Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1863-04-02
THE MONROE DocTRINE-AGAIN.

| Two or three weeks ago our attention was called
to demonstration made bya meeting of foreigners
held in the city of New York, for the purpose Of
reafirming the principles of the Monroe Doctrine,
and Of insisting on its vigorous application by the
United States Government in behalf Of Mexico"
As the speakers ut this meeting seemed to have a
very confused and imperfect idea of the declarations
made by Mr.. Monroe in his annual message of
1928, We recalled the exact language of that docu-
nent, and recited the historical situation out of
which the declarations grew and to which they
were applied.
Our remarks under this head were, we conceive,
sufficiently perspicuous to set the whole subject in
clear light, and we purposely confined ourselves
strictly to narrative of facts resting documenta
ry evidence of the authentic nature because we
have always been led TO suppose that the popular
misconceptions which obtain on thi, subject
spring from an inadequate knowledge of the politi-
cal events contemporaneous with the promulgation
of the principles announced by President Monroe
in the year 1928
1t seems however, that our statements under this
head failed to carry conviction to the mind of at
presses its entire dissent from the views we take of
what is popularity known as g the Monroe Doc
trine, and attempts to controvert these views by
an appeal to the facts of history. We allude to
the New York Independent, which, iu the course
Of recent article this topic, holds the following
language:
1--WE are glad to see the Monroe Doctrine actually
hrntl iufo sinp hv fha puhl A
holds its peace aud security by Of two titles its n-g
nhcance or The general respect And it retains the latter
just about in the proportion that it respects tef In
Government of the people it is of the utmost Importance
that the people Of the counry should thoroughly under
stand what the proper rights and prerogaves of
dependent nation and what the relations of their
to otter nations respectively If there is any thing real
in the Monroe Doctrine if this nation has been deliberate
committed to it's maintenance and il standing among
the nations is to be determined by adherence, to it
surrender OF II, then there s topic of
inquiry than this The National Inellgencer Of Wash
iDgtoD TO which many of older citizens
toned to look their fathers did before them
Gle always found the safe eide ha in its Of March
H. an able editorial article the Monroe Doctrine which
ought to awaken attention The article il prepared with
little ingenuity and considerable extent of knowledge
but with the evident object of creating the conviction
the Monroe Doctrine meant but little the time of pro-
cation; that il had reference crnliion Of affairs
which only temporary and has long passed away
that the little importance which il had time no long
exists and that the doctrine itself in fact but Lru
am uinasn OF startling sound but significance 1t is
only out Of respect for the popular prejudice that the w
ter wthhods the ephet Of contempt for the whole
thing In the closing paragraph of the piece it is said
1--WE have disposition call it a 6rutum fuuen or to
disparage the patriotic impulse TO which il owed its origin
but II longer exnts Presidential precedent which
Congress dened endorse The creature Of circumstan
pefished soon the circumstance disappeared which
gave 1t life and activity.
We are not going to unravel the several faacies
OF statement and argument, by which the article would
conduct reader to the above conclusion It mors to
present purpose 10 the record e to learn what
the Monroe d. crne b and to the vertabe history Of the
times to understand the occasion which promul
gated"
After recting the language of Mr.. Monroe's
message of 1923, as reproduced by us few weeks
ago. the New York journal proceeds as follows in
the concluding part Of its article
"Tbe Monroe Doctrine has encountered degree of IL
difference n the public mind and prejudice in some
quarters by the and
that have existed The fact that its promuR alton i'm
mediately followed the Congress Of Vienna and was so
soon followed by the proposed Congress of Panams
led to the idea that the Monroe Doctrine eoun
erblast to the Holy Alliance and that the failure Of the
Panama project wns the end of the Monroe Doctrine To
show that President Monroe went deeper and looked fur
tLer than ths that he aimed not at the Holy Alliance
which was temporary expedient, but at the balance OF
power 10 Europe as the permanent political system
from which were for to keep aoof have only
to look at the message Of the following year. December
z, 1894 where the doctrine restated ia the pauest
terms The subject is Of such ranscendent Importance
that must extract the PASSAGE Speaking Of the span
sh American States whose independence not yet ac
knowedged by Europe, he says:
"The deep interest which take In their
which we have acknowledged aud in their enjoy al
the nights incident thereto, especially in the important
and known 20 the world Separated as we are from Eu
rope by the great Atlantic have
the wsis OF the European Governments the cause
wi ch produce them The balance II poer bet,ceen them
INTO Th'chsrer scale turn ribrdfions
cannot ofd rs IL ia the interest of the United to
preserve the most friendly relations with every Power and
Jndtions iar equal and applicable to ALL But in regard
TO our neighbors situation different II is impossible
for the European Governments interfere in th
especially IN those alluded toIo insinfing hetr olcn
Governments - which VITAL without ae ting ne Ia
deed the WHICH might such int In the
be called, would appear TO be equally applicable to us II IL
giatily know that OF Power with whom we
enjoy very friendly Intercourse and whom these views
have been communicated have appeared acquesce in
them
" One would almost believe this 10 have been written
with forecast Of the invasion Of Mexico, and of the EN-
psrors insOn letter to Gen Forey explanatory of his de-
sign of circumscrbng the United States securing the as
ceudency OF the Latin Race o Popery--in America
and establishing French control the Governments OF
Mexico and Central America including the prote Of
between the Atlantic and Pacific States Of the Union
At least the extract shows concusve the Mon
ioe doctrine aimed at the balance Of power which
sututes permanently the political ,ystem Of Europe. In
restang the position Mr. Monroe the very terms by
winch that system most apiy and technically denoted
nat system vital to the social lbeng Of Europe in
somuch that whenever il becomes disturbed aod dsor
dered sl Europe becomes agtaed aud in commotion until
py series o wars treaties, and other changes the bal