THE GOLDEN RULE AND THE MONROE DOCTRINE.
By Editor
In a recent speech before the New York Chamber of Commerce a high government official, in responding to the toast, “Our Diplomacy,” said:— The briefest expression of our rule of conduct is, perhaps, the Monroe Doctrine and the Golden Rule. With this simple chart we can hardly go far wrong. The vital point in the Monroe Doctrine, as set forth by President Monroe in his annual message, Dec. 2, 1823, is as follows:— We owe it to candor and to the amicable relations existing between the United States and those [European] powers to declare that we should consider any attempt on their part to extend their system to any portion of this hemisphere as dangerous to our peace and safety. With the existing colonies or dependencies of any European power we have not interfered and shall not interfere. But with the governments who have declared their independence and maintained it, and whose independence we have, on great consideration and on just principles, acknowledged, we could not view any interposition for the purpose of oppressing them, or controlling in any other manner their destiny, by any European power in any other light than as a manifestation of an unfriendly disposition toward the United States. The Golden Rule, as given by Jesus in Matt. 7:12, thus reads:— “All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them.” A chart constructed on two diverse rules is not only confusing but misleading; and attempts to follow it will certainly lead far wrong. The Monroe Doctrine and the doctrine of the Golden Rule are not in harmony. For instance, according to the Monroe Doctrine, the United States would resent any forcible interference, or control in any other manner, by any European power as respects any government in the western hemisphere. But suppose that Brazil desired a German protectorate, Venezuela a British, Argentina a French, what would the United States do? If she would do by Brazil and Venezuela and Argentina as she would be done by under similar circumstances, she would not interfere with their projects; she consistently could not. But according to the Monroe Doctrine, she would interfere, and say as well to Brazil, Venezuela, and Argentina as to Germany, Britain, and France, that such a thing could not be. Again: the Filipinos desired to attempt the experiment of self-government, a God-given right, a formerly American right. They fought for it for many years. It was in the power of this government to allow them to make the attempt. The Golden Rule demanded that it should be done. According to the Monroe Doctrine, Japan or China could have said that America must not extend her system in the Eastern Hemisphere. The Golden Rule would have demanded acquiescence. But nothing of the sort was done in either case. We are not noting this to criticize the government. This paper is not in politics. We note these things to show to our readers that the oil of politics and diplomacy and the water of life do not mix well. All this talk of Christian governments, and Christian politics, and Christian diplomacy is of the same character. The Gospel of Jesus Christ, divine Christianity, can not be made a matter of diplomacy or statute law or politics. All such talk is deceiving to the people. It sets Christianity in a wrong light. It degrades it and covers it with the slime of the putrid pool of politics. It turns principles into policy, life and power into dead forms, truth into a lie. The Monroe Doctrine and all other political doctrines or systems are one thing, quite necessary oftentimes for the government of a sinful world without faith. Christianity is quite another thing, and can be possessed only by faith on the part of the individual receiving it. The system of Troy weight is right and proper for the use designed; but use it for avoirdupois, and confusion results. Human measures may limit a house or an army or a nation’s acts, but they can not limit the life of God in a tree or soul. The Golden Rule is of the government of God; the Monroe Doctrine is of the government of man. They are as different in nature as oil and water, and will not blend.