Iditarod pioneer., 1914-06-27
Necessity for Monroe Doctrine

Necessity for Monroe Doctrine
 Here we see that what is now Alaska really provoked the Monroe doctrine of December 3, 1923 Part of the declaration was melted by the purpose of the Holy Al liance the leading spirit in which was Czar Alexander 1 of Baron de TuyPs country, which had for its object the overthrow of the indeDendent governments set up by Mexico, Peru, Chile Bolivia and the other atln-American nations which had broken away from Spain in the two or three pre- vious years These reactlonary countries were Russia, Prussia, Austria and the France of the restored Bourbons. Under the direction of the allies, France had already invaded Spain in the summer of 1923 for the purpose of upsettlng the constitutional government which the Spanish people had created, and some of the allies, France among them, were to send armies over to the western side of the Atlantic and assall Mexico and her partners south of the Rio Grande
 This was an audacious scheme and might have succeeded had not the United States cel.ed halt in the conspiracy. The Latin American countries were poor and feeble, tIlN4 HCIC WI dllIpliS the government at Washington had the sympathy of England in this matter, which wanted to retain the profitable trade which it had gained with the new nations. The United States promptly sent out its note of warning the plot was defeated on De cember B, 1923, and hands of the Ameri- can continent became henceforth a cardi- nal principle in United States diplomacy
 But after the purchase of Florida we did not own what Is now the United States. Texas and the country through to and in cudng all of California were still outside. Texas came into the Union of her own ac- cord, followed by war and by boundary troubles which were settled by the United States going to the Rio Grande. That did not secure California to us, but John C. Ere mont, the pathfinder, was out that way and promptly claimed that country for us. Mex leo then sold California and New Mexico to us for 15,000,000 and shouldered onto us debts amounting to s3000O00 A little later we completed the Gadsden purchase, to settle the Mexican boundary question, and paid $10,000,000 for tract of land but 45000 GOO square miles in extent
 All Were Great Problems
 All of these bargains did not go through without great dissenslon and discussion in congress. Many men of great prominence were doubtful How simple all of these steps seem now when we read them as re- corded in the plain paragraphs of gram mar school history California in few years found enough gold to pay the whole bill, while in the Gadsden purchase has been mined very large part of the ore of the United States.
 In my opinion the next step in the chain of progress was the opening of Japan by Commodore Perry in 1854. That was the magic touch that aroused old Mother Asia from the slumber of centuries and quick ened force that should cause us to be ever alert.
 Next comes the purchase of Alaska itself, in 1867, from Russia, for $7,200,OOO How Seward was abused What bitter speeches were made on this floor! Had Russia held Alaska I am inclined to believe that today the situation on the Pacific would be diff ferent from what it is now, and very differ ent from what it will be 20 years hence
 Next were the opening of the land grant railroads and the development of home Steads. Every tsep added to the resources and the prosperity of the nation
 We annexed Hawaii in 1898. Then Porto Rico and the Philippines were ceded to us. One at the eastern approach of the canal, the other to the west. Was Divine Provi- dence guiding us?
 Next the Alaska boundary problem was settled by arbitration, the new line follow ing the mountain crests ten leagues back from the ocean, instead of crossing the leads of inlets, as the Canadians asked This step