, 1865-03-24
The Monroe Doctrine.

Louis Napoleon, MaXimilian and Duke Gwln
have serious intentions of firmly establishing
monarchy on the ruins of the Mexican Republic.
The Republic of Mexico has always been very
shabby and unstable affair; so much so that it
offered security to neither the lives or property
of its citizens So weak has it been in all its
departments that other nations have seldom re-
garded it except in the light OF pity, nor spoke
of it but as an empire noted for its impotency,
nor of its inhabitants but to class them as an ig
norant and mongrel people. But whatever our
own people think or have thought of Mexico as
q Republic, or whether the citizens of that coun-
try are or are not capable of self-government,
they pretty generally favor the idea of main
tanning the traditional policy Of the Ameri-
can government-the Monroe doctrine, That
doctrine is pretty generally understood with our
people to mean that whenever any foreign pow
er shall attempt to gain a foothold on soil re-
cognized within the limits of the United States
or in adjacent Republics, for the purpose of es'
tablishing monarchical forms of government
therein it is to the interest of our own govern
ment-absolutely necessary to its stability-to
resist such encroachments with all the power at
command. 1t is quite reasonable to suppose
that if Macmillan is allowed to establish a
monarchy in Mexico, some other foreign prince
or potentate will likewise be allowed to estab-
lish similar governments on our borders in some
other locality and thus in time we should become
90 hedged in by Kingdoms as to fall an easy
prey to their Vaccinations and lose our own
Republic It is a well known fact that the
crowned heads of Europe desire the overthrow
of this Republic. For years they have worked
TO destroy it. If they can succeed in tumbling
it in ruins, it firmly establishes monarchies, and
the hereditary titles of nobility run on uninter-
rupted by revolutionary commissions, and Kings
can confidently sit upon their thrones and hold
despotic sway over their subjects. But if the
American Republic lives through its civil broils,
foils its willy foreign foes, and comes out trium-
grandeur, then the monacrhies of the old cCun-
tries will begin to tumble down for the people
will see that the American government with
stood the severest trials that ever encompassed
a nation, and heroically breasted the storm
proving the capacity of an intelligent people
for maintaining popular government, and they
of other nations will feel competent to try the
same experiment, even at the loss of few ty-
rants heads
And now the question arises, shall Maximil-
ian be permitted to establish his government in
Mexico, unmoles.ed by the United States? OF
will the Union authorities levy war and by
opposing drive his majesty out, and put an
end to his proposed monarchy, and thus save
our Republic from ultimate destruction. The
people generally favor the latter way of pro-
policy will best insure the stability of our own
free institutions.
Both Houses of Congress, at the last session,
passed resolutions favorable to the "Republic oi
MISUNDERSTANDING that Maximilian's govern.
ment will not be recognized by the United
States. In ordinary times we should look upon
such action by Congress as equivalent to saying
that the Monroe doctrine would be rigidly ad-
hered to and promptly enforced but at this time
we are not so sure that it means anything more
than windy rebuff designed to quell the voice
of the people who are becoming clamorous for
the maintenance of the Monroe doctrine. If it
means more, and if our government intends to
do anything towards sustaining its traditional
policy" why does it not act? That is the ques-
tion. Have we not large army and navy, and
plenty of credit, and everything necessary to
successfully prosecute war against a petty
power in Mexico? and is not the Southern Con-
federacy destroyed, and Slavery dead7 Ger
tainly these things are true, for ali good loyal
lists say it is so. And taking their word for it
that all these things are true, what excuse can
they offer for abandoning the Monroe doctrine
They have been apprised of Maximlians inten-
tions now for more than year past, and yet
they have done nothing in relation to the matter
butte give vent to alittle impotent bluster about
it. And thus it seems likely to end in talk, un-
less Lincoln and Seward give in their adhesion
to a fight. Whatever is to be done depends up
on these two worthless. If they Say war upon
Macmillan, the whole Administration party
will cry war; and if they say Macmillan must
be 'prayed" out of Mexico, the whole party
VII uOhA Oh bHSll huCOo anu az AJs ~ bllnuIg
does the party follow the dictations of its head
leaders, "the government" that it would con-
sent to any policy inaugurated, even if it was to
the building up of powerful monarchy embra-
cling the whole area of North America
We are bound to believe that the Monroe doc
trine is to be abandoned by the party in power,
until we have positive proof to the contrary
There is no evidence to induce any other belief
Does not the Administration party advocate the
policy of centralizing our own government, and
practice it too by giving the Executive almost
unlimited power, and by destroying all rights
intended to be reserved to the States and the
people? Does suppression of newspapers and
the arresting and confning of unoffending cit-
Eens in prisons without trial and without shad-
ow law, indicate that the Administration lead
ers have any great love for Republican institu-
tions and the liberties of the people? If so, we
fail to see it. Does the subjugating policy of
the Administration party by beggaring the peo-
pie of the Southern States into submission to
the ideas and will of party, offer any proof
that it is greatly in love with Republican gov
eminent and with freedom, regulated by law?
If so, we again fail to see it. If the Admins