Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-07-20
Roosevelt, on Monroe Doctrine.


The Monroe Doctrine has been
subject for frequent school DEBATE in
recent months, because, we presume,
of several striking and somewhat SEN
sationaI articles by good writer's which
have appeared. 1t may interest some
OF these debaters on both sides of the
question, to know how former President
Roosevelt regards the Doctrine, in its
appliea ton of today. In the American
Review of Reviews for July, j. A.
Zahm, writing of "Roosevelts Visit
to South America" says:
Nothing. probably. has given rise,
especially in recent years, TO greater
misunderstanding in South America
than our supposed attitude regarding
the Monroe Doctrine. While the weak
er nations of South America accepted
il and felt secure under its protecting
aegis, the more powerful republics,
like Brazil, Argentina, and Chile, be-
gan to look upon it in its usual aceep-
tation as something of an anachron-
ism. According to them, the Monroe
Doctrine, if it was to continue to serve
the purpose for which it was originally
promulgated, needed modification, or
at least required Interpretation so as
to meet present demands and be ac-
eeptable to the three great nations of
South America just mentioned. They
did not longer wish to be considered
under a protectorate when they felt
quite able to protect themselves.
No better interpreter of the much
discussed doctrine could have been
found than Colonel Roosevelt, or one
to whose words all classes were more
disposed to give heed Although he
spoke in an entirely unofficial capacity,
he was looked upon as voicing the opin-
ion of his countrymen and as express
ing what would be the future policy of
the United States Government, if an
occasion should ever arise, either in
South or North America, for putting
the doctrine TO a test under existing
or future conditions.
The first time Colonel Roosevelt was
afforded good opportunity during his
South American visit to express his
views on the Monroe Doctrine was
at luncheon rendered him in Mon
tevideo. On this occasion the Presi-
dent of Uruguay, in drinking to the
health of his honored guest, referred
to him, in few but pregnant words, as
the defender of the Monroe Doctrine
in the interests of the whole of Ameri-
ca; the stanch partisan of internation-
al justice and of peace with honor; the
fervent propaganda of force and
character placed at the service of pub
lie welfare
In replying IL this toast Colonel
Roosevelt said:
THE Monroe Doctrine is in nc sense
a doctrine of one-sided advantage: it
IS to invoke only in the interest of all
our commemorative in the Western
Hemisphere. 1t should be invoked by
our nations in a spirit of mutual re-
spect, and on a footing of complete
equality of both right and obligation
Therefore, as soon as any country of
the New World stands on a sufficiently
high footing of orderly liberty and
achieved success, of self-respecting
strength, it becomes a guarantor of the
doctrine on a footing of complete
equality. ! congratulate the countries
OF South America that I have visited
and am about TO visit that their prog
ress is such. in justice. political sta
bility, and material prosperity, as to
make them also the sponsors Of the
Monroe Doctrine, so that, as regards
them, all that the United States has to
Go iS to stand ready. as one of the
great brotherhood of American nations.
TO join with them in upholdng the
doctrine should they at any time de-
sire, in the interest of the Western
Hemisphere, that we should do So.