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The Monroe Doctrine

The Monroe Doctrine image
Parent Issue
Day
16
Month
April
Year
1895
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

In view of the present complications between Great Britain and Venezuela, growing out of certain claims of the f ormer to a portion of the territory of the latter, in violation, as many believe, of this famous principie so universally accepted by our people, a brief discnssion of it may not be untimely. The principie embodied in "The Monroe Doctrine"' is the logical sequence of the experiences which led up to, and terniinated in the independence of the United States, and time and the growth of national sentiment has served to emphasize it. Thé apprehension existed in onr early history that Buropean governments looked with disfavor and alarm on onr growing power. The advantages of our isolated position were, thereforp, noted. It was apparent also that Europe had inany primary interests, especially political which bore a very remóte, if any relation to us - henee the necessity of our keeping out of foreign entanglements. Out of these observations and experiences grew the Arneircan idea of noninterrention in European affairs and opposition to European interveution in om-s. The sentiment grew and ob tained such a hold upon the people ihat all that was needed to cause its adoption as a national principie was tho occasion to cali it forth froni pro perly constituted authority. ■ On the overthrow of Napoleon, the formidable arrangement, known as tin Holy All i anee, was formed. This was believed to be hostile to popular rights and in favor of intervening whenever absolntism was endangered. At the Congress of Verona, which met in 1822, it was not only proposed to ai( Spain in quelling an uprising of her people at home (which was done), bu to also aid her in regaining her Ameri can dependences which were slipping froni her grasp. Whether the Holy Alliance seriously contemplated inter vention, may be questioned, but the eituation was regarded as a grave one by President Monroe and Secretary o: State John Quiucy Adams. two of the ablest as well as most experienced pub lic men of their day, and familiar, from their residence at various European capitals, with European politics and policies. But whatever the real intentions of tlie allied powers might have been the doings of the Congress of Verona and the immediate subsequeni events lead to the avowal of the famous principie known as "The Monroe Doe trine. ' ' The message of President Monroe, which contains the principie, bears date of December 2, 1823, and announces the policy of this country with reference to Em-ope to be, " Not to interfere in any of the internal concerns of any of its Powers" and at the same time lays down in substance the following three inhibitions : 1. "No more European colonies on these continents. ' ' 2. "No extensión of the European political system to any portion of this hemisphere. " :. "No European interposición in the affaire of the Spanish-Anierican republics. ' ' The declaration of President Monroe was warmly approved by the English people and received high commendation in the British parliament. The allies abandoned their hostile intentions and from that day to this the Monroe doctriuehas been an almost universally reeognized principio by rar people. It may be si ated in this counction as a strange ƒ act that this principie so very kouerally approved by the people luis lever received legislative coniirmation. RpsOlntion after resolution lias been before both branches of congress ouly to be withdrawn or advereely reported. It has received the acknowledgeineiit and siïpport of all parties, however, and the majority of American statesmen and has frequently shaped the foreign policy of our govemmnt. It is not to be nnderstood,of eourse, as some have seemed to think, that by tipholding this principie the United States engages to take up anus in support of every friendly state on this contentinent which becomes involved in ■war. Such has not been and is not the correct interpretation of the doctrine. On the other hand the unswerving policy of the United States has heen a policy of peace. The position of oor govornment dnring the trying period of the French iuterventiou in Mexico illnstrates, no doubt, the generally accepted interpretaron of the principie. As a f orther illustration the following words from the correspondence of Secretary Seward to the American Minsister to Chili in 1866, are to the point:We maintain and iusist with all the decisión and energy compatible with onr existing nentrality that the republiean system which is accepted by the people in any of these (that is, Spanish American) States shall not be wíintonly assailed, and that it shall not be overthrown subverted as au end of a lawfiil war by Enropean powers. We thus give to those repnblics the moral support of a sincere liberal, and we think it will appear, a useful, friendsliip. In no instance,it is believed, has the "United States extended its mediatorial services to its sister republics, save in the interests of peace and for the promotion of jnst and stable government. ' ' There is no shadow of doubt but that our people are nnited, irrespective of any partisan bias, upon saoh an intrepretation of the doctrine, nor is there any more doubt as to the benefits that have resulted and are likely to result in future to the people of both American continen-ts from such adherence to the principies of the Monroe Doctrine. One of the most effective arguments used by the free silverites in proselyting aniong farmers is that the decline of the price of wheat is coincident with, and directly attributable to, the fall in the price of silver consequent on the latter's demonetization. The Journal has repeatedly explained that there is no honest basis for this claim. It is founded entirely on an assumed coincidence. A careful study of the markets of the world during the last twenty-five years will show that the price of wheat has arisen when that of .silver has fallen, and vice versa. The agricultural department has reeently published a tabular statement which it calis "an attempt to show the world's wheat production for the years 1891 to 1894." The totals indícate a steadily increasing supply, f rom 2; 369,746,000 bushels in 1891, to 2,690,121,000 in 1894. These figures furnish the true explanation of the cause of the low price of wheat. The production of wheat has increased at an enormous rate. The whole températe zone is one vast wheat field. That this great increase has had a marked effect on prices, no one but a hopeless Pefferite will deny. The growth of the supply in South America and Bussia especially calis for consideration : South America. Russia. 1891 48,805,000 168,846,000 1892 57,292,000 241,579,000 1893 81,453,000 326,734,000 1894 ... 1 04, 000, 000 366, 000, 000 The natural effect of such increases in exporting countries on prices can easily be seen. It may be noted, also, that Russia has this year an export surplus of 192,000,000 bushels of rye, as against 70,000,000 a year ago, and when rye is plentiful and cheap in Europe, as it is now, the consumption of wheat there is affected by the use of this other cereal. - Lansing Journal. The silverites are making a tremendous effort to coininit the democratie party to the. 16 to 1 fallacy, claiming that tliat will make the election of a democratie president in 1896 snre. It would be just as well to make haste slowly as it will be cpnsiderably over a year before the various state conven:ions will be held to formúlate platforms and elect delegates to the na;ional convention. Iu the meantime et us see what has been accomplished in the past. Last fall the democrats of Ohio and this state declared for free coinage at the ratio of 16 to 1 and were never so badly bèaten ;it the polls. In this twelfth congressional district Rush Culver was run for congress on the same )latform and Samuel Stepheuson's maority was never so large. This spring our state convention adopted a platform with but one plank, a silver one, and every county in the state but ono has returned a majority for the republican state ticket. For the last thirty years he republicans have been tinkering vith the cuirency nntil they have gotn it into its present deplorable con[ition, all admit that something must e done and the party that solves the roblem will have the confidence of th; )eople for many years to come and a ong lease of power. In the past the democratie party was considered the ound money party and the people ooked to it for wise currency leigslaion, we believe it will yet be the party ;o solve the problem. - Soo Democrat. A convention is in session in Salt jake City, charged with the duty of 'raming a constitution for the new tate of Utah. The convention, in its personnel, is largely Morman and this has caused some alarm among those who recall the difficulties with thi sect in the past. There is little, if any canse for apprehension in this fact however, as the Church of the Latter Day Saints, since it has eliminatet polygamy, is not in conflict with the laws of the land and any other excre sences which it may possess are sure to be smoothed down as the "Saints' j come into closer contact with the large and constan tly increasing "Gen tile' ! element about them. This is snre to have a niellowing effect on this pecnliar people, ;ind they will take on greater breadth iuid become more like those about them. It is enough for the present to know that they have given p all that placed them in conflict with our institations and laws. Some days ago a prominent democrat of Washtenaw county met a promineni farmer whom he had not seen since las fall. On the occasion of the last preceeding interview the farmer was "redheaded" over the ruin of the sheep industry sure to result f rom the removal of the wool duty. He declared that no honest man eould look a sheep in the face. When they met again the other day, the p. d. accosted the p. f. , and said, "well, have you got so you can look a sheep iu the face again?" "Oh, you go to " said the p. f. Then as the two went to take an appetizer, the p. f. said, assuming a confidential manner: "Well, I will teil you what I did. I bought 2,100 sheep when the price was way down, as a result of the howl that was raised for political effect, and I could sell them today at an ad vanee of $2 a head on what they cost me, see?" This illustrates the way the sharps wooled the unwary for political and flnancial gain. Notwithstanding various illustrations of similar import, the editor of the Courier is still unable, on account of impaired visión, resnlting from a long growth of republican wool, to look a sheep in the face, and is still whisper ing about the destruction of the wool industry. In the death, Sunday evening, in New York City, of James W. Scott, edior of the Chicago Tinies-Herald and Evening Post, the newspaper world looses one of its ablest and most progressive members. Although oomparatively a young man, he had achieved a degree of success and had attained ;t position whioh few reach as the resiilt of a long life of clsoe application. The snccess he achieved was not the resnlt of chance, for he enconntered at every step the strongest and most nutiring opposition ; bnt was the reward of the severiest labor coupled with a most wonderful natnra] capacity for turning off work. In a few short years he made the Herald one of the foremost dailies of the country and a recognized power in the world of affairs. The newspaper world in particular and the country in general suffers loss in his death. Every year advancing civilization brings the nations of the world into closer neighborhood and makes the products of each more necessary to the satisfaction of the needs and desires of all others. Bvery year witnesses an increase of international trade and closer relations are the result. Each nation is constantly doing all in its power also to get the lion's share of it. The nation which has the most wants, therefore, and would secure the greatest advantage from this trade, must have a sound currency, a currency that will facilítate these exchanges. A depreciated currency certainly will not do this. What is wanted is a currency that has valué within itself and the same valué whether within the country issuing it or elsewhere. It must not depend on the government fiat for any portion of its value. The boundary dispute betweeu Mexico and Guatemala, which has been of long standing and bnt recently threatened to cause a destructive war, has íinally been settled on tenns honorable, it is said, to both part.ies. This is far better for all concerned than an appeal to war wonld have been. And now comes Dana of the Sun and proposes the name of Senator 3. T. Morgan, of Alabama, for the democratie nomination for president in 1890. Whom the gods would destroy they first cause Dana and his Sun to support.

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Subjects
Ann Arbor Argus
Old News