Imperial Valley press., 1917-01-04
THE MONROE DOCTRINE IN 1916.

term down TO Cno present HOuI, lIe Io o0
doctrine has been principal topic of discussion in the
United States and in other lands Governments, po-
masts learned bodies and newspapers have had 1t un
der serious consideration But at time has the effort
to weigh and its scope anG possible influence III
world affairs been marked than in the year now
closing 1t would be difficult to define the Monroe
doctrine as to define the British Constitution which IS
tantamount to saying that 1t would be lmposslole we
have in one case as in the other certain underlying and
unvaryng springs and rules Of thought and action out
growths of the religious economic and political expert
ences and traditions of race; that are equally beyond
expression or Interpretation in fixed terms.
Speaking for the Monroe Doctrine specifically 1t has
been we'll described as flexible diplomatic garment not
so elastic perhaps it sometimes depicted but capable
of so much stretching when occasion demands that
be made to fit multitude of different situations. Only
in the troubous early $685. when Napoleon III attempted
to impose the unfortunate Maximan upon Mexico, has
it been deliberately and openly, and for time, success
fully defied and overiden Then the nelghbong repub-
c without consulting authorities ndging in fine
spun interpretations took It's vlndcaon IN hand WIN
tragic swiftness and emphasis. Here instance OF
special definition.
That act of Mexico put into actual practice the idea
proposed forty years earlier by George Canning the
British statesman and the doctrine propounded by James
Monroe the United States president through his secre
tary Of state John Quincy Adams that the political and
territorial integrity of the nations of the American con-
ents must not be menaced attacked by pow
er 1t was in effect the finishing touch to the rebuff CIV
en- the Holy Alliance when it undertook to overurn the
work of revolution and to stay the progress OF democ-
racy in Spanish America. When the United States rem
ered mpotent by domestic discord unable to raise
hand in defense of the Monroe Doctrine and when other
republics Of the Western Hemisphere either lgno
ant Of or Indifferent to it's demands Mexico, fired by de-
voton to independence and liberty drove out the minons
of the Bonapates and Hapsbug and prevented the es-
tablshment of precedent that might have made the
Americas perpetual prey to the lesser royalties of con-
tnental Europe.
1t is worth while to ponder Mexicos conduct at that
time because contemplation of it will assist in dspelng
any possible illusion that the Monroe Doctrine some
thing solely Of by and for the United States The
ertainnen of this Illusion the chershlng and proud ex
ploaton Of it. have in the past contributed toward
rangemen from the United States of the neighborng
pubcs whose interest in the doctrine is no less vital than
that of the nation in which it first found expression
Nothing could be farther from the spirit of the Monroe
Doctrine than the belief that has obtained too long and
widely in the United States that that country has in some
way been invested entrusted with its exclusive admin
isratiOn and execution.
broader understanding profound interpre-
aton obtains to the SOUTH has found uterance in Pan
American conferences and is insisted by the states
men and the representative press of every Central and
South American republic One after another presidents
secretaries and dpl0matists Of the United States have
been surprised and sometimes embarrassed find that
the spokesen Of the Southern nations, small and great
have been able to grasp the Monroe Doctrine its po-
tentiates and it's possibilities with deeper comprehen
sion and wider vision than the spokesman of the country
which prone to claim the sole propretorship and to
itself the principal beneficiary Of this safeguard
of American institutions.
The Monroe Doctrine was designed with higher
purpose than that of advancing the interests Of any
ticular nation In its broadest and best Interpretation
enunclauOn OF Cle sentiment mas INSPIRED
from the beginning the migration Of peoples dscontented
with the trames and restrictions of the old civza
tions and led them cast their lot and seek their for
tune with the The details of application enforce
ment of the doctrine are of small compared with
its central purpose which is that the ideals impeline
these movements shall be allowed to develop expand
grow and attain their maturity without interference.
1t is not merely political or territorial aggression
against which the Monroe Doctrine is arrayed; it is in
yoed against the invasion of the Americas by all beliefs
systems and institutions anagonsc to and subversive
ltc AT hOn hy~0aC
who insist upon giving it material Interpretation only
fall short utterly Of comprehendng either its meaning