The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1865-12-24
rHE HONRoE DocTRRE.
II. Tree Meaning and scope.

To the Editors Of the Commercial Advertiser
The Monroe doctrine IS the uegation Of
our own rights in foreigu countries under
the law of nations, and the virtual extiuc-
tiOn Of national independence OF all couu-
tries TO which il may &c made % apply. It
is an assumption Of protectoraJe on the
part Of the American Government, BY the
mere force OF our own arii, independent Of
any legally established assent on the part
Of the protected party. 4 protectofate OF one
government over another, apphcs 20 the in
terests 10 be protected or affected by il. The
kind Of protect5rate which the Monroe doc
trine claims 70 extend over the now Jude
pendent nations o. the two c0uJinruts o.
America, applies essentially Go the political
and social structure OF the Whole abric OF
society, extending through .rs most intima e
organization. Il becomes virtual absorP-
tim OF every Characters ic OF national i'm
dependence and 5elt-cOnuol
To dictate q form Of government 90 o cJuu-
try is 70 dictate To its peOp.o all th,ir c.vic
obligations, their habits OF thought and &C
ton.
This VrOress OF abs0rptiOu. according to
the theories OF the annexati0uists, is ulti-
ma'ely to embrace the whole Of North and
South America, and by logical eonse-
quence 10 be made applicable also to the
whole Of the West India Islands, and ell
other islands 10 proximity 10 either shore Of
these great continents.
The Monroe doctrine, therefore, in its le
sitImate local nsequ,nces, proposes in the
most summs ~ manner, 70 absorb some dozen
or so ofindependentg stionah ies, by assuring
10 them, BY our predominant influence, GER
tain forms Of government l0r the aggrandlze-
ment Of the political power and influence Of
the United States, aud looks ? tG4t0 TO the
establishment Of universal empire over the
two Americas. But the preientiCn 20 uni
yersal empire or any approaches % II, Is
against the Law Of Nations, and iustides the
am ed mhinatiOn Of all nsti0ns % defeat
i by war.
Natioual law recognizes, in the normal
and peaceful s0udttion Ct the family Of ma
tons, thai eacn should be independent aud
self governing, subject only 10 the 0blga-
ton Of doing justice 10 each other IN their
relations Of neighbour bod, snd their com
mercial and political intercourse.
TO attempt 10 break in upon this peace'ui
existing among a family Of
nations. and one By one 10 render them sub
serqient q the single will or the policy Of
any one nstion, however great CT exemplary.
is to violate the fundamental principles Of
nalionsl individuality, and as FAR as this
policy Of absorption extends, 20 abolish both
nations and races, and 10 impose upon the
whole the empire OF unrestraintd universal
dominion.
Such, indeed, was The policy Of ancient
Rome, and the proud conquer0rs Of Greece
and Asia in earlier times. Then, whatever
sentiments Of international Justice may
have had faint existence in the bosoms OF
the most enlightened men, they =crs found
wholly Intellectual 10 stay the hand OF pow
rf0 nj H1r
the germs OF equal justice samong commU-
mites and races Of men Everything yield
ed to the possessor Of power, free from the
restraints Of any acknowledged principles
Of right or equa' Justice among nation.
All political Institutions, wherever found,
we're assimilated 20 The theories Of govern
ment eXpounded and enforced BY the will
ai the triumphant conqueror. The Moaroe
doctrine rOutsm plates the omplishmrut
Of the same ends on the continent Of Ameri-
cs. by pc haps milder, but not less ehectual,
means. What was done in ancient times,
when Jaw and principles Of equality aud
justice were unknown, iu the way of nation
al absorption q unifcs ion, BY the viii
OF q sing sovereign mind, IL is now pro-
posed, BY the Monroe doctrine, shall be ca
Fied iu'o practice by The sovereign " u Of
the American people,
international law does n It Justify or to'e-
rate sucn a sweeping aHnihilatiyn Of the
natural rights CT either small or great
States.
To svow that Il dec, is to aTront the
common sense Of ma kind, and 90 justify
the most haRrsnt viola ion Of all the laws
upon which communities Of men are founded
and individual uati0nslities protected.
But there IS another phase Of the Monroe
doctrine which is still more intereliing to Us
since il al once affects our national pride,
cur greatest interests and our nationsl
rights IT, under the agis Of The Monroe
doctrine, We are 10 aCQu re an ascendant 10
hueuce and control over the nations Of this
hemisphere for our political or commercial
and TO the prejudice IN any way
Of the equsl rights Of nations in other parts
Of the void, whst is 20 prevent the great
European or Asiatic nations, IT. ever they
have the power, from Carrying into effect
the same principles Of a5sofptio1 and as-
eeudant influence over the smaller and
weaker States in other parts OF the world
for their own advantage, aud TO the preju-
dice Of our rights. both political and com
mercisl2 Thi, Monroe doctrine, therefore
rsvsrses en- the laws Of common rights
among nations, and carrier Us AZ once back
into toe bsrbarism OF aucient times But
we should not submit for y single moment
L. the results Of this docttiuce, If adopted
BY Europe, as they may naturally and
properly be made TO apply, by q refusal 20
US Gf common rights With other nations in
our intercourse with the States on the Medi-
terranesu and the North SeI, for example,
by the adoption Of q European Monroe
doctriHe there b. the joint action Of Eng
land, France and spain. What we clam
for ourselves we cannot refuse 70 others,
These propositions STOW q. glance the
total fslsigy. absurdity and impracticahility
Of the Monroe doctriUe-the merest phan-
tom tina, ever found is way into diplomatic
language.
"Bs ihouss hs or goblin mned,
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