Mrs. Belmont Sees Danger.

New York Times 100 years ago today, July 14, 1912:
Thinks Americans Too Indifferent to  Principles of Monroe Doctrine.Special to The New York Times.
    NEWPORT, R.I., July 13— Mrs. O.H.P. Belmont now appears in the role of a champion of the Monroe Doctrine. She thinks the American public is too indifferent to the principles promulgated by the belligerent fifth President of the Nation. Her views are expressed in a signed statement issued to-day which says:
    "Men, when desiring to patronize women, often say that we have intuition; call it intuition or common sense, you will find that in National questions it always leads to patriotic conclusions.
    "The indifference of the public generally to the movements now making to challenge the Monroe Doctrine is most appalling. Take the Hay-Pauncefote treaty, substituted for the disgraceful Clayton-Bulwer treaty, in a weakly yielding moment.
    "I have referred to editorial discussions of this treaty, and find a constant reiteration of one article, and from this is deduced the idea that we must treat not only the vessels of the world all alike but that we, the master and maker of regulations, must treat our own vessels of war and commerce just as we treat all others. However, we shall, of course, have enough self-respect left to pass the very proper law now under discussion, but the danger point is then reached. Thinking men, and, if you please, thinking women, know that the time is rapidly approaching when there will be a challenge of the Monroe Doctrine.
    "This is what is aimed at in the communication from Great Britain. One of our great political parties denounced this treaty in its platform a few years ago. Will its members now run away from this because of the fact that Great Britain thinks that if we make laws clearly within our rights it may injure her in some quarters?
    "Conversely, it will benefit us in many quarters. We should pass our laws to suit ourselves.
    "There is an American interpretation and an un-American one. When our people are shown the real facts the American policy will triumph, for in spite of the influence of England upon some of our so-called statesmen the people at heart are overwhelmingly patriotic.
       (Signed) ALVA E. BELMONT.
Mrs. O. H. P. Belmont, Marble House, Newport, R. I.