helena in 1921, and the rulers of
continental Europe no longer trembled
at his name.
In 1923 the people of continental
Europe We're more firmly held under
the heel of the oppressor than they had
been for a century before.
Was Bold Step.
Spain was anxious to regain some
OF her lost colonies. The Holy Alli-
ance, opposed to popular government
in Europe, was ready and willing for
conquest in South America. 1t was
time for our government to speak, to
proclaim to the world our views on
european conquest and colonization in
the new world. This was bold step
1or our government to take at that
period. We were a nation of little
more than 100000 people, scattered
over wide expanse of territory, with
an Insignificant army, and with navy
that the nations of the world looked
upon with contempt. We had but re-
Gently emerged from an inglorious war
with Great Britain, and it is serious
question to this day whether we were
the victors or the vanquished. If it
had not been for the battle of New
Orleans, fought after the treaty of
peace had been signed, I should say
that we were defeated in the war of
1912, but that battle think gave us
the victory.
1T was under such conditions that
our plucky little Yankee government
proclaimed to the world new doc
trine, a policy of non-interference in
the affairs of the nations of the
western hemisphere, by European
countries. 1t required nerve to tax
this stand. and we should never forget
the wise statesman who possessed the
courage, the patriotism and the fore
sight to say to the South American
republics. we will see that no injustice
shall be done you, no oppressor shall
modest you.' and to say to the Holy
Alliance, you shall not enter the new
world for the purpose of conquest or
to establish your system of monarchy
and oppression
effects of Doctrine"
This was the beginning of the Mon.
roe Doctrine. at a time when Uncle
Sans stick was indeed but a slender
reed. Let us see how it has been ap.
piled, and what effect it has had. In
1926 President Adams notified Great
Britain and France that the United
States would not consent to the occu-
patton of Cuba and Porto Rico by any
other European power than Spain un
der any contingency whatever
In 1S43 Secretary of State Webster
said: The Spanish government has
hnn, t,lJ I'LL
States would not permit the occupation
of Cuba by British agents of forces un
der any pretext; and that she might
rely upon the whole military and naval
resources of the nation to aid her il
an attempt was made to wrest Cuba
| from her.
Extended over Waters.
"In 1851 we took step forward in
| broadening the scope OF the Monroe
Doctrine. 1t was announced that Eng
land and France gave orders to then
| squadrons in the West Indies to protect
| the coasts of Cuba from filihusterine
expeditions fitted out in the United
States. Our government replied thai
| such action could not but be regarded
with grave disapproval, as involving
on the part of European sovereigns
combined action of protectorship owe,
| American waters AT first we only ap
| piled the doctrine to cover our lands
! but in 1851 we extended it over Amer
lean waters.
| Napoleon ILL.,, taking advantage o.
| our crippled condition during the civil
| war, when Uncle Sam was extremely
| busy with his big stick, threw French
army into Mexico, defeated Juarez, the
Mexican president, and placed Maxi
milan upon the throne. AS soon as
| the civil war was ended, in the summer
OF 1865, the United States government
| sent an army of 10000 men over the
Rio Grande under Phil Sheridan. Ma
poleon took the hint. He withdrew his
| army, leaving poor Maxilimian to shift
| for himself and it was not long before
| he was captured, courtmartialed ant
shot. The Monroe Doctrine was vim
| dicated.
| America Wholly American"
General Grant said in 1869 on his
| accession to the presidency, that Amer
lean dependencies of European powers
are no longer regarded as subjects OF
1 IiaAoLCi LINN 4oAS lltioPSolI PonSl "
another. This might be termed an ex.
pansion in application of the Monroe
doctrine. Secretary Fish, in 1870
in speaking of the above utterance OF
General Grant, said This is not the
policy of aggression, but it opposes
| the creation of European dominion on
American, soil, and it looks hopefully
| to the time when, by the voluntary
departure of European governments
from the continent, America shall be
wholly American
| The Venezuelan Affair.
| SIN 1895 Great Britain and Venez-
| uela We're wrangling over the boun.
Diary line. of British Guiana. England
would consent to nothing, and as Ven
ezhela is weak sister, 1t seemed as
though she would have to yield and
see large slice of her territory TIA
ken by the stronger nation. 1t was
at this juncture that President Cleve
land proved to the world that he was
a true American and patriot. Earnest
| requests to Lord Salisbury to settle
the dispute fairly with Venezuela
proved of no avail. President Cleve
land sent message to congress on
December H. 1895 in which he set