Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-01-20
KNOX REC|TES DUTY
Part of Monroe Doctrine to
Aid Weaker Neighbors.
ALSO IS GOOD INSURANCE
Decrease responsibilities by Better.
ing Conditions in Latin Ameri-
can Countries.

NEW YORK, January 20.-'The heavi-
est and most matter-of-fact responsibility
that today rests upon the United States
declared Secretary Knox in an address
before the New York State Bar Associa-
ton here last night, lis that we should
respond to the needs still felt by some
few OF our Latin American neighbors in
their progress toward good government
by assisting them to meet their just OBJ
legations and to keep out Of trouble"
Urging the ratification OF the proposed
Nicaraguan and Honduran loan conven-
tons. Secretary Knox made a radical de-
parture from his former arguments in
their behalf, asserting as a responsibility
incident to the Monroe doctrine the duty
OF the United States to assist those Gen.
trail American countries to establish tran
quillity within their borders through re-
storing their finances to a sound basis.
Heretofore Secretary Knox has pointed
out chiefly the benefits to be expected
from the adoption of the loan conventions
through the prevention of ''the annual
harvest Of revolutions and the increase
Of prosperity and commerce.
Declared a Duty.
In his speech last night, however. he de-
clared that it vas the positive duty Of
this country to lend assistance to the
weak republics. He traced the develop
ment of the Monroe doctrine, asserting
that 1t was the present policy Of the
United States under that doctrine to lend
q helping hand to our sister republics to
the south to assure just determination Of
the claims Of European nations against
them. This admitted no responsibility for
their wrongdOings, and it was, said Mr.
Knox, a far cry from aiding a neighbor
In doing right or defending right to
assuming 'vicarious responsibility for his
wrongdoings."
But this, he declared, was simply a
statement OF the two extremes OF the
case, and it was the medium course
which at the present time this country
had to consider in determining its policy
In other words, ahe question to deter
mine, he said, was how far the United
States might go I'm helping another
American people ito avert any injurious
consequences of wrOngdoing.
A Matter Of Insurance.
From a material standpoint. said Mr..
Knox. the question reduced itself simply
to one of insurance.
I'VE diminish our responsibility, he
said, Sin proportion as we bring about
improved conditions Like an insurance
risk, our risk decreases as the conditions
to which it pertains are improved"
The Secretary did not hesitate to adj
nit that there was actual danger pre-
sented in the question Of foreign inter-
ference in Central American republics.
In his discussion Of the Monroe doctrine
he traced the history Of Cuba to show
how wise had been the policy of the
United States in opposing the interior
ence of France and Great Britain when
those nations proposed to cooperate with
Spain to guarantee Spanish retention OF
Cuba.
Senate. Elihu Root, who is president
of the New York Bar Association. adj
dressed 1t yesterday on Judicial Deci-
sions and Public Feeling
Impatient With Courts.
Speakins of the increasing tendency
among Americans toward impatience With
the courts whenever judicial decisions do
not agree. with their wishes, Senator
Root said the provisions for the recall Of
Judges, already adopted in some states
and widely advocated in others. are an
exhibition of this Impotence and de-
mand for more unchecked opportunity to
make the judges feel it's effects.
With these tendencies the speaker de-
clared he had no sympathy. soVer-
eign people," said he, (which declares
that all men have certain fnaiienabie
rights. and imposes upon Itself the great
impersonal rules of conduct deemed nec-
essary for the preservation OF those
rights. and at the same time declares
that 1t will disregard those rules when
ever. In any particular case, 1t Is the
wish OF majority of its voters to do SO,
established as complete contradiction
of the fundamental principles of our gov
eminent as 1t Is possible to conceive.
1T abandons absolutely the conception
Of q justice which is above ma3oritfes. OF
a right in the weak which the strong are
hound to respect It denies the vital truth
that human nature needs to .distrust Its
own impulses and passions. and to estab-
iish for its own control the restraining
and guiding influence OF declared prfn-
ciples Of action
John Smith aged eiEhty.three years,