The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-03-20

fense of our own, which has been achieved
by the loss of so much blood and treasure,
and matured by the wisdom of our most
enlightened citizens, and under which
we have enjoyed unexampled felicity
this whole Nation is devoted. We owe it.
therefore, to candor, and to the AMIGA
cable relations existing between the Uni
ted 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 exist
ing colonies or dependencies of any Eu,
ropean Power we have not interfered,
and shall not interfere. But, with the
governments who have declared their in
dependence, and maintained it, and
whose independence we have, on great
consideration, and on just principles,
acknowledged, we could not view any
interposition for the purpose of oppress-
ing them, or controlling, in any other
manner, their destiny, by any European
Power, in any other light than as mani
festation Of an unfriendly disposition
toward the United States
"Our policy, in regard to Europe, which
was adopted at an early stage Of the
wars which have SO long agitated that
part OF the globe, nevertheless, remains
the same, which is, not to interfere in
the internal concerns of any of its Pow
ers. But, in regard to these
Continents, circumstances are eminently
and conspicuously different. 1t is i'm
possible that the Allied Powers should
extend their political system to any por-
tion of either Continent, without en-
dangering our peace and happiness; mol
can any one believe that our Southern
brethren, if left to themselves, would
adopt it of their own accord. 1t is
equally impossible, therefore, that we
should behold such interpositiDn, in any
form, with indifference"
1t is this brief but most pregnant pas.
sage from that Executive message that
constitutes what is so commonly known
as the "Monroe Doctrine" Its enuncia-
tion Immediately paralyzed the incipient
movements of European Intervention
under the unholy intrigues of the "Holy
Alliance" diplomatic in form, but coer-
Give in fact. This declaration of policy
on the part of our Government enabled
the Central and South American States
to establish their independence of
Spain.
Only three years later, in 1926, Presi-
dent John Quincy Adams took occasion
to reafirm the same doctrine laid down
by his predecessor, in his special message
to the Senate on the subject of the Pan
anna Congress, wherein he says that its
purpose was "to guard against the estab-
lishment of any future European Col
ony within the borders of any American
State" And it was in support of this
doctrine that Webster made one of the
greatest of his great speeches in the
Senate.
Twenty years later, in 1845, when
European intriguers were at work with
Mexico for the. cession of California to
England, President Polk, in his annual
message reiterated the same doctrine
saying that ''it should be distinctly an.
nounced to the world as our settled
policy that no future European Colony
or dominion shall, with our consent, be
planted or established on any part of the
North American Continent"
And again about twenty years later
when an Austrian Duke under the
manipulations of the French Emperor
Napoleon III, attempted to establish an
Imperial throne in Mexico, while oul
hands were supposed to be tied by civil
war, Maximilian was duly notified of the
American policy under the Monroe doc.
trine and warned to desist. But the
Mexicans themselves soon put an end tc
that European scheme, without the aid
Of the United States.
And now once more, in 1880, the Presi
dent reafirms the Monroe doctrine dis
tinctly and emphatically; and at the
same time select committee of the
House of Representatives Oh the subject
of the Inter-Oceanic Canal affirm the
same in their report. So that from 1926
to 1880, more than half of our whole Ma
tional existence, this has been the set
tied policy of our Government. 1t has
received the sanction of Executives oil
all parties, Wings, Democrats and Re
pubiicans. 1t is in no sense party pol
icy, but National policy; to which, in
the words of President Monroe, "this
whole Nation is devoted"
In his recent message President HAYES
says: 81 deem it proper to state briefly
my opinion as to the policy of the United
States with respect to the construction ol
an Inter-Oceanic Canal by any routf