THE PRECEDENT OF PANAMA.
[To THE EDITOR OP THE "SPECTATOR."] SIB,—While there may be many opinions as to the propriety of the actions of the United States in dealing with recent events at Panama, there can be no question as to the glee with which German publicists must have regarded the course of affairs ; for it furnishes them with a precedent which may be of value in a few years, or even a few months. Let us assume that the State of Sta. Catarina or Rio Grande do Sul should revolt and defy the authority of Brazil, could not Germany recognise the new " Republic " five minutes later, and then forbid any hostile action on the part of the Brazilian Govern- ment ? It is difficult to see how such action could now be assailed by the United States under the Monroe doctrine ; and so the Kaiser, by means of a close alliance, could realiie his South American dreams. Of course, the Monroe doctrine is, like all other political claims and pretensions, subject finally to that high Tribunal in which the advocates are armed men and the Supreme Judge is God ; but since the days of Archimedes a locus standi has been recognised as .a valuable acquisition, and our course at Panama seems to have shown the Germans how to get one. Can a man touch
Panama and not be defiled ?--I am, Sir, &c., F. W. S. California.
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