The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-05-22


quests and part Of ne spoils In her triumph over
Spain. Mr.. Canning. then British Secretary for
Foreign Affairs, thought Il imperaHvely neoss-
sary 10 prevent this, and proposed 70 Mr.. Rash,
then our Minister ct London, that the United
States should Ego hand In hand with England"
for that purpose. Canning thought aths day had
arrived when all America might be considered
as lost to Europe" and wanted to have that
fact recognised and regularly put forth a. an
Anglo-American declaration. His views were
that Spain must lose her colonies any way; that
Englanl did not want them, but could not con-
sent to see them fall into the hands Of France
and these views were conveyed to the French
gcyornm,lt by Mr.. Canning. In disclalming
for England any purpose to touch American
States that Minister also put the case equally
against France and Spain.
Mr.. Canning, then, Is the real originator of
the so-called Monroe doctrine" and England
is the Power first committed against an extern
sion Of the system" Of any European State to
States in this hemisphere. There was no for
NAL declaration Of these principles by the Bril-
tish government in conjunction with our own,
as Mr.. Canning desired there should be, because
Mr.. Rush considered that to enter into that
would exceed his powers, and would also, at
least In appe arance, introduce the United
States into European complications. But Pre-
sident Monroe spoke efficiently and effectively
for the United States alone in his message. II
may well be supposed that Mr.. Canning's views
on the subject, and bis declarations to France
fix the position Of England also, though the de-
claration was not made. In the administration
Of Mr.. Fillmore, it was proposed that the
United States should enter into tripartite
alliance with France and England to guarantee
that the island Of Cuba should not change
hands We refused TO enter into It, and, there
fore, did not recognize the right Of those
Powers to dispose or provide for the govern
ment of an American domain.
Now, at the interval Of forty years from the
original British proposal to Us, this question
comes up in the same form against France,
and In relation to Spanish-American State.
England declared in 1928 that she would not
stand still and see France seize such States.
She stands still now; but 50 strongly committed
by her history to our side Of the question as
she is, is 1t possible that she could be against
us in war on this point? We believe not The
United States boldly gave warning to France
at the same time; and then the United States
was Power undeveloped anu of small account
Can we do less now, having just shown the
world the immense power that we possess to
carry on war! Is the United States of 1865,
developed, vigorous and tremendously power
full less ready to assert its rights and Its dignity
than was the United States of 1927 In 1928
we said that 1--WE should regard as highly
unjust and as fruitful Of disastrous conse-
quences, any attempt on the part of any Euro
pean Power to take possession of American
States by conquest, by oession, or on any other
ground or pretext whatever" But in 1865
there is q monarchy at our doors, built up by
France in contempt of us--and are we to stand
still
1t is impossible. AS matters now stand
there L. for us and for one or more Of the
European Powers an inevitable and serious
war in the future on this question. So far as
the condition of the popular mind goes there
is now state of war between us and France.
Nothing could have averted war II France had
touched Mexico while we were free to prevent
It; but it is felt that she took an advantage of
our position that makes the matter worse. Our
government will not rush recklessly into new
war; but any accident may precipitate such an
event. There Is but one way to provide
against It, and that is by the definite and
settlement of this question before an
congress. When this doctrine
was originally mooted 1t was in view of the
of such congress, and Mr.. Can
hing urged its settlement, so That England
night 60 into the congress definitely commit
ed to such a policy. He would even have
lcpt England out il the congress- would have
'efused to invite Mr.. Rush or treat that question
airly. But it is topic that has grown i'm
nensely in importance since then, aud must
De met openly. There Is but one alternative.
This doctrine must be clearly fixed by an
congress, or there must be war
with France-certainly within five years.
The Slavery Question I'm Cuba-Probable
Result OF the Excitement.
The people of the sever faithful" island of