The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1913-01-05

The United States and Latin America
Il question OF the greatest concern
for the whole continent, and a matter
that at the present time Is arousing
he keenest interest OF the entire civil
lied world. Every right thinking citi-
rem OF these twenty-one republics de-
Eres that there should exist relations
that are harmonious and just, relations
that shall become year By year more
Intimate, more cordial, more helpful,
But what are the tendencies today? ?
Our commercial contest with our
southern netghbors his increased enor-
mously since the Spanish-Amer1can
war and is destined to continue In
creasing at a tremendous pace with the
opening of the canal. WIN this In
creased intercourse give rs a frmer
hold on the goodwill Of the Latin
American republics, or win 1t but en-
render suspicious, jealousies, antag-
DnIsms and finally positive resistance To
the United States as arbiter among the
American states? In order to get a
proper background for a discussion Of
this matter let as take q glance from
the historical point Of view OF the rela-
tons a. they have existed up to the
present day.
Under Spanish Domination.
At the time OF the foundation Of the
American Union this vast territory,
with the exception Of Brazil, which was
= Portuguese colony, and a few small
er possessions OF the British, Dutch
and French, was under the domination
of Spain. About 1910 the Spanish
colonies, encouraged by the example Of
our war Of independence and by that
Of the French revolution, began a
movement, or rather series Of move
ments, for the Spanish colonies were
not united as were the English, was
brought to q successful close IN 1924
at the battle Of Ayacucho. In the Peru
Wan Andes Here the Spanish were
thoroughly beaten and Peru, the last
stronghold Of Spain on the continent Of
South America, became a free and in
dependent nation.
The time chosen for revolt IN South
America was especially prcp1ttous;
for dating from the latter part Of the
eighteenth century until 1915, when the
battle Of Waterloo cleared the atmos-
phere, the whole OF Europe was IN tur-
moil, and so but little attention could
be given to affairs IN America But
now that order was beginning to come
out Of the old-world chaos, now that
the European powers, instead Of Tight
ing among themselves, had settled for
the moment their domestic trouble and
were beginning to combine to uphold the
divine right OF kings, It was feared
that Spain through the aid OF her
neighbors, especially of Austria, Prus-
STA and Russia, who had formed a
league known as the holy alliance,
might recover possession OF her free
dow loving daughters. And this was the
move to be feared since these daugh-
tiers were Jealous of one another and
in many cases engaged in family quar-
rcls of the most futile sort.
I'm the foundation Of the Aneri-
: n republic 1t has been a clearly de-
fined principle that the United States
should avoid entangling itself IN the
politics of Europe. The counterpart of
this principle. that the European pow
ers should not be allowed to take a
controlling interest IN the political af-
fairs of the new world, vaguely felt
perhaps from the first, did not however
take definite shape until 1928 when
President Monroe in HIS famous mes
sage clearly defined X by asserting
that the American continents, by the
free and independent condition which
they have assumed and maintain, are
henceforth net to be considered as
subjects for future colonization by any
European power; that we& owe 1t to
candor and to the amicable relations
existing between the United States and
these powers to declare that we should
consider any attempt on their part to
extend their system to any portion Of
this hemisphere as dangerous to our
peace and safety; that with the gov
ernments who have declared their IN
dependence and maintained II. and
whose independence we have on great
consideration and on just principles &C.
knowiedged, we could not view any in
terposition for the purpose OF Cypress
ing them or controlling In any other
manner their destiny by any European
power IN any other light than as the
manifestation Of an unfriendly dispo-
sition towards the United States.
The Monroe Doctrine.
The Monroe Doctrine as originally
enunciated, therefore, declared that
there should be "a no more European
colonies on this continent; CD no ex-
tension OF the European political sys-
tenn to any portion of this hemisphere,
anu NoJ NO GuIOpCd4u pOSltlOn
the affairs OF the Spanish American re-
publics. It does not form a part Of the
body Of international law, nor has It
ever received legislative sanction In the
United States. For this reason It has
been interpreted by the United States
TO mean different things at different
times. The tendency seems to be to
give It a more and more ample signifi-
canoe. For example. the attitude that
President Cleveland took In the vene-
Euelan boundary dispute could hardly
be founded on a strict Interpretation
Of the doctrine as originally pro-
rlaimed. And in 1870 Grant In urging
the annexation OF San Domingo pre-
pared the following amplification:
The doctrine promulgated by Presi-
dent Monroe has been adhered to by all
political parties and now deem II
proper to assert the equally important
principle that hereafter no territory on
this continent shall be regarded as