The Washington herald., 1917-07-05

The question Of whether the United
states is to abandon the Monroe doc
trine Is coming sharply to the fore as
a result Of the entrance of this nation
into the European war.
President Wilson. Secretary of State
Lansing and all other principal offi-
cials Of the government are vitality
concerned with the problem and con-
slider that the American people have
come to divergent pathways. one lead
ing the way clearly pointed by the
celebrated pronunciamento Of Presi-
dent Monroe and the other reachiny
farther afield into world diplomacy
and politics than the American people
ever before have ventured.
It can be definitely announced that
the present tendency of the admins
tration is toward an abandonment of
the doctrine which has been followed
for nearly q century. The sharp
division has come on the question OF
whether the United States Is to follow
up Its action in sending an expedition
airy force to Europe by entering with
spirit into the political councils of the
entente nations and taking a hand in
the nations OF European affairs.
Fixed Policy Abandoned.
The course of action now favored by
probably a majority of the most in
fluential officials of Washington con-
templates extensive participation by
the government at Washington in the
ordering of the destinies Of European
states and their dependencies. Herein
lies the departure from the Monroe
doctrine.
For nearly a century and a half the
United States has so maintained it
self as an independent state, that in
dependence extending further and
meaning more to the rest of the world
than the independence OF any other
nation in history. save Rome and
Great Britain, and that peculiar form
of American independence was won
and has been held in the teeth of the
latter nation.
This special sort Of independence has
meant that the people OF the United
States have consistently held aloof
from the wars which have embroiled
Europe and, at the same time, have
prevented any encroachments of for
eign nations upon the entire American
continent.
Must Decide It's Destiny.
First espoused by Washington and
jefferson, so clearly defined by Mon
roe that it takes his name, reaffirmed
by Polk in the Franco-Mexican crisis.
by Grant. by Cleveland. by Roosevelt
and most recently by President Will
son himself. the Monroe doctrine has
placed the United States on a separ-
etc pedestal. on an offensive and de-
fensive basis, unique in the history of
the world.
Now has come the hour In which
the people are to decide whether this
doctrine shall stand. II the answer
be affirmative, Americas part in the
European war must be that of a dis
interested policeman, whose duties
and responsibilities are at an end
when peace is concluded. II II be neg
ative, this nation must accept re-
sponsibility for the course of politics
in Europe and the rest of the nom
American world after the war. In
practically all OF his principal COM
munications and utterances on the
state of the world, President Wilson
has firmly taken the stand that the
United States no longer can hold aloof
from world affairs. but must be one
of a concert of nations, and must ex-
tend its arm to any point, where the
influence of this nation can assist, In
establishing constitutional liberty or