The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1863-09-03
THE FRENCH IN MEXICO.
The Monroe Doctrine.

~'AoIuiHS
The French intervention in Mexico,
with the immediate consequences to which
it will give rise in the proposed modihca-
tions of the government of that country,
possesses at the present juncture more
than ordinary importance. French inter-
vention in any quarter of the globe, and
under any pretext, is /; matter of great po-
litical Importance; but, when the scene OF
its operations is laid iu the North Ameri-
can continent variety of considerations
tend to invest it with unusual significance.
Just forty years since, one of the Presi-
dents of the United States cnunciated in a
very clear and able manifesto, the policy
of the American government in it's foreign
relations. Geographically, the New World
is separated from the Old by "a broad ocean;
and politically: the American statesman to
whom we referred declared that the two
hemispheres should remain no less distant
ly apart. With the quarrels, or dissensions
or revolutions Of European States, Presi-
dent Monroe announced that the United
States of America had no concern. France
might invade England, Russia might alb
sorb Poland, monarchies might be leve ed
with the dust and replaced by republics, or
despots might substitute military rule for
liberal institutions, and the great Republic
of the Western world would look on un-
moved. With the so-callcd balance fpow-
er in Europe, the government OF the Unit
ed States formally declared that they had
nothing to do. If it suited the policy of
one European State to take up arms and
prevent another State on the same CONT
ncnt from invading a third, it was left by
America at liberty to do so; and the princi-
ple that In the regulation of European af-
f,irs European powers were alone entitled
to interpose, was unconditionally admitted
to its fullest extent But. whilst disavow-
inc all intention of interfering in Europe
an quarrels. the American President deni-
ell to European States any right to inter
pose in matters of purely American origin.
With the peculiar form OF government
which the several sections of the American
population might think proper to adopt, or
at times to modify, it was expressly de-
clared that the European powers had no
right to interfere. The political system Of
the European powers" said Mr. Monroe
in his message to Congress in 1928. lis es-
sentially different from that of America
We owe it therefore to candor, and to the
am cable relations existing between the
that we should consider any attempt Oh
their part to extend their system to any
portion of this hemisphere, as dangerous
to our peace and safety. Our policy is no
to interfere in the internal concerns of Eu
rope or any Of the European powers
Ii l. impossible that those powers should
extend their system to any part Of Ameri
ca In other words, the government o
the United States took it on themselves t,
exercise quasi protectOrate over the sev
eral republics of the American cont
nent.
In none Of tn European disturbances o
the last forty years have the United State
interfered; and, on the other hand, no pre-
text has been afforded by the European
powers IN American affairs for the vindi
cation of American interests by the GOV
ernment at Washington. At length, how
ever, an occasion has arisen on VIII h
direct interference on the part Of an Euro
pean power in the affairs of an indepcn
dent American State has taken place, an
one is consequently led to inquire wha
will be the conduct Of the government G
the United States
In the merits of the French inte-ventio
in Mexico it is not now necessary to il
quire. Regarding its ultimate const
quences, if the United States do not thin
proper to make it a cause of quarre
there are few who can really doubt tn;
the changes which are on the point of b.
ing made will be for the benefit of th
Mexican people. The Archduke Maximi
ian is reported to haya accepted the crow
of Mexico, and arrangements will be col
cluded by which France will be indemnil
cd for the costs of the war, and will ais
be paid the sum of money due to creditor
for the recovery of which the French e,
petition was dispatched to Mexico |
however, the government of the Unite
States were in the same position which
held three years ago, it is needless to sa
that it would not have permitted so glarin
an attempt on the part of an European pow
er to interfere with an Independent Amei
lean State, and to control its destiny;
nor is it at all probable that France woul
have attempted to docs. Even as it is, how
ever, with gigantic war on its hands, an
a debt of fabulous magnitude, the FEEDER;