New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-07-04
THE MONROE DOCTRINE.

SENS LAW. BY charles Francis ADAMS.
Emo. up. a. The HouShton Mi'hln
COMPANY.
Mr.. Taft's four lectures Of last win
ter under the auspices of the Peace So
ciety are reprinted in attractive form,
and are TO be welcomed as among the
most important utterances that have
been made in our day on the relation
of America to the peace of the world.
In any case, the words of ex-Presi-
dent of the United States should com
mand respectful hearing, but Mr.. Taft
is more than mere eXPresident. He
has the distinction of having been the
President who. of all since the founda-
ton of the Republic. took the most sd
vanced ground toward the settlement
cf all international disputes by judi
cial and peaceful means, and thus
toward securing in fact peace with
honor" on the only sure foundation of
justice and equity.
In the present trying condition of our
relations with Latin America il is of
great value TO have Mr.. Taft's sane
and reasonable Interpretation of the
Monroe Doctrine repeated, as an an
Swer to the incorrect fear, pretence. or
what not, that the United States under
that doctrine is intent upon establish
ing suzerainty over its neighbOrs. Mr..
Taft rightly repudiates all such rub
biSh. Oar fat. he holds, is not law over
either the domestic concerns or the for
cign policies of other American govern
ments. We are concerned that their
government shall not be interfered
with by European powers, and that this
hemisphere shall not be treated as
Asia and Africa have been, because
such q condition would be inimical to
our own safety and interests. SO Ar
gentina, Brazil, Chilli and the other
countries are 10 understand that we
claim no supzerainty over them, and
that We do not intrude our guardian
ship upon them as if they were chill
dren and needed il. We merely re-
serve for ourselves the right in any
contingency to act for our own protec-
ton; but the probability of such a
contingency requiring such action is 50
It-uott dS DIdtllCd4lN 70 ItluONt Lnt
chief powers of South America from
the operation Of the doctrine. As for
our attitude toward some Of the small
or and more turbulent states of Central
America and the Caribbean, it is not
based upon the Monroe Doctrine. but
upon principles of civilization and HUI
manity; and il would be assumed Just
tho same if there were no doctrine.
These and other sane views are 10 be
earnestly commended alike to South
Americans who regard the doctrine rs
a n.onscing boyle and to North Ameri-
cans who affect to regard it as char
ter to bumptiousness and unlimited IN
tcInational meddling.
The address on ALIENS and Their
Treaty Rights" is an argument which
should be completely convincing il
favor OF investing the national gov
Crnment with power and authority to
vindicate its own treaty obligations;
in other words. federal performance OF
federal promises. By Arbitration
Treaties That Mean Something Mr..
Taft means such conventions as those
which he tried 10 secure, which would
not exclude from arbitration all the
issues which most needed to be SUB
mtted to it, but which would be su!ii-
GENTLY comprehensive to include ne
disputes which gave greatest menace
of war. The final address on Expert
ments in Federation for Settlement of
international Disputes" is an interest
ing historical study, we'll calculated TO
demonstrate the practicability of an
efficient international tribunal of adj
Judication.
The tasteful reprint Of the address
which Mr.. Adams made before the
American Society Of International Law
Is also TO De welcomed as giving to
those who do not receive the society S
publications it's valuable contents in
permanent form. And its contents are
valuable from more than one point Of
view, as indeed are all Of Mr.. Adams s
contributions TO historical research and
CIacussion. Upon the present topic he
speaks, Of course, with exceptional AZ
rropriateness, seeing that it WAS an
ancestor of his who was probably tie
chief author Of the doctrine.
II may, indeed, have been conceived
many years before, but il was John
Quincy Adams who formulated it foI
PRONUNCIATION. So far as that part OF
IT relating TO European colonization OF
the American continents Is concerned
there can be little doubt that he both
conceived and phrased il. The other
part, warning the Holy Alliance 70 keeE
Canning, but IL, too, was probably put
into its present form by the great Sec
rotary Of State. II has long been q
common thing for Presidents thus Ia
be assisted by Cabinet officers in the
preparation Of their messages, and il
may confidently be assumed that j, was
done in this case.
Mr. Adams holds that in that mes.
rage his illustrious grandsire meant
Just what he said, speaking from his
fulEess OF knowledge Of European as
we'll as American affairs. But in both
pGds the message was addressed e
conditions which have now long since
ceased 10 exist. OF the conditions
which have replaced them, John Quincy
Adams had no foreknowledge. But il
the doctrine is 20 be maintained as
principle Of national policy, its adapta
ton 70 conditions which now exist
must be considered. lie had in minC
. family Of American states under the
hegemOny that word was not then ~
use. but the idea was familiar OF The
United States. This he showed in his
attitude toward the Panama Congress
and in the policy Of his own admins
tration. That policy came to naught
however, and 10 is exceedingly prob
lomatic whether II could or should b'
revived and made effective al the pres
crt time.
Ifacxctcd with il is what Nr. Adam
cdlis 3Ommsens Law, because u IL
most directly expressed by that his
torisn, namely, that people who have
become states shall absorb neighbour
sii1l IN political homage, and that civil
lied peoples shall absorb neighbour
III l., tutcItecfuaf uouage That 10