On Tuesday Mr. Root spoke at Kansas City on the
Monroe doctrine and the position of the South American States. Fresh froin. his tour round the Southern continent, he is anxious to awaken American interest in, and to stimulate trade with, the South. After sketching the history of the Monroe doctrine, and paying a tribute to the part which Britain played in its enunciation, lie said that the principle was still a vital one to-day, though the Holy Alliance had long since gone. Mr. Root also urged the subsidising of South American shipping—a scheme not likely to be carried out— and in general pleaded for a national interest in the countries which the Monroe doctrine bound them to police and protect. The reason of the speech is clear enough. No political scheme, as the Times points out, is without its economic aspect, and it is small good to divert the political interests of European Powers from the South American States if they are to have the monopoly of the commercial interests. In that case "other people will get the oyster, and. America will be left with the shell."
