The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1866-01-10

tend more to Knit oui affections tnan TO be night
ing once more, side by side, in the same cause
Not that would purchase even her amity at the |
price oftaking part in her wars. But the war in
which the present proposition might engage US,
should that be It's consequence not her wal, but
It's object 10 TO introduce and estab lish the
American system of keeping out Of our land all
torelgn powers, of never permitting those of Gu.
rope intermeddle with the affairs OF our nation
It is to maintain our own principle, not to depart
from it; and if, to facilitate this we can effect
division In the body of the European powers, and
draw over to our side its most powerful member,
surely we should do it. But am clearly of Mr..
Cannlng's opinion, that it will prevent instead OF
provoke war. With Great Britain withdrawn
from their scale and shifted into that Of our two
continents. all Europe combined would n
dertake such war For how would they propose
to get at either enemy without superior fleets p
Nor is the occasion to be sighted which this prop
ositon offers, OF declaring our protests against the
atrocious violations of the rights of natons the
interference OF any in the international affairs
of another, SO fagitiously begun by Bonaparte.
and now continued by the equally lawless alliance
calling itself holy.
But we have first to ask ourselves a question
Do we wish to acquire to our own coniederacy any
one or more of the Spanish provinces 2 l candid
ly confess that have ever looked on Cuba as the
most interesting addition that could ever be made
to our system Estates. The control which, with
Florida point, this island would give Us over the
Gulf OF Mexico, and the countries and isthmus
bordering t, well as all those whose waters
II. WOuiO MI up tne measure vi Jul Po-
htlcal well-beiDg. Yet, l am sensible that this
can never be Obtained even with her own consent,
but by war and if its Indepe ndence, which 10 our
second interest land especially It's independence
OF Engla nd, can be secured without It, have no
hesitation IN abandoning my first wish to future
chances, and accepting its independence, with
peace and the friendship OF England, rather than
its associations at the expense OF war and her en-
nifty.
81 could honestly, therefore, join in the decla-
ration proposed, that we aim not at the acquisi-
ton of any OF those possessions, that we Will not
stand in the way of any amcabie arrangement be-
tvs cen them and the mother country, but that We
will oppose with all our means, the forcible inter
position Of any other power, as auxiliary, stPen-
dary, under any other form or pretext, and
especially their transfer to any power by con-
quest, cession or acquisition in any other way
should think it, therefore, advisable that the e1-
ecutIve should encourage the British government
to a continuance IN the dispositions expressed In
these letters, by an assurance OF his concurrence
with them far his authority goes and that,
as It may lead to war, the declaration OF which re-
quires act of congress, the case shall be ialo
before them tor consideration, at Their hrst meeting
and under the reasonable aspect In which IL 10
seen by himself.
81 have been so long weaned from political sub
jects, and have so long ceased to take any inter-
est IN them, that am sensible am not qual'hso
to offer opinions on them worthy OF ANY attention
But the question now proposed involves conse-
quences SO lasting, and effects SO decisive OF our
future destinies, to rekIndle all the interest
have heretofore teit on such occasions, ana 10 Inc
hazard OF opinions which will prove only my wish
to contribute still my mite toward anything which
may be useful t" country. And praying you
accept It at only what II Is worth, add the as
surance OF my constant and afecuonate friendship
and respect
President Monroe thus fortified BY the sup
port of Mr.. Jefferson. proceeded to annouce,
in his seventh annual message TO congress, Of
Dec. 2 1923, the now celebrated Monroe
ton. "as a principle in which the rights and
interests of the United States are involved.
that the American continent, by the free and
independent condition they have assumed and
maintained, are henceforth not to be consid-
cred as subjects for future colonization by
any European powers.
The word ''henceJorth''is employed because
| Great Britain and France at the date OF the
message, not to speak of the Portuguese EN-
| pre of Brazil. Possessed colonies on this con-
| tinent, and these are exempted from its terms.
1t applies to the future and not to the past.
This is more specifically stated afterwards in
| ,ha aaal~---.--., the existing Col
I Onies or dependencies of any European pow
er we have not iuterfered and shall not inter
| fere"
The reader has perceived that the recon
mendations OF Mr. Jefferson went beyond the
'oint declaration" which had been proposed
| by Mr.. Canning. This was confined to the
Spanish American colonies, but The Monroe
doctrine extends the protection of the United
States to every other rton of the contiu-
ent.
! In a su bsequent portion of the m essage Mr.
Monroe proceeds to discuss and condemn IA, in f.
! clear aud able manner, the projects of the al
lance against toe southern repu blics and to
warn them of the consequences. In this how
| evrr, he never loses sig hit of the more COM
| prehensive doctrine he had first announced
against European colonization in any portion
| of America, employing such language as the
| following:
! eve it, therefore, to candor, and to the
| am bic relations existing between the United
States and those European powers to declare that
we should consider any attempt on their part to
extend their system to any portion of this hemIs-
! phere dangerous to our peace and safety
And again, after stating that our establish
| ed policy was not 10 interfere in the internal
concerns of any European power, TO consider
the government de .facto as the Legitimate
| government. and to cultivate friendly relations
with it, he says
"But in regard to these continents circumstan-
ces are eminently and conspicuousy different. /,
is impossible that the allied powers should extend
their political system to any portion of either con-
tInent, without endangerng our peace and happi-
ness any believe that our southern
brethren, ii left to themselves would adopt 1t of
their own accord. 1t IL equally impossible there
fore, that should behold such lnterposItIon, in
| any form, with indifference"
| Such is the Monroe doctrine. 1t is in OPP
position TO future European colonization on
| any part Of the American continent; it is in
opposition to the introduction of European
despotic or monarchral institutions in any
| part OF the American continent; and in op.
position to any attempt of European sover
To- To he
public of Mexico. or any of the South Ameri-
can repu blics In regard to those republics,
he Gays:
their inde pendence and maintained it, and whose
lndepence we have, on great eonslder and on