The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-10-06
MoNROE,s "BIG STICK"
MIR. TOurgee Recalls q Notable Occasion
on Which the weapon wac Produced.


To THE EDITOR OF THE suS-Sir: Demo-
cratic newspaper recently. referring to Mr.,
Roosevelt's letter Of acceptance, said: No
former President ever thought II his duty to
regulate the affairs OF the world as whole
How about one James Monroe. who with
the express advice and consent Of Madison
and Jefferson, threatened every Eur opean
Government with war II they attempted to
acquire one more inch OF territory either In
North or South America ut that time or at
any future period?
II that was not trying ito regulate the
affairs Of the world as u whole. what waist? 1t
was not only regulating the affairs Of the world,
but IL was mapping out the future and de-
claring war against every country that sought
to acquire territory on the American con-
tinent. either by purchase or conquest. for Gil
time to come. Not only that. but II was
declaration that no North American or South
American country should ever thereafter be
permitted to give, grant. cede or surrender
any part or all Of Its territory to any Euro
pean ally. Yet these South American States
which were the special objects OF President
Monroe's anxiety were Independent SOW
ereignties. having an inherent right to man
age their own Affairs. and had not asked the
United States to assume any guardianship
over them. On the contrary. this was done
at the suggestion Of the English Premier to
balk the suspected designs of the Holy ALI
ance on Argentina. which England at that
time was apprehensive might be detrimental
to her own purpose TO exploit that region OF
undeveoped resources. As usual. we pulled
the chestnuts out OF the fire for England TO
munich but had the satisfaction of forever
safeguarding republican institutions over
the whole American continent.
Mr.. Roosevelt's Big Stick" letter IL purely
negative in character-a declaration that II
any country fail to pay its debts or fail to
keep the peace the United States will not hold
an umbrella over II when the stress OF storm
comes on. The Monroe Doctrine was bellig-
erent, aggressive Democratic declaration OF
war against any European Power that hap
pened to cast an envious eye on any part OF a
continent over greater part Of which the
United States had no more jurisdiction than
1t has over the planet Jupiter. Mr.. Roose-
velt's expression OF dissatisfaction at the
idea that the United States would uphold
and shelter lawlessness and fraud on the part
Of another country cannot be compared with
the lordly. sweeping declaration made by Mr..
Monroe eighty years ago. For holiness
and arrogant assumption of right to "regu-
late the affairs of the world as a whole. the
Monroe Doctrine has no parallel In inter-
national history. 1t has practically become
a part of international law. simply because
the American people have approved and
maintained IL and all the world knows We
are willing to fight for it, But it would be i'm
possible for Mr.. Roosevelt to exceed or even
equal it in strenuous intermeddling with the
affairs of other nations unless he first invented
a new language.
The Monroe Doctrine has been approved
for more than three-fourtbs Of a century by
the American people, not because Mr.. Monroe
had any official authority. constitutional or
otherwise, to warn European nations having
governments away from tho
American continent. nor because they consider
other American nationalities to be under their
guardianship or control, but because they
believe the security OF republican institutions
demands that so far as possible monarchical
be prevented from obtaining
further foothold in contiguity Herewith.
They have regarded the Monroe Doctrine as
a defensive measure, directed not against
particular countries but against monarchy
az a system of government, more especially
imported monarchy or nonresident control
Of American territory. 1t was purely unself-
ish and benencent in character The Presi-
wrote the biggest contract ever, undertaken
by a Government. without the least proba-
but inspired by the highest sentiment of de-
yotlon TO republican institutions. This atu-
tnde suited !he American people, They be-
and chief guardians Of the republican idea- |
the right OF peoples to govern themselves-
men ut b by the people. This the Monroe Doc
trine was intended to maintain on all the Amer
lean continent. by declaring, to all European
that they must keep their hands |
of American soil in the future, or what they |
had already, the United States would not |
attempt to dispossess them: but not by one |
hairs breadth must they enlarge those do.
1t has been called an international
impertinence by a high authority. and no
doubt merits that designation: but it clearly
expresses the ultimate determination Of the
American people, They will shrink from
nothing to maintain the right of every people
on the continent to govern themselves.
The letter Of Mr. Roosevelt was the mildest
sort OF modification Of this supreme attempt
to regulate the affairs of the universal mere
expression OF opinion that the United States
would not stand between any American State
and the wrath of foreign Government unless
that State discharged the common oblig tions
OF all governments to maintain peace within
its borders and meet its pecunary obligations,
Less than that he could not have said AS the
of the American people II
was simply warning that the Monroe Doc
trine must not be made a cloak or cover for
fraud. injustice or revolution. 1t was nee
essary to put the American Republic on r
'alr and honest footing before all the world
and Justify the recognition of the Monroe
Doctrine as an integral part Of international
law. ALBION w. ToURGEE.
BORDEAUX. France Sept. "a.
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