The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-09-25
HE Monroe Doctrine, besides being
The most irnDortan+ ard far-reach-

7 HE Monroe Doctrine, besides being
the most important and far-reach-
ing principle ever enunciated- by
our government, IS also the least under
stood and the most commonly mis-
interpreted. Notwithstanding the fact
that our country has many times been
seriously involved in international dis
cussions, by commanding its recogni-
ton and securing ITS inviolability. the
average American citizen understands
little about its origin. history and eff
feet. Like the Christian religion. it
has been interpreted i'm a hundred diff
ferent ways. In speaking Of it, an
eminent jurist said that he had read
upon the subject, as he had upon the
nebular hypothesis, yet he felt as unfit
10 pass an opinion upon one as the
other
What tie Monroe Doctrine Means.
The reason lawyers hesitate to be
quoted on his much discussed doctrine
is because it is not an Incorporated
law. but merely a national policy.
originating from a declaration made
during the Monroe administration. Al
though it has never been indorsed by
congress il is sanctioned by such una
himous public sentiment that il is inst
is effective as if il had been the sub
Ject Of legislation. having been cham
plohed as readily by Cleveland as BIZ
Roosevelt. The latter has said that if
such policy was not ian effect il.
would hc necessary forthwith TO create
II. The argument that il cannot be
recognized as principle of interna-
Honal law is mere waste of breath.
Nobody cares whether il is or is not
recognized. and moro than one cares
whether the Declaration OF Independ-
ence. or WashingtOn'S farewell add
dress, are so recognized The differ
cnce Of opinion among the European
powers amounts to little as long as the
sentiment Of the American people is
united, ana their navy large enough TO
back up their opinion.
The genesis of the doctrine may be
found in the correspondence between
Mr. Canning. minister of foreign af-
fairs for Great Britain in 1928. and Mr.
Rush. our minister at that time in
London. upon the subject of the form
alton of the holy alliance" which
At AiX-la-ChapeIIe Sept %, 1875, be
tween the emperors of Austria and of
Eussta, and the king of Prussia, act
ing not through diplomatic agencies.
but as absolute sOvereigns on their own
authority. The OstenSible object of the
alliance was to subordinate politics to
religion, TO establish lure divine auto
cracies, and discourage popular gov
ernments "a
Why 1t Was Formulated.
The first attempt of the alliance in
this direction was made when the al
lied powers convened in 1922 and guar
anteed the Intervention of France in
Spain. sending an army into the latter
country 10 overthrow the popular gov
eminent then existing and TO reinstate
Ferdinand VII This movement hay-
ing met with success, Spain being re-
formed 90 the standard of the alliance.
II was thought not impossible by Great
Britain, which had protested against
such action, that they might undertake
the work of recOnciling in this wav.
To the mother country, the Spanish
colonies which had been separated
through revolt, forming for themselves
popular and constitutional govern
ments. The independence of the Span
1sh-American governments had Just
been acknowledged by the Uuit@l
States, but not by Great Britain. Eng
lish merchants, however. like those of
the United States. lad developed an
extensive trade with these countries.
q trade which would have been cut
off and virtually destroyed under the
commercial system then existing, had
The alliance been successful in restor-
ing the colonies to Spain.
The interests OF Great Britain and
the United States were therefore iden-
teal. though the motive of TIE former
in opposing the action of the alliance