The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-07-25
NlNR0E DOCTRINE
DBE STRETCHED
Nidaguan Crisis Is Expected To
tmpel U. s. To Give This Prin-
ciple New Application.

Gmany-toward Nicaragua have
b'usht the Monroe Doctrine into the
Wid's spotlight again and the Inn
Pssion In strong that II will soon be
gen new application.
- me Monroe Doctrine Is an elastic
Qiomatic garment-not so elastic as
popular imagination depicts II.
" capable OF SO much stretching
nen occasion demands that II will
multitude of situations however
nerent. There has not been an ad-
Illustration since its inception In
hich this guiding principle has not
zen hauled out OF its historic recess
TO do service I'm connection with
ne difficulty or another, and indica-
lons are that President Taft's will
2 no exception from this rule.
The Monroe Doctrine Is already
poken of as a most suitable diplo-
natic habiliment to enfold the inter
National eyesore, into which the
shaos of Nicaragua is fast developing,
While the United States restores order
md sets the struggling republic on
Is feet again Agitation has already
,egun, too, In the Pan.American con-
ererce on the part OF the Latin-Amer
ran governments which owe much OF
heir development to its existence, to
make the doctrine--now merely a dec
laratiol Of the United States--a guild
ing ptnciple for the entire western
hemisphere. Such political profess
sion o, faith would mark q new era
for. the two Americas.
Then Is little doubt that the Mon
roe Doctrine of the present day con-
tains inch that was not contemplat.
ed by ne president who first gave II
formal expression. Each administra-
ton In acrisis has tackled new mean
Ing on II or stretched an old meaning
10 greatlr lengths until IL has be-
come a pat Of many colors, but none
the less stout garment and showing
no sign II wear.
Presidat Monroe, In his message
of Dec. 1923, said-"The occasion
has been judged proper for asserting
as priniple in which the rights and
interests Of the United States are In
volved, tat the American continents,
by the rec and independent condi-
tions which they have assumed and
maintain are henceforth not to be
CONSIDERED as subjects for future col
onization by any European powers.
We oweit, therefore, 10 candor, and
TO the aiicable relations existing be-
tween TIE United States and those
powers, % declare that we should
consider my attempt on their part TO
extend teir system 10 any portion
OF this hmisphere as dangerous 10
our peaC and safety. With the ex-
listing comics or dependencies OF any
Europea power we have not inter
fered ad shall not interfere. But
with tn governments who have de-
clared heir independence and main
tained {, and whose independence we
have, n great consideration and on
princiRs, acknowledged, We could
not viw any interposition for the pur
pose depressing them, or in con-
trollin In any other manner their
destin. by any European power, or
in AM other light than as the mani
festatfn OF an unfriendly disposition
toward the United States"
BrieB the Monroe doctrine, as so
uttered. declared against the interpo-
sition { European powers in the az
fairs ofthe American States, the pecu-
liar kid Of interposition being that
undertken for the purpose OF con-
trollini their political affairs and OF
EXTENDING TO this hemisphere the sys.
TEN operation on the continent OF
Euroe.
Gu of the Monroe Doctrine, Luis
M. Irago, Argentine minister OF for
eign affairs, evolved the now famous
DRAG Doctrine, declaring that "the
publc debt cannot occasion armed in
tervution nor even the actual occu-
"a "a
nati0s by European power" This
mutually led TO another question. II
the United States expressly declared
agaiBt the occupation of American
terripry by a European power, who
is gong to take the matter in charge
wher a country, much the same as
NicaAgua now find herself, persists
in sch a course that there Is no
prospect that it's debts will ever be
paid or its just international obliga-
tions fulfilled?
President Roosevelt, In answer to
this, tackled on another patch to the
Moroe Doctrine. givinA expression to
the function OF police power" to be
execised by the United States In such
contingencies.
Chronic wrongdoing," he said In
hismessage, OF Dec. 6, 1904, "or an
imUtence which results in general
looening OF the ties OF civilized so
ciey, may in America, as elsewhere,
Ultimately require Intervention by
sole civilized nation, and In the west
err hemisphere and adherence OF the
Urted, States TO the Monroe Doctrine
mg force the United States, however
reluctantly, In fragrant cases OF such
wpngdoing or impotence. to the ex-
erise OF an international police pow
err,
II may be for President Taft, In
d,aling with the Nicaraguan situa-
TIN, to formulate still another phase
q the Monroe Doctrine which has not
YET come into view In the diplomatic
experiences Of the United States.
Although President Monroe's name
4 attached 20 the doctrine. the prin.
tiple underlying It goes further back.
wen TO the beginning Of the United
States. Washington. I'm his farewell
address. declared that the policy OF
the United States was to avoid en-
tangling alliances with European pow.
ers. The Republican form of govern
ment Vas, In contradistinction to the
monarcbical form prevailing in
Europe, an ideal for which the colon
lists had fought and to which they
were passionately attached. Any
thing threatening that ideai was to
be looked upon as a foe.