The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-01-22
EVOLUTION vs. ROOSEVELT.
The SeIf-Respecting Mexican Point oi
 View.

The SeIf-Respecting Mexican Point 0t
 View.
 Mexican Herald. N
 That very significant part of Presi- dent Roosevelt's message to Congress dealing with the Monroe doctrine be- gins to receive comment in leading American and European journals. In this portion of his message Mir. Roose- welt plainly asserts the right to "exer- else an international police power" to compel the other American nations to act with reasonable efficiency and de- cency in social and political matters" |" phis is the Rooseveltian expansion of the original Monroe doctrine The young imperator speaks with an impe- rial voice. and what he really means Is that the United States assumes a moral protectorate over Latin America, this moral sway to be made an effective physical protectorate in case of an as- stunned necessity, the necessity to be de- termined at Washington. It matters not that President Roosevelt disclaims for the United States any land hum ger or that 1t entertains any prof ects as regards the other nations of the Western Hemisphere save such as are for their welfare." Fair words. but after the Panama incident, the Latin American nations may well regard with suspicion the setting on foot of "proj- ects" for their welfare The conti- mental policeman may be seized with sudden appetite and come to entertain the idea that his welfare is the dom inant consideration. The New York World reiterates now what it said whom MT. Roosevelt sent in his letter to the Cubans, celebrating the first anniver- sary of their independence in that city, namely. that he contemplates "a bully Ing overlordship of the other nations in this hemisphere" And it adds: No such unwarranted, shocking and dan gerous extension of the executive power was ever proposed by a President of the United States. There is no war rant for it fin the constitution, in law or in precedent" This we may fairly take as the Democratic view of MT. Roosevelt's expanded Monroe doctrine.
 MT. Roosevelt says, N"If nation keeps order and pays it's obligations. 1t need fear no interference from the United States"
 This is the big stick" fourished in the face of the world. No account is taken of the gradual evolution of Lat in-American states along lines of efti- cient self government. Yet in the larger nations such evolution is going on steadily; they do maintain order. and they do act with reasonable effi- ciency and decency in social and polit- ical matters. They have good credit abroad; they have an expanding for eign trade. administration succeeds ad- ministration in a quiet and orderly manner, as recently In Argentina, Chilli. Brazil and Peru. The habit of order Illness is growing, political stability Is becoming the rule in the larger coun- tries of Latin-America. Education spreads and the schoolmaster Is abroad in the land. It is all a most healthy political evolution, and there is no call for the admonishing words of the "con- tinental policeman"
 Let us take the extreme instance of a Latin American nation refusing to pay it's just debts, owed to foreign credi- tors. In such case the proper penalty IS at once felt. Foreign capitalists and other investors refuse to lend any more money to the delinquent nation. which falls into disrepute and poverty. The offending nation thus pays for it's dishonesty and usually becomes prey to internal factions. All this, as Her bert Spencer might have pointed out. is one of the stern lessons which teach wisdom. and in the end. profits the offender. It is better to allow such a