Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1915-current, 1917-07-10


hostile monarchies over the sea, 4
order to make the New World safe 70
democracy our forefathers establish
ed here the policy that soon came I
be known as the Monroe doctrin,
Warning the Old World not to int,
fere II the political life OF the new
our government pledged itself in n
turn to abstain from interference 1,
the political conflicts OF Europe; an
history has indicated the wisdom o
this course. We were then too veal
to influence the destinies of Europe
and II was vital to mankind that thi'
nrst great experiment in government
OF aud by the people should not bt
disturbed by foreign attack.
Reinforced by the experience Of
our expanding national life, this doc
trire has been ever since the domi
mating element In the growth OF oui
foreign policies. Whether or not we
could have maintained It I'm case OF
concerted attack from abroad, Il has
seemed OF such importance to us
that We were at all times ready to
90 to war In It's defense. And though
since 1t was first enunciated our
strength has grown by leaps and
bounds. although in that time the
vast increase OF our foreign trade and
OF travel abroad, modern transport,
modern mails, the cables and wireless,
have brought US close TO Europe and
have made our isolation more and
more imaginary, there has been, until
the outbreak of the present conflict,
small desire 81. 4lr part to abrogate
or even amend the old familiar tradi,
ton which has for SO long given us
peace.
In both conferences at The Hague
in 1883 and 1907, we reaffirmed this
policy. AS our delegates signed the
first convention in regard to arbi
trstion, they read into the minutes
this statement:
Nothing contained In this con
yention shall be SO construed as &c
require the United States OF America
to depart from its traditional policy
Of not intruding upon, interfering
with, or entahsiing itself into the DO
hdcal questions or policy or inter
nal administration Of any fo!eigr
state; nor shall anything containet
In the said convention be construed
to imply REIMBURSEMENT by thu
United States Of America OF It's ira
ditional attitude toward purely Amerl
lean questions"
At The Hague we pledged our
selves, In case we ever went to war
TO observe certain broad genera
rules Of decency and fair fighting
But at the same time we cleared
ourselves from any responsibility by
forcing other nations to observe sim
iiar pledges. And in 1906, when our
delegates took part in the AIgecirap
Conference. which was to regulate the
Affairs OF the distracted Kingdom OF
Morocco, they followed the same for
mnla there. While acquiesclng in the
new regime which guaranteed the in
dependence and integrity OF Mexico
we explicitly announced that we as
sumed no police responsibility for IN,
enforcement OF the treaty. And II an,
honest doubt was left as to our stii
tade In regard to the enforcement Of
Old World agreements, II was dis
PEELED 1--WE years later. when our GOV
eminent refused to protest against tn,
overthrow OF the Acte d'Algeclras.
We declined to be drawn init
auarreis abroad which might endan
ser In any way our traditional policy
Our second great tradition in ia
ternationsl relations has been OH
persistent effort to secure A stabl
and equitable agreement Of the ne
lions upon such maritime code a
would assure to ali the world a jus
freedom Of the seas.
This effort was born of our Wit,
need. For although II was possibl
for the Republic to keep aloof fro,
the 18TH century disputes that rer
the Continent OF Europe, we cou,
not be indifferent TO the way
which war was conducted at sea.
those early years OF our nations
life, when we were still but fe
communities ranged along the A
isniie coast, We we're seafaring ne
pie. AZ time when our froutIersmt
had not yet reached the Mlssissip,
the fame OF our daring clipper shi,
had spread TO all tho Seven Seas.
while We could watch the triumpba
march and the magic and the tras
ooanteTmarch of Napolcon's graz
army with detached Indifference. h
Continental Blockade and the Britt
Orders IN Council at once Affected a
lives of our citiaens intimately n,
dfssstrouBly.
- 50 itwas In the case Of the u,
barry pirates. We had no interest