The Next Great Word in the Evolution of Peace. 261 



illions of men from all quarters of the world for whom 

 incrica has become a refuge and a home. Had those 

 A n. however, sought to land, on any part of the conti- 

 nent, as the forerunners of political expansion, repre- 

 senting European s\stcms of governments and Old 

 World traditions of caste and privilege, the continent 

 would have been closed to them. 



America is consecrated to the ideals of liberty and 

 democracy ; they constitute the paramount issue of its 

 destiny. " America for Americans," therefore, does 

 not e.xclude any free man determined to remain free, 

 and abhorring conquest and oppression as he would 

 theft or murder. 



DISTRUST OF THE UNITED ST.\TES. 



The means to accomplish unity of sentiment and to 

 dispel the misgivings between the United Stales and 

 the Latin-American Republics is not far to seek. It 

 is only required to amplify the Jlonroe Declaration to 

 the full extent of its logical development. Therein 

 li(s not honesty alone, but safet\' and peace. 



In our day and on our continent conquest of territory 

 is inadmis.sible per se, for its own intrinsic hideousness 

 and for the lie it gives to the fundamental principles 

 and the laws and constitutions upon which our political 

 life is based, without any concern w)u\te\cr as to its 

 origin. 



\\ hat is a crime in a European nation cannot be 

 righteousness if done by the United States. 



HOW IT .MAY BE DISPELLED. 



If these conclusions of honest logic are accepted and 

 acted upon by the United States ; if they should 

 (liclare that the era of conquest of territory on the 

 .\merican continent has been closed to all and for ever, 

 beginning with themselves, the brooding storm of dis- 

 trust will disappear from the l.atin-.'\merican mind, and 

 an international cordiality of incalculable possibilities 

 will ensue, not only for the welfare of the American 

 nations, but universally for the cause of freedom and 

 democracy. 



The recognition of the principle should be ofhcially 

 •i( ( omplished : it might form the special object of a 

 l'an-Ameri( an Congress. It means no antagonism to 

 I'.urripe, but to modern European political expansion : 

 and also to European political com[)li(ations which 

 threaten a return to barbarism and to brute force as 

 the one supreme law . und the destruction of a (i\ ilisation 

 \v hi( h is the fruit nl 'ountlcssages of painful endeavour. 



-ignifies the union of all the nations of America for 



lie common, noble purpo.se— for the establishment of 



international life upon the same basis as civil life 



amongst the citizens of a nation, the basis of justice, 



and not of violence. 



AN (IIT'ORTI NITV FOR I'ktSIDtNT T.\FT. 



I This gospel has been prcathcd to the world from the 

 I [ same eminent place as the Monroe Declaration. Early 

 'in January of ii>i i I'resident Taft saifl :- 



i' " Personally I do not see any more reason whv 

 matters o( national honour should not be referred to 

 I court of arbitration than matters of property or 

 _ national proprietorship. 1 know that is going farther 



f1 



than most men are willing to go, but I do not see why 

 questions of honour may not be submitted to a tribunal 

 composed of men of honour, who understand questions 

 of national honour, to abide by their decision, as well 

 as any other question of difference arising between 

 nations." 



The United States should to-day, like President 

 Monroe, scan the horizon of the coming centuries. 

 The task of the morrow should be lightened to-day ; 

 such is the law of greatness. The cordial co-operation 

 of Latin-America, important as it is to-day, may 

 become paramount to-morrow. In the field of distrust 

 rivalries soon flourish ; the interests of all Latin- 

 America are identical at this stage ; a cunning diplo- 

 macy may soon foster antagonism and beget irre- 

 concilable ambition. We are at the parting of the 

 ways. The exclusion of conquest of territory, as a 

 fundamental principle of international life on the 

 American continent, should be solemnly proclaimed 

 by all the American nations ; they should all pledge 

 themselves to maintain it. The sands are running in 

 the glass of Time ; to-morrow it may be too late. 



W ANTED : A NEW DECLARATION OF I'AN-AMERICAN 

 POLICY. 



In these Tripolitan days the proposed declaration 

 of continental policy by all the American nations 

 would be salutary and opportune. It would not alter, 

 but strengthen present conditions, and forestall 

 possible dangers to the weak nations of the continent, 

 rendering the task of the United States easier of accom- 

 plishment. It means no antagonism nor hostility to 

 the peoples of Europe ; it is solely a defence against 

 European imperialism. It does not in any way 

 interiere with economic developments, nor with the 

 open door for commerce ; it is no Utopian panacea, 

 no .~hort-and-ready cut to the millennium; but it would 

 maintain tlic .American continent free from European 

 political c\pan>ion, carried out in the service of 

 systems doomed to early disappearance by the dead- 

 lock of limitless armaments. I bus the real interests 

 of the peoples of Europe would be ser\ ed and reaction 

 crippled. 



Tlie declaration would also consult the true interests 

 of the United States ; it would carry the Monroe 

 prmciples to their utmost honest logical development, 

 and it would dispel misgivings and distrust throughout 

 the continent, facilitating the harmonious and fruitful 

 evolution of international life. 



'I he declaration that conc|ucst of territory shall 

 hereafter neither be practised nor tolerated on the 

 .■\meri(an continent is in essence in full accord 

 with the recent avowe<l policy of the United States. 

 .Such a declaration, in .America, could only be opposed 

 by nations contemplating schemes of aggrandisement 

 at the expense of their neighbours, which would be 

 rank treason to liberty and democracy. In such A 

 case it is well for the friends of liberty and democracy, 

 irrespective of nation or continent, to know where 

 danger and insincerity lurk. 



.■\. i)E Manos-Albas. 



