Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1919-11-19
BY CLARENCE L. SPEED

%fhppTtlltIlSlOu, Eedl VI pISLcNutu,
that the cherished Monroe Doctrine
will be signed away II the United
States becomes a party to the league
of nations, as it is now proposed, is
one OF the grounds of opposition to
the league in the senate.
The Monroe Doctrine was enunci-
ated at time when reaction was in
the saddle In Europe. Napoleon had
been crushed and ancient dynasties
were being reestablished on the
thrones which had been overturned
following the French revolution. The
infant republic in America was sur
rounded by the possessions of power
full European states.
With the exception Of the struggling
republic In America there was hardly
any place where the spirit Of demOc-
racy seemed to survive. President
Monroe felt the isolation not only Of
this nation but OF the democratic
spirit which 1t represented. and gave
voice to the doctrine that no Euro
pean state should be permitted to OBJ
tain further territory on this CONT
nent. He feared that the establish
nent OF monarchical forms Of govern
ment any nearer our borders might
make the overthrow Of democracy
complete.
The right Of the United States to
take this position OF guardian of q
hemisphere was never admitted by the
European nations, but Europe was
busy with its own affairs and In the
early days the Monroe Doctrine was
not challenged.
Time passed. Mexico and Central
and South American countries threw
OF the yokes OF Spain and Portugal
Democracy progressed In Europe. The
British government was liberalized.
France became republic. then an
empire, and then once more q repub-
lie. With the exception Of the Ger
man menace, which was not rec0g-
nixed until the war broke ont, Europe
seemed to have mo territorial designs
on America.
4 But the Monroe Doctrine grew and
grew. From being a protection against
the aggression Of monarchy which
might overthrow democracy In the
United States. It came to be inter-
preted as involving duty Of this
country to protect the little Latin
American republics from punishment
for reprehensible acts such as repu.
diation Of debts or violence to the per
sons or property Of foreigners residing
In their borders.
We were placing ourselves In the po-
sition Of being made the policeman
whose duty 1t was TO make the little
republics be good by force or ourselves
to fight other nations which might at
tempt to protect the rights Of their
citizens. Can anyone imagine any
foreign ENHANCEMENT more likely to
involve US in war than this? 1t will
be remembered how near we came to
war with England once on this ac-
count; and just before the world war
broke out It began to seem pretty plain
that we either would have to enforce
order In Mexico or stand aside and see
some other nation do 1t.
However, except that The Monroe
Doctrine was sometimes used to stir
up jingoism in national campaigns. II
mad really played little part In Ameri-
can thought in recent years. In fact,
our assumed rights under It were abb
rOgated In some twenty arbitration
treaties which we signed with England,
France, Russia and other nations In
1918 and the years following. and no
one even noticed II. These treaties
agreed that the United States and the
other nations signing them should
submit all disputes whatsoever to ar
These disputes We're just
as likely probably more soto in I
volve the Monroe Doctrine as anything
else. And under the treaties we
would have had to submit them to an
body much like that pro-
vided for in the league Of nations.
But, though we had signed away
our rights under the Monroe Doctrine,
the league of nations, while 1t does not
mention this American principle spe-
in reality does recognize 1t
by virtue of recognizing the fundamen-
tai principle underlying IT.; and this
Is the first general recognition 1t has
ever had.
The Monroe Doctrine asserted that
no country would be allowed to grab
on this continent without
getting into trouble with us. The
league Of nations provides that no ma.
lion shall be allowed to grab terri
tory anywhere in the world without
getting into trouble with all the mem
bers Of the league. Obviously this APP
plies to America as well MS any other
The result is that we. instead OF
having all the burden Of enforcing the
Monroe Doctrine against the world,
now will have the world pledged to
help us support 1t against any nation
which seeks to grab land.
Apparently this, instead Of dragging |
Is into foreign infringement, helps
ls out of our one hereditary foreign |
which might threaten us
With war over a matter In which we |
had little or no concern.
And what II the league should fail? |
What II all the other nations should
suddenly decide to combine to over
yhelm an offending state on the
American continent?
That would mean simply that we
would be right back where we are
low. We could either assume the