86 ROWE— THE UNITED STATES AS [April 24. 



understood. We ought to reverse our action without raising the question 

 whether we were right or wrong and so once more deserve our reputation 

 for generosity and for the redemption of every obligation without quibble or 

 hesitation." 



The magnitude of the President's service goes far beyond the 

 vindication of the Hay-Pauncefote Treaty. These words and the 

 determination which hes back of them place the international rela- 

 tions of the United States on a distinctly higher plane, and, if 

 properly supported by the united opinion of the country, will do 

 much toward regaining for the United States the enviable position 

 which we once occupied. All secondary and party interests must be 

 made to bow before that higher standard of international dealing 

 which the President so vigorously champions. 



A third influence which has played an important part in arousing 

 opposition to the United States has been the tendency to permit new 

 doctrines of American foreign policy to masquerade under the cloak 

 of the Monroe Doctrine. In the adjustment of our relations with 

 Mexico, with the islands of the West Indies, and with the countries 

 of Central America, wc have fallen into the error of endeavoring to 

 build up our relations on the basis of the negative principles formu- 

 lated in 1823. Instead of clearly and definitely facing the fact that 

 these sections of the American continent occupy an exceptional 

 relation toward the United States, and building up our policy on the 

 basis of this exceptional relationship, we have formulated vague 

 principles purporting to be based on the Monroe Doctrine which 

 have aroused the suspicion, the distrust, and even the hostility of 

 the most progressive countries of South America. We should 

 clearly and definitely recognize the fact that everything that affects 

 the progress, the stability and the well-being of the islands of the 

 West Indies, of Mexico and of Central America, is a matter of im- 

 mediate and direct concern to the United States. It is a concern 

 different in kind from -that which affects our relations with the 

 countries of South America. The acquisition of Porto Rico and our 

 exceptional relations with Cuba, have made of the United States a 

 West Indian power. The construction of the Panama Canal and 

 the acquisition of the Canal Zone have made of the United States 

 a Central-American power, and finally, the fact that Mexico is our 



