Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1903-02-13

which he declared the American poll
cy of "neither entangling ourselves in
the brolls Of Europe, nor suffering
powers of the old world to interfere
with the affairs of the new" The
American continents, by the free and
independent position which they have
assumed and maintained, are hence
forth not t. be considered as subjects
for future colonization by any Europe
an power, and that any attempt on
the part of the European powers to
extend their system to any portion of
this hemisphere would be regarded by
the Uuited States as dangerous to our
peace and safety, and would be oppos-
ed according ly." The above is the
Monroe Doctrine, and was called into
being as the unwritten law of the
United States lit never has been en-
acted into statutory law as follows:
The South American, Central Ameri-
can countries and Mexico, had thrown
of their allegien ce to Spain and
France, and had set up republican
forms Of government. Spain and
France proposed to form coalition,
and to get some Of the other European
governments to join them, and then
re-conquer and subdue these countries
and again set up their monarchial
governments. 1t was this condition
of affairs, the threat and purpose of
these European governments, to de-
stroy these republics, that called forth
the protest from president Monroe in
his message in which he sounded a
note Of warning, not only to these
nations at that time, but to all ma
tions at all times; that they must
keep their hands of the western con-
tinent. 1t was bold declaration,
but the United States had been doing
bold things. 1t had whipped England
In two great wars, the last of which
had only closed a few years before,
and 1T proposed to have this western
continent as home for republics and
free governments. England had re-
fused to give any encouragement to
France and Spain,and the enunciation
OF the Monroe Doctrine pleased her
very much, and in fact there is no
proof but what England has always
been pleased with the position then
taken by the United States. In re.
gard to the position of Germany on
the Monroe Doctrine, we must re-
member that the declaration is an.
tagonistical to the doctrine OF the di-
vine right of kings to rule the people.
1T is declaration that the people can
take care of themselves. The Ger
man emperor and the aristocracy and
the ruling class OF the country resent
this historic policy, not only because
1T lisa continual protest against the
. monarchial idea, but because it is a
bar against German plans Of colonial
tion in America. There is no doubt
had 1t not been for the Monroe Doc
tsine, many Of the leading nations OF
Europe would have established their
ruiein South and Central America
the same as they have in Africa and
Asia. The Emperor of Germany is
one Of the most ambitious of the Eu-
yopean rulers. He is survivor Of
the nDiyine Right" claim in Europe.
3Ie ANNOUNCED on his accession to the
throne, that God had commissioned
him to rule the German people, and
man entertaining or protesting such
belief cannot possibly approve Of re-
public. q system of government under
(Which the people choose their own
ralerss, and deny that any man is
Aiginely chosen to govern other men.
The Venezuelan incident, SO far as
Germany is concerned, is only an in
cident to see how far she can go with
out raising protest from the United
States. II she had been allowed to
land her sailors and seize forts and
custom houses, and hold them, then
she could seize more territory and hold
1T on some other claim, and soon
would gather into her paw the entire
country. President Roosevelt block |
ed his little game when he declared in
favor of arbitration instead Of the
seizure of custom houses and territory,
and holding them until the claim was
paid. 1t was the action of the pres
ident that stirred up the ire of Ger
many, and their declaration that the
Monroe Doctrine must go. Some Of
our most astute statesmen believe
that II the Emperor Of Germany could
nave bis way, monarchy would unite
against republicanism, as represented
by the Quilted States as the foremost
exponent OF the democratic ideas Of