The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-10-02
How Latin Americans View the Monroe Doctrine
Y F EEF LHANn
NAsMUCH as the avowed intent

II D.
of the famous American protective
policy. known az the Monroe Doc
trine, is the unrestricted development
OF the South american republics, a
glance at prevailing conditions and
general summing up Of results viii not
be untimely. First it may be well TO
note what the government of the Unit
ed States has done towards assisting
our southern neighbors in their effort
TO establish themselves. In their be-
half we have time and again dared the
greatest powers in the world, volun-
teering to take upon ourselves the hor-
rors Of war when we were i'll prepared
for such sacrifice. We have lived up
10 Afonroe's declaration in defending
them. This great fact cannot be denied.
We Have Kept the Faith.
Furthermore. we have spent many
millions Of dollars in protecting our
own citizens in these turbulent repub-
lies; we have followed the dictates OF
humanity by giving asylum to men ex-
patriated from their own countries; we
have assisted hundreds of helpless wo-
men and children, transferring them TO
our war vessels and transporting them
10 places Of safety; we have charted
harbors, made expensive soundings.
and established buoys in the interest Of
navigation. No one can deny that in
maintaining our attitude toward them
we have praCticed much sympathy and
patience. and have, as Mr.. Hay says,
tried to be guided by the golden rule
Whatever may be said, il is certain
that we have successfully guarded
them from outside interference: that
they have had the opportunity to work
their way without hindrance.
Now what have they done with this
chance? 1t does not require a close OBJ
server to discover failure; and that OF
the most pronounced sort. In searching
for causes no excuse can be had from
lack or natural resources. The empire
OF South America has 1915. 600 square
miles. Its chief extent is not in the
frozen arctic regions but In the
warmth and richness of the tropics.
Brazil alone has 100000 square miles
OF territory, exceeding the size OF the
United States. exclusive of Alaska
Chile measures from north to south al
most as far as from New York to San
Francisco. Argentina is 40 per cent
larger than our own territory east Of
the Mississippi. Yet the entire popu-
lation OF South America does not ex-
coed 40.00O000 people. There are only
five persons to the square mile, against
twenty-five in the United States, sew
enteen in Mexico and eighteen in Cen
trail America
Heavy Debts All Over.
The public debt of all countries in
South America amounts to SI.S4O, OOO-
600, which is sS5 per capita. while our
own is less than SIS. Uruguay alone
has Sl5S Indebtedness per capita, and
Argentina Sle9; the interest on this
debt being Sc, 100000 or more than a
quarter of the entire yearly revenues.
There is not a single one of these re-
publics but what is so heavily mort
gagged that il cannot call itself its own.
And every one of these governments
regards lightly its heavy Indebtedness,
openly depending on the Monroe Doc
trine 10 extricate it from any and all
differences in which it may become en-
broiled. The most astute southern
statesmen. men of learning and intelh-
Sence, insist upon constrWng our pol
ley TO mean that no COerCive measures
may be exercised by Europe. or any
other country. for the purpose of COM
polling payment of just debts Of any
sort, and this view is very generally
held by the Latin-Americans, despite
the extensive diplomatic correspond
ence between this country and the fore
most southern republics. Our South
American friends seem never to have
heard when our statesmen so repeated
Is declared that lwc should not shield
any nation from the consequences OF
wrong doing. This is the answer of the
American people to the suggestion that
II is violation OF the Monroe Doctrine
10 employ force for the purpose of OBJ
tanning respectful consideration for just
debts, or redreSsing real grievances.
Tho only limitation upon the express
sion is that there shall be no attempt
ON the part Of coercive powers TO ac-
quire or permanently to control i'm any
way the territory or destiny of an
American republic.
The Official Way.
After one has experience i'm South
America he is no longer surprised at
the bad management of the govern
nents. because the manner Of conduct
ing all business transactions. both pub
lie and private. is not conducive(to con-
fidence or stable conditions. Dishon-
csty is universal The public official re-
CARDS his Office as a private opportunity
and seldom loses time in profting by
il. The private citizen makes his fa ~