The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1903-01-21
WHAT THE MONROE
DOCTRINE IS
ORIGINALLY A DECLARATION OF
EXECUTIVE POLICY IN RELA-
TON TO EXISTING CONDITIONS.

What we call 1.-The Monroe doctrine"
Is not, properly speaking doctrine at
ALL Rather is it a declaration of exc
cutive policy, for as originally made by
President James Monroe, on December
2, 1923, it did no more than define the
attitude of his administration toward
the question then pending of the occu-
patton and colonization of territory on
this hemisphere by non-American pow
ers. That declaration, reiterated by
Monroe on December Z, 1924 was made
with England's knowledge and consent,
and bound this nation no further than
the end of the Monroe administration.
1t would have lapsed with its authors
exit from office had 1T not struck the
chord of public sentiment and had not
Mr. .Monroe's successors recognized the
wisdom of giving adherence to the poll
cy defined by him. This they did, and
we find that the policy of Monroe was
reasserted:
BY Tyler, on December 80, 1912.
BY Polk, on December 2, 1916.
BY Polk, on December Z, 1S47.
BY Polk, on April 49, 1S4S.
BY Buchanan, on December 6, 1858.
BY Buchanan, on December 3, 1860.
*By Grant, on May 81, 1870.
BY Grant, on December s. 1870.
BY Grant, on April 5, 1871.
! BY Cleveland, on December 2, 1895.
BY Cleveland, on December II, 1895.
| BY Mckinley andRoosevelt on numer-
Gus occasions in the past six years.
"Grant, in reasserting the doctrine de-
! clared it should be extended, and on
May 81 1870 in a message to congress,
said that thereafter territory on this
hemisphere should not be held Sub
ject of transfer (by treaty or other
wise) to any European power"
C al ration Of this
policy was made in a message to con-
| gress, so has been each reassertion of it
and outside of these documents the doc
trine of Monroe has no official exist
ence. 1t does not live in any act of
congress nor in any of the treaties by
which nations are bound, nor has it
| ever been recognized as a principle of
international law. Therein lies it's
| principal weakness-out-s side of public
sentiment and save as chief executive
of the nation chooses to give it his adj
herence 1t is noneXistent. 1t is there
! fore, not a doctrine, but merely a mat
ter of administrative policy.
Certainly a thing by which the Amer
| lean people set such store deserves
greater permanence, clearer and better
| delineation. more authoritative decla-
ration and more forceful expressions.
AS ii is a tenet of the American faith
.
through congress, and signed by the
president, thus becoming part of the
law of the land, of which other nations
would have to take notice.
In his message to congress, dated
January 3, 1911, nearly thirteen years
before Monroe wrote, James Madison,
in discussing the proposed British oc-
cupation of West Florida said:
| l recommend to the consideration of
congress the seasonableness of a decla-
ration that the United States could not
see without serious disquietude any
part of a neighboring territory in which
they have deep and just concern pass
into (the hands, of any A." for
eign power.
That is advice, for the moment What
| President Madison desired was a reso-
luton of congress committing the ma
ton in stated terms to the policy after
ward enunciated by Monroe. What
| the nation needs today to save the
! Monroe doctrine from the dangers
! pointed out by eX-President Cleveland
is the very thing recommended by Mad
ison-a resolution passed by congress
and signed by the president, explicitly
stating the terms of this doctrine
something, in fact, which will cause all
the world to take notice. Given this
no concern need ever again be felt over
the safety of the Monroe doctrine.-Bal
| timore American.