The National tribune., 1903-03-05
wit, Gems. Sickles, Howard, Franklin,
Wilson, Schofield and Dodge.
THE MONROE DOCTRINE.

| A subscriber OF The National Tribune
tasks us to give a full definition of the
Monroe Doctrine and its bearing upon ouI
policy. The Monroe Doctrine had its ori
gin I'm a confederation which was formed
overthrow of Napoleon at Waterloo for the
purpose of maintaining the peace of Eu-
| rope. They pledged themselves to mutual
ly assist each other to repress disturbances
and maintain the status quo. Presently
the various countries of South America UNI
der Spanish dominion revolted. and sue
eeeded in achieving their independence.
despite Spain's efforts to reassert her au-
thority. She then called for the assist
ance of the other powers confederated with
her. This created some alarm in the
United States, where everybody sympa-
thized with the Spanish colonists. After
much consultation with leading men
throughout the country. Mr. Monroe's Cab
met adopted the following declaration,
which was Incorporated into the annual
message of 1923:
I'VE owe it to candor and to the AMIGA
bit ieldlfoifS eAlStlHS DtlN cell tue tHlttu
States and the allied powers to declare
that we should consider any attempt on
their part to extend their system to any
portion of this hemisphere as dangerous
to our peace and safety. With the exist
ing colonies or dependencies of any Euro
pean power we have not interfered. and
shall not interfere: but with the Govern
ments which have declared their indie
pendence and maintained it. and whose in
al Il
ton and just principles. acknowledged, we
could not view an interposition for OPP
pressing them. or controlling in any other
manner their destiny by any European
power. in any other light than as n mani
feStation of an unfriendly disposition to-
ward the United States
Later, in discussing Russias claim and
having reference to the possible ceSsiOn by
Spain of some parts of the colonies to Eu-
ropean powers. President Monroe said:
THE American continents should no
longer be subjects for any new European
colonial settlement"
This doctrine met with the ready ap-
proval of the whole country. and has since
been cardinal feature of our policy. 1t
has never been further defined than in the
message of President Monroe. but this has
been done purposely. since it is better pol
icy to keep it somewhat indefinite and
elastic so as to make it fit any case that
arises.
The strongest definite assertion of it
was made with regard to Louis Napoleon's
attempt to set up an empire in Mexico.
He took advantage of our distracted condi-
ton to do this, and for n couple of years
we had to pretend little interest in the
matter. But as soon as Nicksburg and
Gettysburg occurred, and we began to see
the end of therebellion we assumed quite a
different tone, and toward the close of the
war it became very evident that Napoleon
and the so-called Emperor Macmillan
would have TO get ont of Mexico and
would be lucky if they did so without a
fight. The American people. both North
and South. were eager for rushing them
out mt once, without much regard as to
the violence employed. But Secretary
Stewards policy prevailed. and the French
were allowed TO withdraw with rs little
this case there was apparently no PROPOSE
ton to acquire American territory by an
European power, but it was felt that the
setting up of the Emperor Macmillan was
decidedly offensive to the Monroe Doc
trine, and everybody resented it. In the
Venezuela matter President Cleveland dis
tinctly Informed Great Britain that unless
she consented to a proper arbitrament of
the boundary line that the United States
would ascertain the boundary line for her
self, and compel its observance.