Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1865-07-07
THE CANNING-WoNROE DOCTRINE
INA BRIGHT POINT OF VIEW.

From Manchester EramiHer Bright orgaa) Jt3te 3 .
The sudden close of the American war has
warned the Emperor Maximilian of the ne
cessity Of putting his house in order. He
has not taken the alarm minute too soon.
The emigration movement, as It'll called,
but which might more truly be called the
spontaneous invasion movement. has
subsided in New York, but it represents a
sentiment deeply rooted In the American
mind, and which, if repressed to-day, may
spring up again tomorrow with all the
stronger force. The downfall Of tht, Confed-
eracy has inspired Juarez with fresh hopes.
His partSans are exerting themselves in the
northern provinces of Mexico, where they
have lately achieved some successes. The
defeat of Maximilian's Belgic allies at Tao
cambaro has spread sa;niUl Impression
among our neighbors. 1t is clear If the new
imperial throne is to be maintained, fresh
leyies must be raised in Europe, while Mar
shal Bazaine aud the French armr cannot
be allowed to leave just yet
Meanwhile, the Mexican question is one
which exposes US to some danger If the
United States Government should show a
disposition to enforce the Monroe doctrine,
we shall hear again of the arrogance and in
science which characterize democracies; and
as we have unfortunately, an unsettled mis-
understanding with the United States on the
Alabama claims it is just within the range
Of possibility that circumstances may arise
in which an attempt would be made to re-
suscitate the Anglo-Erench alliance, and
make it available for transatlantic objects
Mad as such project would be, it is not
mad to open our eyes betimes to the chance
Of having it put before US as a sound piece
of craftsmanship Earl Russell has said
some injudicious things during the last four
years, aud not the least iniudiciOus was his
intimation that Great Britain and France
were agreed in the policy to be pursued on
both sides Of the Atlantic The Emperor
Napoleon h.. tried hard to inveigle US into
the pitfal Oh JOINT action on American af-
fairs and the time may come when our ac-
tive support will seem to afford him the last
hope of escaping without dishonor and dam
age from his Mexican adventure Against
this peril our best safeguard is that the peo-
pie should be well informed upon the facts
and the principles which relate to the Mexi-
can question.
At the threshold Of this question lies the
Monroe doctrine, respecting which the prev
alent views are somewhat haZy In the
NOuicC VI 9tdlH IALett ADClAAlG AidS BGCblllG al
article of faith to the American people The
New York papers invoke it rather wildly in
support of all sorts of pretensions but, as
understood by the Government, and all who
pretend to any political influence, it has not
changed from what it was declared to be by
the authority whose name it bears.
The Monroe doctrine is the doctrine of
non-interyention as defined by Mr. j. s.
Mill: but, instead of applying it to all the
world, as Mr. Min thinks we ought to do,
the Americans confne its application to
America On the platform of that doctrine
the Americans declare that if any European
Power shall interfere in the concerns of any
people on the American continent, for the
purpose of expressing them or controlling in
any other manner their destiny, such act
viii be regarded as "unfriend-
" towards the United States.
There can be no question Us to the sound
ness of this doctrine, and none at all as to
its falling within the proper competence of
the United States Government, or indeed
Of any Government When one nation
chooses to interfere by force of arms in the
concerns of another people, any third nation
has the right to step in and say, 'sWe won t
permit it. " They have not the duty, but
the right to do this if they please And if
ever an occasion arose when this right might
be most rightfully exercised, twas when the
Emperor Of the French determined to put