The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-11-13

An Able Attsmpt 60 now mat me Pe,srfszs
Need Of II Hss Passed Away.

An Able Attempts 20 SNOW Inax inc Fo1xtbH
Need Of II Has Passed Away.
To TIE EpIroR or rxs sus-st,s rhs
essence OF the Monroe Doctrine. hat no other
nation shall dispcessss any nation on q.
American continent without mourning en-
displeasure Of the United States. 10 obviouslr
tantamount to Q warning By the United Stst-s
that such . procedure viii msan war.
But why?
When President Monroe. IN the year isss.
promulgated his momentous message 70 th-
Congress the population Of the United States
was about 1000. 900 and the presence on this
continent OF one OF the great Powers Of EurorN
might well seem afdangerous menace 20 tbs
United States Government.
To-day the population OF the Upttsd States
is about 80, OOo.O
Again, in 1873 there was no telegraph. no
vessel capable OF crossing the Atlantic ocesA
In six days. and in -seoue no trade II
serious import between Europe and America.
Owing to the small population OF the United
States when President Monroe sent his mem
orable message TO the Congress, this Govern,
ment might well have viewed. with appreher-
sion the presence near to 1t OF q great Power
unfriendly to democracy in general and to
the United States in particular as its chief
exponent.
To-day IL is inconcelvable that the Omitted
States can regard with fear any Of the great
FOWCIt " u EuIODNs AAu 'ho tAhN
OF self-preservstion as a motive for enforcing
the Monroe Doctrine no longer exists. The
ocean telegraph and the trade and
constant intercourse between the nations
south of the United States and the nations G.
Europe have placed the nations OF the old
world sndof the new in the relation OF debtor
and creditor. II. as a result of that relation,
any of the South American Governments
finds itself debtor to any of the nations OF
Europe and is unable or unwilling to pay its
debt, by all the presidents OF history and Of
international law the reditor nation has the
right to employ force to recover what lie due
to 1t when peaceful means prove Ineffective.
Why, then, assuming such a situation e1-
listing between one Of the Powers OF Europe
and one OF the States OF South America.
should the United States intervene II such
creditor European Power should occupy the
territory Of the debtor South American State,
Assuming once more that the dictates OF
common honesty are binding on the United
States and that the United States is not
afraid Of any European Power, why should
the United States interfere in the case sup
posed?
Possibly for the sake of democracy.
But II was not for the sake of democracy
in general that President Monroe made his
pronouncement.
1t was made as a matter Of public policy
for this country.
The element OF fear being eliminated, ths
only reasonable motive remaining for the
United States Directing to the presence on the
western side OF the Atlantic Ocean OF any
foreign Power is the determination to support
the democratic States or this continent be-
cause they are democratic.
Assuming once more that democratic gov
eminent is the government of the United
States and that any government essentially
differing from il is not democratic. IL may bs
~ --.G
of the Gulf Of Mexico are democratic as thar
word is defined by the people Of the United
States?, y, it- -.
1t is not hazarding much to affirm that
from Mexico to Patagonia the Government
OF each State of Central and South America
is an autocracy in fact though a democracy
in name. Tn President" OF any OF these
States usually holds office until some other Of
his fellow citizens is equal TO the operation
OF removing him and OF taking possession II
the Presidential chair--or throne.
1t may belt probably is-vell that a mar
Of real grit shotld control the destiny OF these
South American States. but that does not
constitute them democracies. however much
their constitutions" may use the term in
describing them.
Probably few il any men Of serious mind
In this country would desire the Cow mment
formally to adopt the attitude Of a protec-
torate over the several States Of Central
America and OF South America: and yet II
the United States is determined to oppose
be the circumstances what they may-ths
permanent occupation by a Power OF Europe
of the territory OF any Of those States, this
Government is in fact adopting the attttude
of'a protectorate over the several States to
the south OF the Gulf of Mexico.
The possibilities involved in this attitude
are nothing less than appalling.
Suppose one OF these States indebted to
one OF the States Of Europe and. although
able. not willing TO pay the debt. Would i
not be the duty OF the United States to com
pei, even by force. such State TO pay? or
supposing one OF these States to have in
ficted a gross indignity upon the represent
alive Of any nation Of Europe in the belief
that this nation would uphold il. would II not
be the duty Of the United States to coercs
that State into making amends?
Many other possible causes OF interference
by the United States will occur to the imos-
nation, but these two will suffice.
Is the game worth the candle?
Is IL worth the men and the money Of this
country to police Central America and Soutb
America merely TO prevent some European
Government taking possession Of territory
south of the United States?
And II the peoples to the south Of this country
know that II they become involved In trouble.
especially Of their own making, with any nation
of Europe they will be unprotected by the United
States. is il not probable that they will b.
careful TO abstain from acts Of governments
impropriety2
Is not the venerable adase'true: 1TemporA
.mutantur ct nos mutsmur in Ills?
NEW YORK. November IL. W. r. G.