IV 

 THE MONROE DOCTRINE* 



THE Monroe Doctrine should not be considered 

 from any purely academic standpoint, but as 

 a broad, general principle of living policy. It is 

 to be justified not by precedent merely, but by the 

 needs of the nation and the true interests of West- 

 ern civilization. It, of course, adds strength to our 

 position at this moment to show that the action of 

 the national authorities is warranted by the actions 

 of their predecessors on like occasions in time past, 

 and that the line of policy we are now pursuing is 

 that which has been pursued by all our statesmen of 

 note since the Republic grew sufficiently powerful 

 to make what it said of weight in foreign affairs. 

 But even if in time past we had been as blind to the 

 national honor and welfare as are the men who at 

 the present day champion the anti-American side of 

 the Venezuelan question, it would now be necessary 

 for statesmen who were both far-sighted and patri- 

 otic to enunciate the principles for which the Monroe 

 Doctrine stands. In other words, if the Monroe 

 Doctrine did not already exist it would be necessary 

 forthwith to create it. 



Let us first of all clear the question at issue by 



* The Bachelor of Arts, March, 1896. 

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