Question: "Resolved. That the United States should intervene actively in Spanish-American affairs."

Brief for the Affirmative:

A. M. DAY and R. W. HALE.

General references: Monroe's Declaration, Statesman's Manual, I, 460; Jefferson's letter of 24 Oct. 1823, Wharton's Digest. I, 269; Clay, 20 Niles Register, 301; Webster, Works III. 178-217; Blaine's dispatches, 15 June, 1881 and 1 Dec. 1881 in U. S. Foreign Relations, 1881, 131 and 147; Tucker's Monroe Doctrine; John A. Kasson, North Am. Review, 133, p.p. 241 and 543; N. A. Review, 130, 499; Dana's Wheaton, 97; Hart's Outline, 113. Gilmore's Monroe for exhaustive bibliography, 269-80.

I. Intervention is morally necessary - (a) On grounds of justice. - (b) On grounds of humanity, Hall's Int. Law, 179.

II. Intervention is needed in order to prevent interference by foreign powers, which would - (a) Involve us in Continental politics. - (b) Threaten our political influence on. this continent v. Maximilian in Mexico. - (c) Menace our commercial interests on this continent. Blaine to Lowell, 19 Nov. 1881, 24 June 1881, Foreign Relations for 1881. - (d) Imperil our military position. Blaine to Lowell, above.

III. Intervention is expedient. - (a) The closer commercial connections thus gained would be desirable. Christiancy to Blaine and Hurlbut to Blaine, Foreign Relations, 1881, p.p. 900 and 943. - (b) For political reasons. - (1) To preserve balance of power against Europe. - (2) For security of - (a) American investments and of - (b) American lives.

Brief for the Negative.

J. B. LEWIS and J. S. BROWN.

General references: Nation, Vol. 33. pp. 348, 390, 461, 486, Vol. 34, p. 9; A. B. Hart in Boston Herald, Feb. 4, 1892. Thos. Talbot; Blaine's Foreign Policy in U. S. Campaign Documents, 1884.

I. It would be unwise for the U. S. to protect Spanish American States from foreign aggression - (a) It would involve us in European politics; Stat. Man. I: 77.

II. It would be unwise for U. S. to act as mediator between the Spanish American States. - (a) We would have to maintain a standing army and a navy to enforce our decrees. - (b) The U. S. would assume the position of police to South America.

III. Closer commercial relations would not follow intervention for the sake of trade. (a) Trade does not follow sentiment.

IV. Interference in the past has been most unfortunate. - (a) Cuban Filibustering; Wilson; Rise and Fall of Slave Power II: 368-75. (b) War between Peru and Chile, 1881; Diplomatic Corres. in Ho. Exec. Doc. 1881-2. Vol. I, pp. 31., 921, 944. - (c) Chilean affair; Hart in Boston Herald, Feb. 4, 1892.