Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-03-18

the Monroe Doctrine is like object
ing to the establishment of court of justice
the idea that it would abolish the law.
Far from destroying or endangering the prin-
ciples enunciated by President Monroe in his
memorable message of December the second,
1928, a League of Nations, such as now is
proposed, will reinforce and perpetuate them,
making them the doctrine of the wide world
as we'll as of this hemisphere.
''It is only when rights are invaded or
seriously menaced,'' wrote President Monroe,
that we resent injuries or make prepara-
tions for our defense" The Americas, he
pointed out, "by the free and independent
conditions which they have assumed and
maintained are not to be considered as sub
jects for colonization by European Powers"
He promptly added that with the existing
colonies or dependencies of any European
Power we have not interfered and shall not
interfere" But-and just here lies the es-
sence of the Doctrine-"with the Govern
ments who have declared their independence
and maintained it, and whose independence
we have, on great consideration and on just
principles; acknowledged, could not view
any interposition for the purpose of oppress-
ing them or of controlling in any other man
ner their destiny, by any European Power, in
any other light than the manifestation of
an unfriendly disposition toward the United
States"
Now, the spirit of monarchical invasion
and ACKNOWLEDGMENT against which those
defective protests of democratic America were
lifted almost century ago is the very spirit
which the League of Nations purposes to
Danish from the whole EARTH or at least to
hold in subsection to the enlightened con-
science of the times. At the very outset of
the proposed Covenant it is declared that the
objects of the League are ''to promote inter-
national cooperation and to secure inter-
tional peace and security by the acceptance
of obligations not to resort to war; by the
prescription of open, just and honorable rela-
lions between nations; by the firm establish
ment of the understandings of international
law the actual rule of conduct among
Governments; and by the maintenance OF
justice and a scrupulous respect for all treaty
obligations in the dealings of organized peo-
pie with one another Which of these OBJ
jects in any wise conflicts with the Monroe
Doctrine? Are Cooperation and peace
and security among nations inimical to any
American republic? Will the acceptance by
Old World countries of ''obligations not to
resort to war; imperil the rights or the tran
quilIity of any land on this side of the water?
Does the prescription of open, just and hon.
orable relations between nations and "the
firm establishment of the understandings OF
International law as the actual rule of con-
duet among Governments threaten to abro-
gate that virtual law and long effective rule
known as the Monroe Doctrine? Or will the
maintenance of justice and scrupulous re-
spect for all treaty obligations" lay any of
our Latin-American neighbors open to inva-
sion from Europe?
Surely, the perturbed solons and scribes
who tremble lest the League of Nations de-
YOUR the Monroe Doctrine have not pondered
that Covenant nor considered any of it's prac-
teal provisions for safeguarding the rights of
peoples and the sovereignty of States Article
Ten explicitly provides that "The high
tracing parties shall undertake to respect
and preserve against external aggression
the territorial integrity and existing political
independence of all States members of the
League" Here we have promised union Of
law-abiding and peace-loVing nations the
globe around to guarantee those very prin
ciples in whose behalf President Monroe
raised Americas voice fve-and-ninet 'ars
ago. Likewise in touching upon Il IT'S
of peoples not yet able to stand M
selves under the strenuous condition me
modern world" the Covenant, after int
ing the welfare of such peoples "a sacred
trust of civilization" declares: "The best
method of giving practical effect to this pr1n-
ciple is that the tutelage of such peoples
should be entrusted to advanced nations who
by reason of their resources, their experience
or their GEO GRAPHIC position can best I'M
dertake this responsibility" Here we have
patent recognition of doctrine which in the
workings of the League would make the
United States, by virtue of experience and
geographical position" the special admins
traitor of such problems as, say, disorder!y
and robustious Mexico might present The
statesmen who drafted and approved the
plans for this League are admittedly the most
experienced we'll as the keenest visioned
and best poised minds of the age. They set
out to draft plan that would work, a plan
that would engender worldwide concord and
preserve all essential rights; not one that
would beget new causes for strife and at the
very start ALLEVIATE so important Power as