The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-01-25
European Entertainments In America
How to Chcckmate Them.

European Encroachments In Americas
How to Chcckmate Them.
The war in the United States has given
splendid opportunity to the Powers of Europe
to carry out their favorite design Of territorial
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT on this continent Were it not
civil strife, Napoleon would never have dared to
play the broad farce of establishing an empire
in republican Mexico. Spain, too, was en-
boldened by our intestine feuds to reassert her
authority in ST. Domingo, and to replace the
flag of that republic by the royal standard Of
CASTLE. Not satisfied with the lesson that the
people of that country have given her, che is
now making further pretensions to the Chincha
Islands, an integral part Of the territory Of
Peru. We now learn that the Italian govern
ment is also seeking to get a foothold on this
continent by establishing colony somewhere
All these encroachments of the Powers of Eu-
rope are the result of belief on their part,
now being rapidly dissipated, that the disrup-
ton of the United States would be final and
complete, and that there would no longer be
united and powerful nation to call them to an
account for their insolent aggressions.
In this they reckoned without their host
We are now far more powerful than we ever
were before, and in every way prepared to
wage war on a vast and expensive scale. The
republics of Central and South America all
look to us as their natural protector against the
;vox 80 MI onpnnioa
It is now our duty to extend to them
the assistance and protection of which they
may stand in need. It will be remembered
that after the South American revolution, which
resulted in the independence Of those former
Spanish colonies, a proposition was made In
Spain to colonize them, and the aid Of
England was sought in the matter. The
proposition met with warm opposition,
Mr.. Canning taking decided stand
against it. The scheme was at once seen
through here, and, Of course, violently de-
nounced. John Quincy Adams, then the Presi-
dent of the United States, at once proposed that
a congress of all the Central and South Ameri-
can republics should meet at Panama, to con-
cert measures for the common defence-the
United States sending o commissioner, with
full powers, to take part in the proceedings.
This was the origin Of what is known as the
Monroe doctrine. President Monroe was the
first to propose it in one of his last messages;
but John Quincy Adams, who succeeded him,
gave the idea this practical form.
1t is now time to revive something of this
kind. The emergency demands 1t, and the
State Department should not hesitate to act
Let a general congress of all the Central and
South American States be called at Panama or
some other central place, to form an alliance,
offensive and defensive, against the encroach-
ing Powers Of Europe. Then let the United
States send special commissioner or am
bassador to represent our nation in that
congress and to cooperate with the other
republics for the common defence, on the basis
OF the Monroe doctrine. In this way we would
Immediately checkmate the European Powers,
and they would soon find it to their advantage
to abandon all pretensions to power or terri
tory on this continent
A splendid opportunity is now offered to
Mr.. Seward to dispose of the question of foreign
aggression on republican independence in
America. Let him Immediately appoint COM
missioner to visit all the South American re-
publics, and to unite them in q general con-
gress on the Monroe doctrine Such an act
would startle all Europe and attract general
attention to the statesman that should propose
it. This is the very thing that will suit Mr..
Seward; for, being known to be firm on the
Monroe doctrine, his opinions will be far more
respected when he goes to Europe to represent
the republic there.
Ann