The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-03-06

Berlin. March 3.-"The Monroe Doc
trine is an empty p~retension behind
which is neither energetic will nor ac-
tual power"
Thus Professor Adolph Wagner, thu
celebrated political economist Of Bar-
questions submitted by a corresEol-
dent-whether the Monroe Doctrine
was in a moral sense as binding as in
ternational law and what action seems
dictated first in the interests of the
German people and then in the interest
Of the European nations.
Scarcely could such a doctrine be
forced upon d. conquered psop e after
extraordinary Victories" continues the
professor. No people nor no griat
ruler ever proclaimed such a doctrine.
Neither England nor Russia. nor Napo-
leon at the height of his power ever
made: a similar pretension. But not
wen the United States predominant
interests are behind his unheard of as
SUMPTION. South America is neither
geographically nor historically so allied
fSht - AIN ~" LN SlNN
States as to justify such a pr%etension,
even from a North American stand
point"
Answering the second ques-
ton Professor Wagner says: TT
is only the divisions OF European poll
tics and lack OF insight into n recog-
milton Of the solidarity of the inter-
ests of middle. western and southern
Europe, which hitherto has been and
will remain the chief seats Of human
civilization. that explains WAY Europe.
why Germany even his empty
pretension into consideration, for every
European country'G practical, and po-
Eitical course will naturally depend
solely upon its intei rsts, and according
Iy upon ns6deratlo Of 81! ength.
Therefore,, any birding engagement in
advance regarding his p~retentious dec
trine of union appisafs TO be a wrong
policy. From the standpoint too, of
the wider Germaniccr races. a simple re-
cognition of the Monroe Doctrine would
be a false step, even. if il were settling
the world question whether the Ger
manic or Romani2a clements Should
dominate the world. AS a member OF
the Germanie ace. I do not want to see
the Romano element pressed to the
wall, because it is Indispensable to the
worlds civilization. and is a necessary
complement to Germanic culture. This
applies to Italy and France and even
to Spain. What do we owe
to them? What wouid our civilization
be without italy and France? They
are indispen ga bIe- to- us. No objective
members of the Gerrnanie race can wish
To- see the world exclusively Germanic,
but if we once concede the United
States predominant in South America,
according to the Monroe ~pretensio2S,
would German interests be promoted
hereby? Would not we Germans be
completely pressed to the wall by che
English element on both sides OF the
sea? We really have no interest! IN
furthering the prependerance OF the
United States or England or both. The
worlds civilization would hardly be
advanced thereby. Aside from some
technical and business spheres what
have the United States yet done of i'm
! portance for the real civilization Of the
| world? What have they done that has
deserved to be named in the same
breath with the achievements Of Italy
! and France? Middle, Western and
Southern Europeans holds US together
against the east as we'll as the far west.
That seems to me to be the only right
answer. to the Monroe prete1sions, The
Germanic people should not act against,
but should act with the Romantic peo-
| Piles. That would serve the true inter-
ests of the civilization of the world"