Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1865-03-01
Aaftsmaa's gouraaL
CLEARFIELD, PA, MARCH. /, 1865.
WHAT rs THE MONROE DOOTRINE2

Every intelligent person has some delnlte
idea as TO the often mouthed Monroe Doc
trine; at least that it originated with Presi-
dent Monroe, and means that this hemls-
phere is sacred to Republicanism. We
might go into an analysis of its origin, and
quote from Washington to show that the
doctrine was shadowed out at the very birth
of this Republic, but just now, in response
to a request we propose to show when and
where Mr.. Monroe uttered the words which,
according to the popular well accepted be-
lief, embrace the Monroe Doctrine. Those
who have Investigated for themselves will be
astonished to see from how briet an utter
ance sprang subject upon which more tones
have been penned, and more stump speech
es made, than upon, perhaps, any other OF
our peculiar American notions.
Russia, Austria, Prussia and France over
threw Napolean Bonaparte, and established
the THoly Alliance to manage things gen
orally In Europe, and took it into their heads
to subvert the yonng American Republics of
Spanish origin and convert them into mon
arches. With reference to this state of
things, President Monroe, in his message of
December ID, 1923, held this language,
whence sprang the celebrated Monroe Doc
trine:
1--WE owe it, therefore, to candor, and to
the amicable relations existing between the
United States and those powers, to declare
that we should consider any attempt on their
part to extend their system to any portion
of this hemisphere, as dangerous to our
peace and safety With the existing colo
nies or dependencies of any European pow
er, we have not interfered, and shall not in
terfere But, with the governments who
have declared their independence, and main
tained it, and whose independence we have,
in great consideration, and on just principle,
acknowledged, we could not view an inter
position for the purpose of opposing them,
or controlling, III any other manner, then
destiny, by any European power, IN any o.
ther light than as a manifestation OF an un
friendly disposition towards the United
States. In the war between these new Gov
ernments and Spain We declared our neu-
trality at the time of their recognition, and
to this we have adhered, and shall continue
to adhere, provided no change occurs, which,
in the judgement OF the competent authorl-
ties of this Government, shall make a cor
responding change on the part OF the United
States, indispensable to their security.
In speaking Of this extract Mr.. Benton,
in his Abridgment of the debate in Congress,
says the Monroe Doctrine has been greatly
misur derstood" He adds:
! 1t has been generally regarded as promis-
ing sort of political protection, or guar
dianship to the two Amerlcas-the United
States to stand guard over the New World,
and repulse all intrusive colonlsts from It's
shores Nothing could be more erroneous,
or more at war with our established prlncl-
pies Of non-interference with other nations.
The declaration itself did not impart any
such high mission and responsible attitude
for the United States; it went no further
than to declare, that any European interter-
ence to control the destiny of the new Amer
lean States, would be considered as mani
festatiOn of an unfriendly spirit towards the
United States
Mr.. Adams (Monroes successOr) has Civ
en- the exact and whole extent of what was
intended by the declaration. 1t was simply
to establish union OF sentiment on this
point among all the States of the two Amer
icas leaving each State to guard its terrific
ries bv its own means without any obligation
on the part of the United States to engage
in their defence.
1t was in the year 1926, when Mr.. Adams
had become PRESIDENT, anu ndd lnStIuuUeu
the mission to the Congress OF the Spanish
American States on the isthmus OF Panama,
that he gave this authoritative exposition
of the scope and extent Of the Monroe Doc
trine. One of the subjects which the Uni
ted States ministers to that Congress were
CHARGED was to prevail on them to adopt |
this doctrine as a cardinal point IN their poi
lev and in presenting this subject to them
it was natural and right that he should let
them know precisely to what they engaged |
themselves, and what they were, and were !
not TO expect from the United States, in the
event of adopting it. This very proper in
formation was communicated inshese words: |
An agreement between all the parties |
represented at the meeting, that each will |
guard by its own means, against the estab- |
ssEshmept of anv future European colony |
s'within its borders, may be found advisable. |
This was, more than two years since, an
'snounced by my predecessor to the world, |
''as principle resulting from the emancl-
s'pation of both American continents. 1t |
s'may be so developed to the now Southern
''that they may feel it as an essential appen-
'.dage to their independence.
These (says Mr. Benton) were the words
of Mr.. Adams, who had been member OF
Mr. Monroe s cabinet, and filling the de
nartment from which the doctrine would |
at time when the enun- |
clarion of it was still fresh, and when he, |
himself in a communication to the Amerl- !
can Senate, was laying it down for the adop- |
ton of all the American nations. IN gen
eral congress of their deputies.