The sun., 1903-11-29
The Monroe Doctrine Inta ct.

The Monroe Doctrine Intact.
There are truths that it seems needful
to reassert from time to time, owing to
the reluctance Of some persons to recog-
nize indubitable facts. Among these
truths is the verify that our fidelity to the
Monroe Doctrine is in no wise lessened
or obscured by our acknowledgment Of
the independence of the Republic Of
Panama. That there should still be
current any misconception on this point
can be explained only on the hypothesis
that some American citizens have never
read, or have forgotten the words in
which the doctrine known by his name
was promulgated by MONROE in his
memorable message
We are moved to return to this topic
by an editorial article published on Nov.
81 in the Philadelphia Public Ledger,
wherein it is alleged that the Panama
affair has weakened the belief of Latin
American republics that their interests
would be safeguarded by the United
States in the event of attempted en-
croachment upon them by any European
country. The Ledger adds that, in it's
opinion, the Latin-Americans have rea-
sonable grounds for their doubts and
fears. The Ledger should reconsider its
opinion, for it is utterly without founda-
ton. In the first place, there is no proof
that any Latin-American commonwealth
has any doubts or fears regarding the
effect of our recognition of the new State
Of Panama on our future construction
Of the Monroe Doctrine. In the second
place, it will be easy to show that the
Monroe Doctrine has nothing to do with
conquests, revolutions, partitions or
secessions that may take place in Latin
America, so long as the movements are
in no wise due to European influence,
or calculated to extend the European
system to this hemisphere.
The canal treaty which has been nego-
tiated by Secretary HAY and the repre-
sentative of the Republic of Panama is,
of course, death blow to the plans of
those who have favored the Nicaragua
route. 1t would not, therefore, have been
surprising had the republics of Nicaragua
and Costa Rica, wrought to feverish re-
sentiment by their disappointment, pro-
tested officially against our recognition
of the Isthmian commonwealth, whose
gain will mean for them grievous loss.
As a matter of fact however, no such
protest has emanated from the Mica
raguan and Costa Rican governments.
Neither has a word OF remonstrance
been heard from the Government Of
Mexico, although the completion Of the
Panama Canal will administer quietus
to the project Of interoceanic commu-
nication by means of Tehuantepec
railway. Silent also is Colombias neigh
Dor Venezuela. The assertion that the
Government of Ecuador has expressed
sympathy with Colombia is a mere
rumor based on an unconfirmed tele-
gram from Guayaquil. Peru, Bolivia,
Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay have
not been heard from. AS for Brazil
it has hastened to express a willing
ness to enter into diplomatic relations
with the new American republic. Even
Chile, which was not over friendly to
the United States during the Harrison
Administration, has not word Of criti-
cism to utter on our attitude toward
Panama on the one hand, and toward
Colombia on the other.
Such are the facts. Obviously, they
do not justify the allegation that our
action in the Panama affair has weak
ened the belief of Latin-American re-
publics that they would be safeguarded
by the United States against any at
tempted encroachment by a European
Power. Evidently our Latin-American
neighbors have more distinct and cor
rect conception than have some United
States newspapers of the scope and pur-
port of the Monroe Doctrine, and of the
relation thereto Of our historical pro-
oecdings with reference to internal
political changes in Central and South
America, They see that the Monroe
Doctrine bound us to expel the French
from Mexico. They recognize with
equal distinctness that it did not bind us
to protest against the dissolution OF the
Central American Confederation and its
partition into five independent States.
They see that our acknowledgment in
1925 of the independence of the Colom-
bian Republic founded by BOLIVAR i'm
posed upon us no obligation to withhold
recognition from Venezuela and Ecua-
dor, WHICH seeded therefrom. They see