Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1907-07-01

ample. III tHlS ~ reason, make the
most OF it,"
Ever since President Monroe utter
ed his famous declaration. the PEG.
pie Of the United States have held
81 as sacred az their Constitution. 1t
Is still sacred 10 them. No patriotic
American. in any position. highest or
lowest. would endanger that doc
trine; or turn II into a trversity be
fore the nation OF the world. Aud
yet. II Is officially announced. that
acting under some malign influence.
THAT American representatives to
the Peace Conference at The Hague,
have reserved the right TO introduce
the subject of collecting contractural
debts by force of arms"
This has very important signif-
canoe. The veteran Washington cor
respondent OF the Baltimore Sun
says: This may involve the consider
alton of the Monroe doctrine by the
Peace Conference. and under condi-
lions TO give an Interpretation to
that doctrine which 1t did not bear.
prior TO the advent of President
Roosevelt"
The pirauCal capture OF Panama,
i'm the pretended recognition of a
republic there, which did not really
,xist. was violation of international
law, which the nations OF the world
permitted without question, because
Of the need OF canal; they permit
ted that violation of international
law, tacitly understanding that Pan
anna was taken by right Of the
worlds eminent domain. But, the
collection of contractural claims by
force has not the sanction of inter
national law, and must not have
The appeal Of President Roosevelt,
to conference made up OF foreign
ers, for new Interpretation of the
Monroe doctrine, does not stamp him
as shining light of American patri-
otism. And what is the opposite of
patriotism?
In recent years, the United States
Senate has been the palladium of the
liberti6E of the American people.
| The Executive has bound hand and
foot the House of Representatives
so that the people have actually no
representation; but che United States
Senate has resisted the encroachment
of the Executive. During the past
winter the President insisted upon
his doctrine OF using warships for
the collection OF contractual claims
or debts; but the Senate prevented
that course. And now, IL the people
will but see facts as they are, the
President of the United States has
appealed from the Senate of the Unit
ed States, to this foreign peace con-
| ference, to sustain him in his pur-
poses.
The gravity OF this question can
hardly bee exaggerated Congress
has never put an Interpolation upon
the Monroe doctrine, because IL has
never been deemed wise to do so:
but in its application there has been
an agreement among American states
men up to the time Mr.. Roosevelt
applied the name TO an entirely new
doctrine.
/ Mr.. Roosevelt advanced his theory
to sustain his unauthorized action I'm
the Dominican affair. Behind the
proposition is the contemplated en-
ployment of this Government in the
collection of American contractural
claims in which. II the heretofore
unbroiIen line OF presidents we're re-
spected. the Government would have
no concern beyond the employment
| OF diplomatic agencies I'm the inter
est Of its citizens.
It is serious matter for this Gov
eminent to assume responsibility for
the good faith and good conduct of
the South and Central American re-
f. publics toward all the other nations
Of the earth and the protection of the
. private contractural interests Of citi.
zens OF all nations The Roosevelt
doctrine" involves this OBLIGATION
however, and the gravest consequen.
ccs may be apprehended from tho
subject being presented at the con.
ference at The Hague The Roose-
welt doctrine has not had the sane
ton of any action by Congress. and
Do has been distinctly disavowed by
nearly an the grea, American states.
men who have had to- deal with the
Monroe Doctrine
Secretary OF state Seward said on
the subject of coutractursI claims.
The people who go to these region.
'South America and encounter great
risks in the hope OF great rewards
must be regarded as taking an tho
! circumstances into consideration. and
cannot with reason ASK their Goccrn.