The citizen., 1914-03-13
THE MONROE DOCTRINE.

The most serious foreign compica-
ton that the United States has had to
meet certainly since the war with Spain,
and even more serious than that, is pre-
sented by the civil war in Mexico We
are now confronted with the practical
application Of the Monroe Doctrine. The
MOnros Doctrine was promulgated by
James Monroe when he was President
OF the United States 1t was Just after
the war of 1912, which was about one
hundred years ago, and the country had
only been organized about thirty years.
We were then a small country compar
atively, and were confronted with the
necessity Of self preservation against the
foreign nations of Europe, which were
large and powerful, and the fever Of
conquest ragged in all of these nations.
and all of the countries to the south of
us, which were embraced in South Amer
lea, Central America and Mexico, and
while they were large in territory, were
sparsely populated, and were therefore at
the mercy of the strong European ma
tions, who desired to subjoin these coun-
tries and set up colonies of their own,
which would give them foothold on this
continent, and thus enable them to
make war upon US. 1t was at this point
that President Monroe issued his proc
lamation. His proclamation was that
this country would not permit any for
elgn power to subjugate any of these
countries of South America, Central
America or Mexico, and any attempt to
do so would be looked upon as a danger
and menace to the United States, and
would not be permitted by this country.
1t was an oct of self preservation for
the United States, and the conditions
then existing in this country and the
countries Immediately to the south Of US,
were such that this proclamation was
accepted by all of the countries of Eu.
rope-and has been acted upon as such
ever since. There has never been any
questions raised by any European power
since as to its propriety or scope, until
the present time. Since the civil war
in Mexico, there has been in the press
Of Europe and part of the press of the
United States disposition to challenge
the Monroe Doctrine, and to widen the
scope of it. A part Of the press of Eu.
rope and also of this country, seek to
make it appear that we are the guardian
of the countries south of us, and are
bound to be responsible for their man
agement and government. Our only
duty is to see that no foreign power can
subjugate any part of it, and thereby
permit them to establish and enjoy their
own government. 1t is not our duty to
prevent any foreigners from becoming
citizens in any of these countries, or en-
terprise, or investing capital in any bus
mess or enterprise. At the same time
we are not bound by anything in the
Monroe Doctrine to protect the foreign
citizens in these countries, or their cap
ital, or business therein. 1t is not even
our duty to go to war to protect the bus
iness or capital of our own citizens in
these countries
If they go there they must take the
chances that are necessary to all for
egners in foreign country. We are
not called upon to object to foreigners
investing their capital in these countries,
and we are not going to war on any of
these questions. We will see that they
get the benefit of the laws Of these coun-
tries in the protection of their lives and