The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1914-12-08
Mr.. Taft, the Monroe Doctrine and
Canada.

William Howard Taft, former president
of the United States, is lawyer by
choice and by training; he has served as
assistant prosecuting attorney, and again
as assistant solicitor of his home county
in Ohio, as judge of the superior court in
Cincinnati as solicitor general of the
United States, as United States circuit
judge; he has been engaged at various
times in handling international and con-
stitutional questions; he has been honored
with degrees in recognition of his emf
hence in law by several of the American
universities; he was made first president
OF the American academy Of jurispru-
dence; he is a past president of the
American Bar association; he is now
Kent professor of law in Yale university.
When he speaks on any question involv-
ing state, national or international law
thousands listen attentively and are i'm
pressed by his words
Discussing the Monroe doctrine in an
address at Montclair, n. j., one night re-
Gently, Mr.. Taft touched on matter of
continental interest namely the probable
attitude of the United States govern
'hoht VIVIAN any Liiht uu-
dertake to invade the Dominion of Can
ada 1t is the business of the lawyer to
deal with such a question unsentimental-
ly and internationally, and with regard
only to the law in the case; and MIR.
Taft dealt with it after this manner
when he said that the landing of troops
in Canada by enemies of Great Britain
would not constitute a violation of the
Monroe doctrine-a doctrine that takes
on the substance of law in the United
States-but that an effort to establish a
new form of government in case of vie
tory of the invading forces would be such
a violation.
In view of the part Canada is playing
In connection with the war-her activity
in behalf of the mother country and OF |
the allies-it would be difficult, Mr.. Taft |
thought, for the United States to find an |
excuse for intervening to prevent Ger
many from taking counter measures and |
carrying the war into a country that is
waging war on her; and he added: "All |
that the Monroe doctrine could consist
emily require of us would be to insist |
that when the war is over, if Germany
were successful, she could not take over
the territory of Canada and overthrow
her government and establish her own
there, or take any oppressive measures
which would have a similar effect. But
we could not object to her demanding an
indemnity if she were the victor"
1t is to be fervently hoped that COM
plications may not arise at this or at any
future time that would oblige the United
States to witness an invasion of Amer
lean territory. Should they arise, how
ever, no matter whether the invading ma
ton were Germany or some OF q II, sit
lation would probably be brought about
over which the Monroe doctrine could ex-
srcise, positively or negatively, very lit
lie influence. We have seen recently how
little regard there is for law or equity or
,thics when human passions are aroused !
md infamed. IL were futile TO attempt
% fathom the consequences Of an inva- ,
'ion of Canada, and it is unnecessary at
his juncture to speculate on them. The
United States, at least, win be more
'roiitably employed in striving with ?
'reater earnestness and persistence than
yer before toward the realization of =,
world conditions under which no such /,
contingencies as those contemplated by
dr. Taft, himself a peace loving man,
an be possible Science Moni-
or.