Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-04-03

ezueIa because or certain wrongs al
legged to have been committed, and
debts overdue, by that republic TO
citizens of various foreign powers,
notably England, Germany and Italy.
After failure to reach. an agreement
these powers began a blockade OF the
Venezuelan coast and a condition OF
quasi-war ensued The concern OF
our government was of course not to
interfere needlessly in any quarrel so
far as It did not touch our interests
or our honor. and not to take the atti-
tude of protecting from coercion any
power unless we were willing to es-
pouse the quarrel of that power but
to keep an attitude OF watchful vigil
ance and see that there was no in
fringement OF the MoNroe doctrine
no requirement of territorial rights by
European power at the expense of
weak sister republic-whether this ac-
QUESTION might take the shape OF an
outright and avowed seizure OF ter
ritory or OF the exercise OF control
which would in effect be equivalent to
such seizure This attitude was ex-
pressed to the powers through the
proper channels.
Both powers assured rs In explicit
terms that there was not the slightest
Intention ON their part to violate the
principles OF the Monroe doctrine, ard
this assurance was kept with an hon-
orable' good faith which merits full
acknowledgment on our part. At the
same time. the existence of Eostilfties
In a region so near our own borders
was fraught with such POSSIBILITIES OF
danger in the future that il was OBJ
viously no less our duty to ourselves
than our duty TO humanity to endsaVor
to put an end to that. Accordingly,
by an offer of our good services in a
spirit OF frank friendliness TO al the
parties concerned. spirit .in which
they quickly ard cordially responded,
we secured a resumption OF peace
the contending parties agreeing that
the matters which they could cot set
| tie among themselves should be re-
| ferred to The Hague tribunal for
settlement.
Influence OF Cnltsd States
The terms which we have secured
as those under which tie Isthmsan
|
of events in the Venezuela matter.
have shown not merely the ever grow
| ing influence of the United States in
the western hemisphere. but also. |
| think l may safely say, Lave ex'
| emplified the firm purpose or the
United States that its growth and in
| fiuence and power shall rebound not TO
the harm but to the benefit of our Sis
ter republics. whose strength is less
| The Monroe doctrine is not inter
national law. and though / think one
day it may become such, this is not
necessary as long as it remains car
dinaI feature of our foreign policy and
as long as we posses both the will and
the strength to make it effective. This
last point. my fellow-citizens, is all i'm
portant and is one which as people
we can never afford to forget. be-
Iieve in the Monroe doctrine with all
nv heart and soul; am convinced
that the immense majority of our fell
llow-countrymen so believe in it; but l
| would infinitely prefer to see us aban-
don it than 20 Sc us put it forward
and buster about it.
Boating Ob'ectional Among Nations.
Boosting and clustering are as OBJ
jectionable among nations as among
individuals. and the public men of a
great nation owe it to their sense OF
national self-respect to speak court
eously of foreign powers, just as a
brave and seIf-respecting man treats
all around him courteously. But
though to boast is bad. and causeless-
Iy to insult another. worse; yet worse