The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-12-08

little about it as any other white man on the
continent of America.
1t has devolved upon the Sun TO enlighten
the administration at Washington on several
points respecting which lamentsble obscu-
rity and confusion have prevailed; and as an
act of charity and benevolence we will fur
nish q succinct statement of the circum
stances under which President Monroe, half
a century since, made this somewhat famous
declaration, and the object aimed to be ac-
complished.
Mr. Monroe, the last of the Presidents con-
tributed to the country from the large stock
of heroes left as a legacy by the Revolution,
was an amiable old gentleman, of excellent
intentions, prudent and cautious to degree
that verged upon timidity, aud subject to
the influence of the three great men of his
Cabinet, Adams, Crawford, and Calhoun.
They were wise and far-seeing statesmen,
full of activity and enterprise, and fond of
strong ard decided measures-bold and de-
termined-iust the men to supplement the
deficiencies of the facile-minded and easy
going President. The doctrine amounted to
this: that the United States would not look
with complacency upon any attempt by
European governments to plant colonies on
this continent; and the implication was that
if Spain should undertake to repossess her
self of the countries of South America which
she had lost by successful revolution, the
be calculated upon. AT that time the Holy
Alliance was in full vigor, the bulk of conti-
mental Europe being included in it. Revolu-
tionary France, under Bonaparte, had fright
ened the sovereigns half out of their senses,
and they were pledged to each other to put
down, by force if necessary, any republican
manifestations. Great Britain was not
party to this understanding, and was there
fore regarded with distrust and apprehension
flarc Tn, t1f
Mr.. Canning, then Prime Minister of Eng
land, sought to fortify his Government by an
understanding with the United States.
MIR. Rush, who represented our
Government in London, was sounded
by the astute Englishman, but he
had no authority TO respond to the overture.
The growing power of Russia caused great
alarm in England, and the encroachments of
the Emperor Alexander in the northwest of
America were specially apprehended. Mr..
| Leavitt Harris then American Charge DAT
flares at st. Petersburg, was approached by
! the British Minister under the direction of
| Canning; and after some correspondence with
| the Washington Government, President Mon
roe was induced to insert in his annual mes
sage the ambiguous and empty menace known
as the Monroe doctrine" 1t was a harm
less little swagger, indicating nothing, and
| followed by no action of any kind. But it
accomplished all that was hoped for by the
statesman on whose suggestion it was pro-
nounced. The sovereigns of the continent
opened their eyes with considerable interest,
supposipg that John Bull and Uncle Sam had
entered into an arrangement that might in
certain contingencieslea lead to decided measures.
The modern Interpretation of the doctrine
would have terrified MIR. Monroe beyond des-
cription. According to the present under
standing of we were committed to a course
of invasion and conquest that could'only have
terminated when we had taken possession of
North America, and guaranteed the indepen-
dence of the rest of the continent. But there
was no harm done, barring the declamatory
nonsense which Fourth of July orators and
other petty spouters have since inflicted upon
| q lone suffering people