Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1920-02-19

"The great rule of conduct for us in regard
to foreign nations is in extending our commercial
relations to have with them as little political con-
nection as possible. So far as we have already
formed engagements let them be fulfilled with
perfect good faith. Here let us stop.
Europe has a set of primary interests which
to us have none or a very remote relation. Hence
she must be engaged in frequent controversies,
the causes of which are essentially foreign to our
concerns. Hence, therefore, 1t must be unwlse In
us to implicate ourselves by artificial ties in the
ordinary vicissitudes of her politics or the ordi-
nary combinations and collisions Of her friend
ships or enmities.
"Our detached and distant situation invites and
enables us to pursue a different course. If we
remain one people, under an efficient government,
the period is not far off when we may defy ma
terial injury from external annoyance; when we
NAV take such an attitude as will cause the neu-
trality we may at any time resolve upon TO pc
scrupulously respected when belligerent nations,
under the impossibility of making acquisitions
unon us. will not lightly hazard the giving us
proyocation; when we may choose peace or war,
as our interest, guided by justice, shall counsel.
"Why forego the advantages of SO peculiar a
situation? Why quit our own to stand upon for
eien ground? Why, by Interviewing our destiny
with that of any part Of Europe, entangle our
neace and prosperity in the tolls Of European am
bition, rivalship, interest, humor or caprice?
"t is our true policy to steer clear Of perma-
nent alliances with any portion of the foreign
world.
taking care always to keep ourselves by suit
able establishments on a respectable defensive
posture, we may safely trust to temporary al
liances for extraordinary emergencies.
Harmony, liberal intercourse with all nations
are INNER by policy, humanity and inter
est But even our commercial policy should hold
an eoual and impartial hand, neither seeking nor
granting exclusive favors or preferences; . !.
constantly keeping in view that 1t is folly in one
nation TO look for disinterested favors from an
other; that 1t must pay with a portion of its In
denendence for whatever it may accept under that
character; that by such acceptance it may place
itself in the condition Of having given equivalents
for nominal favors, and yet Of being reproached
with ingratitude for not giving more. There can
he no greater error than to expect or calculate
upon real favors from nation to nation. 1t is an
illusion which experience must cure, which a just
pride ought to discard"
The Monroe Doctrine dates from a declaration
December 2, 1923, by President James Monroe
(. In his seventh annual message to congress. The
Holy Alliance, formed in 1915 by Russia, Austria
and Prussia, was threatening to help Spain re-
cover control Of South America. Russia and the
United States were in controversy over the Pa
cifc coast boundaries. The nub Of the Monroe
Doctrine is In these two paragraphs:
aTn the discussions to which this interest 1.-THE
Russian controversy has given rise, and In the
arrangements by which they may terminate, the