Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-02-05
The Monroe Doctrine Revived.

Away back in the first quarter of
the present century the people of the
Spanish-American colonies of South
America revolted against their rulers
abroad, and established governments
of their own. These governments they
maintained by force of arms, animated
by the same spirit of patriotism and
determination to be free from the
chains of Il foreign yoke that gave
nerve and strength to the sturdy men
of our own thirteen colonies during
their fight for independence in the
preceding century. The dc tacto gov
ernments thus put in operation had
been recognized by the United States,
but the Spanish King determined not
to bear so grievous loss to his domin-
ions without a struggle. With the aid
of certain other European monarchs
he hoped to conquer his rebellious sub
jects and bring them again under the
power of his kingdom. Unfortunately
for his designs, the English govern
ment refused to become a party to the
alliance, and this refusal, together
with the firm protest Of the United
States, soon brought the allied Kings
TO realize the difficulties that must
beset their enterprise Of subjugation,
and it failed.
President Monroe, keenly solicitous
for the safety and success of our Re
publican form of government, and
deeply impressed with the dangers
to its stability that must constantly
spring from the enmity and the in
trigues of monarchists firmly intrench-
ed in authority and power on this side
of the Atlantic, not only avowed his
earnest sympathy with the struggling
Republics of the South, but defantly
proclaimed the principle that the po-
litical systems of Europe could not be
established on these continents by Eu-
ropean nations. He discussed this
question ably and elaborately in his
annual message to Congress, December
2, 1923, asserting that with the ex-
isting colonies or dependencies of
"any European power we have not
interfered and shall not interfere.
But with the governments who have
declared their independence and
maintained it, and whose independ-
"ence we have on great consideration
"and on first principles acknowledged,
eve could not view any interposition
for the purpose ofOppressing them or
controlling in any other manner their
destiny by any European power in
"any other light than as the manifes-
tation of an uniriendly disposition
towards the United States;" and
further, that "Our policy in regard to
Europe, which was adopted at an
can early stage of the wars which
shave so long agitated that quarter OF
" the globe, nevertheless remains the
same, which is not to interfere in the
internal concerns of any of its powers
:" > But in regard to these con.
"tinents circumstances are eminently
"and conspicuously different. 1t j;
impossible that the allied power:
"should extend their political system
"to any portion of either continent
without endangering our peace and
happiness"
But, in the same message, Mr.. Mon
roe went even further, for he believed
the time had come to announce "ds q
principle in ,ohieh the rights and IN
"terests Of the United States are inuOtu
"ed,. that the american continents By
"he free and independent condition
''which they have assumed and main
"tain, are hencetorth not to be consider
"sd as subjects for future colonization
"by any European pO,cers." This IL
the principle known as the Monro'
doctrine, and it has ever since beer
sustained as the policy of the United
States in the treatment of question:
/ ....a.,...,,. n,,t &c Euxacoau xNra4aufians