NATIONS OF THK NKAVVORII > .
It is undeniable that since the United
States fought with Spain and remained
with Porto Rico and the Philippines as
annexed possessions , and with Cuba
held in tutelage , a sentiment of appre
hension regarding the future policy of
the "Colossus of the North" has come
to bo general throughout Latin America.
Should Cuba be given over to the Cuban
people , the United States so fulfilling
the solemn pledge of congress , Latin
Americans will regard with very differ
ent than present feelings the great
republic which for three-quarters of a
century has been their exemplar and
their sole assurance of the perpetuity of
republican institutions in the New
World. For imperialism there is no
sympathy in Latin America ; Mexico
repelled the Maximilian empire , and
Brazil overturned so good a sovereign as
Dom Pedro. A strongly republican
sentiment animates the peoples of Latin
America , not even all the clericals
cherishing monarchial ideas. The mem
ory of the liberators of the Latin Amer
ican countries is a dear possession and a
constant inspiration to the ablest men
in all the countries from Mexico down
to Chili and Argentina.
Occasionally some frivolous newspaper
in the United States , like a certain St.
Paul ( Minn. , ) journal , comes out with
a spread-eagle editorial predicting the
Americanization of Latin America , and
speaking with contempt of the South
American countries as given over to
barbarism and unthrift. Full many a
mistake have those countries made , but
how ardently their more enlightened
people are attached to the republican
ideal their gallant history attests. That
the majority of the American journals
are friendly to Mexico and to all Latin
America we know , not merely by a daily
perusal of their editorial pages , but from
a somewhat intimate acquaintance with
many leading American journalists.
But , unfortunately , there are editors in
the United States who are incapable of
broad and generous views towards the
other peoples inhabiting the New
World ; they are filled with greed , with
the lust of conquest , and , above all ,
with an inhuman contempt for peoples
who differ from them in traditions , re
ligion , and language. Their utterances ,
we are sorry to say , are soon caught up
in Latin America , where there is no
means of judging of their relative im
portance. Thus a minority of Ameri
can journals play into the hands of the
reactionists in South and Central Amer
ica , making the task of the liberal
leaders in promoting harmonious rela
tions with the United States most
difficult.
Monroe Doctrine Ridiculed In Europe.
In our opinion , an act of wise states
manship on the part of the United States
government would bo for congress to
adopt a resolution committing that
government to a policy of maintaining
the territorial integrity not only of
Mexico , but of the Central and South
American countries. Such an act would
be in direct line with the sentiment of
the Monroe doctrine , and it would
powerfully aid in bringing about more
kindly and intimate relations between
the republic of Washington and the
nations further south. Such an act ,
followed by the granting of indepen
dence to Cuba , would assure the Latin
American people of the frank good will
of the people of the United States. And ,
more than that , all Europe would see
that it was a long step taken towards a
Pan-American league for the common
defence.
This journal , three years ago , and
alone among all the press , pointed out
that the partition of South America was
contemplated in Europe. We stood
apart then , uttering an opinion deemed
baseless ; but today not a week goes by
without confirmation of our idea coming
from across the Atlantic ! Today , the
Monroe doctrine is openly ridiculed in
the press of Continental Europe , and
hints , not at all vague , of a coming day
of reckoning for the United States are
heard. It is felt that the growing com
meroial and naval importance of the
United States must be checked , and the
sentiment has found voice in Austria
through a minister of the crown 1 As
outlined , the project is , at a favorable
opportunity , to assail , and , if possible ,
defeat the "arrogant and intrusive
Americans , " and then proceed to divide
the rich continent of South America.
In confirmation of what we have said ,
let us quote from the careful correspon
dent of the New York Evening Post ,
cabling from London ; he says :
"More than once during the past few
months I have heard English public men'
declare that , though South Africa occu
pies the front of the international stage
today , the turn of South America is sure
to come in the near future. South
Africa , they argue , has gold , and , there
fore , is a powerful magnet to the roam
ing population of the world ; but as a
permanent colonization ground , it cannot
compare with South America , and it is
in the search of permanent colonization
grounds as well as trade that some of
the bitterest struggles of the future will
come. "
Should Guarantee Independence of Latin
America.
The argument of German newspapers ,
that by adventuring into the Orient the
United States has abandoned the Mon
roe doctrine is a most logical one ; there
are American journals which frankly
admit the impairment of that principle
for which so many American adminis
trations have contended. German pub
lic writers argue that already a German-
America has grown up in South America
.which Germany is bound to defend.
That when her navy has grown to the
dimensions now contemplated the Mon
roe doctrine will long go uncoutested ,
we do not imagine. Year by year , the
German people become more restless ;
their commerce is world-wide , ever
growing ; they are led by one of the
most truly imperial rulers the world has
seen since the time of the first Napoleon ,
a young and ambitions man of genius ,
and of untiring energy. It is probable
that the Kaiser regards the Monroe doc
trine as a phantom which will disappear ,
if boldly confronted ; he is a positivist ,
and ho has the audacity of youth re
inforced by a coldly calculating and
highly trained intelligence. Much may
be looked for from that ablest of the
sovereigns.
And now we come back to our main
point , viz. , that the relations of the
United States and Latin America are
unsatisfactory , that the more blatant
politicians and the minority of the
American press are undoing the work of
two generations of statesmen at Wash
ington , and that a clearly defined policy
of good will towards Latin America
must be adopted. Cuba's independence
must be accomplished , a tribunal for the
arbitration , of all questions arising
between the countries of the New World
should be established , with full power to
adjudicate all claims ; and the congress
at Washington should declare , by reso
lution , that the United States guarantees
the territorial integrity and independence
of Latin America. Such action would
put a spine into the Monroe doctrine.
Mexican Herald.
Will the Nebras-
i i- > i-i
ka Bryanarchists ,
in view of the contempt proceedings of
our own supreme court , favor reaffirm
ing at Kansas City , the following plank
from the Chicago platform :
"We especially object to government
by injunction as a new and highly-
dangerous form of oppression by which
federal judges , in contempt of the laws
of the states and the rights of citizens ,
become at once legislators , judges , exe
cutioners ; and we approve the bill
passed at the last session of the United
States senate , and now pending in the
house of representatives , relative to
contempts in federal courts and pro
viding for trials by jury in certain cases
of contempt. "
Was the criticism by the Nebraska
editor more severe than the following
reference to the supreme court of the
United States made by a well-known
Nebraskau during the campaign of 1896 :
"They say we passed an unconstitu
tional law. I deny it. The income tax
was not unconstitutional when it was
passed. It was not unconstitutional
when it went before the supreme court
for the first time. It did not become un
constitutional until one judge changed
his mind , and we cannot be expected to
know when a judge will change his
mind. " ( Applause and a voice , hit him
againas recorded in the "First Battle. " )
