Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-04-27
A Hope of Peace

yesterday the HSdil VI GAL OAAN
dom thrilled and warmed because of
a sudden bright spot in the dark cloud
of war. The hope that the war may
be averted was raised by the message
from Washington flashed over the
world, that President Wilson had ac-
cepted the tender of the good ofnces
of Argentine, Brazil and Chill (the A.
B. C. of South America) to bring
about a peaceful settlement of the
differences between the United States
and Mexico.
President Wilson is to be commend
ed for so promptly awaiting himself
Of the opportunity to prove to the
world that the strong can afford to be
generous. His act was the justification
of a great American sentiment, an
act that outweighs a thousand charg-
es against that sentiment known as
the Monroe doctrine. Today we, as the
mightiest nation of the Western hem
isphere, recognize the sisterhood and
equality of the American republics.
BY President Wilson's acceptance of
the good offices" of these rich and
powerful republics, fostered and made
possible by our protection, we say
to the world: I'VE have raised up
children of progress and we trust their
principles and intelligence.
The Old World today sees the ma
tional families of the new world get
ting together to settle that most ad-
vanced of Christian doctrines-arbi-
tration: mutual concessions for gem
eral good.
Let the war dogs, straining at the
leash to prove the necessity for their
existence, be withheld. The people of
this country are opposed to war. They
prefer to show to a troublesome
lead him right. than to annihilate him.
Today the growth of human love and
tolerance has dulled the glamour of
war
And the way to prevent war in this
critical hour is to uphold the hand of
the President, who has turned away
from the din OF the war at any cost"
shouters. A thousand excuses will be
found to defeat the purpose Of the
South American diplomats. who would
not let few power-hungry irrespon-
sibles in Mexico involve this continent
in war Let Christian people approve
this act CT President Wilson and urge
him to stand firm.
Today we have seized an opportunity
to prove our devotion to arbitration
and our disinterestedness in maintain
ing the peace of nations without con-
quest. We have no alliance with our
sister American republics, but our
acceptance of their kindly offer we
believe will go a long way towards
cementing an all-American friendship
that will show to the world the true
meaning of the Monroe doctrines de-
velopments to meet the needs of adj
vancing civilization.
Freedom from entangling alliances
with foreign powers" has been large
ly instrumental in defeating a Pan
American development of the Monroe
doctrine. at the same time it's inter
pretations are being expanded and laid
before the world by the United States.
The jealousies and hatreds and false
declarations concerning United States
intentions have been ingeniously and
persistently implanted in every Amer
lea republic and have been seething
there and growing into opposition to
fancied purpose of the United States
TO control the affairs of the republics
themselves. In no part of the world
has the agitation been more bitter or
determined or misleading than in the
United States itself
1t has been agitated in Europe, Asia,
Africa, South America, Central Amer
lea, Canada and the United States it.
self. that America was embarking upon
policy of conquest with a purpose to
bring II to head at some timely op-
portunity, involving the absorption of
all the weaker nations of this hemis-
phere. Let US, however, declare that
this ridiculous notion has never been
suggested by any South or Central
American government; it is always
from irresponsible sources and well
calculated to mislead into world SEN
tsment of sufficient size to overthrow
the accepted force of the real meaning
of the Monroe doctrine, as developed
by the incidents of 80 years.
1t has never been claimed that the
Monroe doctrine is international law
it is the fsrvent expression of an
American policy that sprung from the
hearts Of a great and growing people
that had been tried to the utmost. Its
purpose was that other STRUGGLING