The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-01-19
EUROPE AND PA.,AMA.
Interests of All VIII Now Be Better
 ConverSed Than Formerly.

A. Maurice Low in The Forum.
 'The world at large does not care in the slightest who is the normal ruler of Pan-
 anna, or Colombia, or Venezuela, or any
 of the other minor republics of the West
 ern hemisphere, but It's paramount ln-
 terest Is m the security of life and prop erty and in the recognition by those countries of the code which governs the relations between civilized nations. Rev olutions, civil wars, disregard for the rights of foreigners, and indifference to contractual obligations have kept these South American republics in constant tur- moi with the European powers. For much of this tho United States must be held morally responsible, as the modern interpretation gwen to the Monroe Doc Urine has led the so called republics Of south America to imagine that they could defy Europe, violate their pledges and | disregard their obligations without hav-
 ing to pay the penalty for a breach of faith. Secure in their position, and cor- | fdent that the United States would not permit any European power to seize the territory, the dictators in South America have felt that they were protected, and that they could do anything without hav- 1 ing to suffer the consequences. This has | encouraged South America to defraud her | European creditors and to stand in the | way of the development of one of the richest and most fertile portions of the
 world. It has tended, in short, to keep l South America in a condition only one degree removed from barbarism.
 The countries of the old world have had | no quarrel with the Monroe Doctrine as
 cardinal principle of American diplo-
 macy, hut they have objected to Its mIs- ! interpretation and mISapplicRtion. Flu 1 ropean salesman have maintained that If l the United States assumes the position of | guardian of the Western Hemisphere and prevents colonization or acquisition of ter .
 ritory by Europe, that assumption of
 power carries with 1t a moral obligation | on the part of the United Staes to com FNn1 ,s4s HANA
 fully to observe their obligations and to
 respect international rights, But this tEe
 united States has not done. On more
 than one occasion she has saved the
 republics of South America from just
 chastisement at the hands of enraged EL-
 rope; but she has never exerted her moral
 and physical force to make a weaker ma
 tion understand that a strong and power
 ful nation has moral rights which can not be defed because the offender takes
 fetuge in his weakness. The
 world can now feel assured that peace
 Will prevail on the Isthmus of Panama; that merchant ships will be able to go iT ana out of Colon and Panama withodl
 hoIestaton and without fear of betnG
 held up or of being forced to pay GUS } | toms dues twice over because betwecl
 hSnt and moi ming there has been a rev
 oihpoh anG the president of yesterday II ulSpIaccd oS an ambitious rival. Safe anC 8 uHhlerrupted transit from the Pacific tC f | the Atlantic is guaranteed. Merchants
 who do business with the new republic e need no longer be apprehensive that theil @ soods VIII be seized or that they will o'
 suoJected to forced levy or thrown into prison Tn case they refuse to comply Witl q eMtortionate and arbitrary dema ands. Al
 thtS IS in the interest of the world. Al
 lIns makes tor progress. With such c poIcy-no matter how much 1t may p . nen0nnced hy hypcrcritlcism or by D!
 pocrisy or by excessive tenderness |" . me Tights of q Venal government tha t has shown itselt to he unworthy to b chIrus.eS Ss sos,S %itn tn, the powers Of goveFnme