The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1903-04-09

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of war could never be used to our
detrimeEt by any nation which was bo-
tile to us. Such action by tn, circum
stances surrounding il. was necessar
lily for the benefit and not the detri-
ment of the adjacent American repub-
lies.
After considerably more than half of
century these objects have been ex-
actly fulfilled by the legislation and
treaties of the last two years. Two
years ago wewere no further advanced
toward the construction of the 18th
milan canal on our terms than we had
been during the precedingeigthyy years.
BY the Hay-Pauncefote treaty. ratified
in December. 1901, an old treaty with
Great Britain, which had been held to
stand in the way. was abrogated and
it was agreed that the canal should
be constructed under the auspices of
the government of the United States.
and that this government should have
the exclusive right to regulate and
manage it. becoming the sole guar
amor OF It's neutrality.
Right to Finish Canal.
1t was expressly stipulated further
more. that this guaranty of neutrality
should not prevent the United States
from taking any measures which it
found necessary in order to secure by
its own forces the defense of the
United States and the maintenance of
public order. Immediately following
this treaty congress passed a law un-
erwhich the president was authorized
to endeavor to secure treaty for
acquiring the right to finish the con-
struction of and operate, the Panama
canal. which had already been begun
In the territory of Colombia by
French company. The rights of the
company were accordingly obtained
and a treaty negotiated with the re-
public of Colombia. This treaty has
just been ratified by the senate. 1t
reserves all os Colombia's rights. while
guaranteeing all of our own and those
of neutral nations. and specifically per-
mits us TO take any and all measures
for the defense of the canal. and for
the preservation of our interests.
The Trouble In Venezuela.
About the same time rot Bile arose
in connection with the republic of Ven
ezuela because of 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 corcern of
our government was of course not to
interfere neadlessly in any quarrel so
far as it did not touch our interests
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 viSil-
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 a
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.
in, avn1;nif
terms that there was not the slightest
intention on their part to violate the
principles OF the Monroe doctrine, and
this assurance was kept with an hon.
orable good faith which merits full
acknowledgement on our part. At the
same time, the existence of hostilities
in region so near our own borders
was fraught with such POSSIBILITIES of
danger in the future that it was OBJ
viOusly no less our duty to ourselves
than our duty to humanity to endeavor
to put an end to that. Accordingly,
by an offer Of our good services in a
spirit of frank friendliness to all the
parties concerned, spirit in which
they quickly and cordially responded,
we secured resumption of peace
the contending parties agreeing that
the matters which they could not set
tie among themselves should be re-
ferred to The Hague tribunal for
settlement,
Influence Of United States.
The terms which we have secured
as those under which the Isthmian
canal is to be built, and the course
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, l
think 1 may safely say. have ex-
emplified the firm purpose Of the
United States that its growth and in
fuence 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 1t remains car
dinal feature of our foreign policy and
as long as we posses both the will and
the strength to make 1t effective. This
last point, my fellow-citizens, is all inn
p0rtant, and is one which as people
we can never afford to forget. l be-
lieve in the Monroe doctrine with all
my heart and soul; am convinced
that the immense majority of our fell
low-countrymen SO believe in 1t; but |
would infinitely prefer to see us aban-
don it than to Sc us put it forward
and buster about 1t.
Boosting Obsecssonal Among Nations.