Year: 1869

Cuba and the Monroe Doctrine.


The administration begins to wake up, evil
IDENTIFY, to the necessity of applying the Monroe


doctrine to the case of Cuba, and that not in
the cramped and narrow meaning which has
been given to II lately by the red-tape diplc-
! macy of the State Department, but in accord
ance with the Interpretation of the people.
in the end under our form Of government,
begins to tell at last upon the timid and
excessively conservative Secretary Of State.
The seizure and ''libelling" of the Spanish
| gunboats and the issue the government is pre-
pared to raise against them as a last resort, OF
| these vessels being intended to make war on
"people or colony" with which the United
| States are at peace, show the broad ground
the administration will take in case of neces-
sity. The President, no doubt, has taken an
active interest in this new movement and new
phase that is about to be given to international
law by America, though the question belongs
especially to the State Department in its
administrative capacity. 1t is proper to con-
clude, therefore, that Mr.. Fish is preparing to
move from his old and unsafe moorings and to
set sail with the popular breeze. We recon-
mend him to 'crack on" with all sail SET for he
has ship equal to any storm, plenty of sea
room and no danger.


The Monroe doctrine was not an abstraction
at the time it was promulgated. 1t was based
on great and broad principles of national
policy, and the government in those early days,
when not fifth as powerful as now, was ready
to maintain it at the mouth of cannon Or by the
sword. The policy proclaimed by that doctrine
was that there should be no more colonization
or conquests on American soil by the nations
and monarchical Powers of Europe, and was
intended to prevent at that particular time the
threatened reconquest of the Spanish American
republics by Spain and her allies. While this
was its special application there was broader
and more comprehensive one which looked to
the protection and extension of republican
institutions over all the countries of America.
1t meant that whenever favorable opportunity
arrived the United States would use its influence
or power to enlarge the area of republican
government and to exclude European domina-
ton in this hemisphere. Since the Monroe
doctrine was established as fundamental
principle Of American policy there have been
occasions when it was not strictly enforced.
The invasion of Mexico and setting up
European monarchy there by the French was a
clear violation of this doctrine and policy; but
the United States had gigantic civil war on
a, oNl ~ ~
as it would have done otherwise. Still this
doctrine was applied, and the French had to
leave and their exotic monarchy was sup
pressed in the end The application would
have been made, no doubt, on broader ground
to Cuba, when revolutionary movements on
several occasions afforded the opportunity,
but for the conflict of opinions in the United
States relative to slavery and sectional rivalry.
These opportunities were lost, and, as a
consequence, Cuba has been a subject of much
trouble and sharp diplomatic encounters be-
| tween this country and European Powers.
| The jealousy and rivalry of these Powers and
the sensibility of Spain have brought this coun-
| try to the verge of rupture with Europe more
than once Now there is another opportunity
and better one than ever occurred before to
apply the Monroe doctrine to Cuba; and there
is no division in this country on the subject.
The slavery question cannot enter into it, for
that institution has been abolished both in
Cuba, by the revolutionary government, and
in the United States. The Cubans have estab-
lished de fdcto government, which exercises
authority over two-thirds of the island, have
perfect civil and military organization, have
maintained successful struggle for four
teen months against Spanish despotism, have
been gaining strength from the commencement
of the revolution, and are stronger to-day than
ever What better opportunity could be
afforded to apply the Monroe doctrine-to
favor the extension of republican institutions
in this hemisphere, and to exclude European
domination from America? Never was there
clearer case, and our government would
show an amount of weakness and ignorance
almost incredible if it should fail to recognize
the Cubans and to throw the shield of American
protection over them.


Disturbances in the French Manufacturing
Districts-Curious Political Reaction.
1t is reported from Paris that troops have
been despatched to Abby, in the department of
the Tarn--the seat of the cotton and woollen