The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1882-01-04
1he Monroe Doctrine Late Secretary
Blaine.


Ministers to Chill and 70 Peru, has re-
viyed an interest ID what Is known as
the Monroe doctrine which has been
accepted as the established policy of the
United States for nearly sixty years.
Mr.. Blaine, speaking for the (Garfel6
Administration instructed that these
ministers should use-their Offices to
prevent Chill from obtaining territory
from Peru which she has efeetually
overrun and subdued, as 4 condition, Of
peace; and that the United States
would be compelled to consider" ga
more active interposition, if the bellig-
erents should invite European power
to arbitrate the issue between them. II
Mr.. Blaine imagined that in taking this
extraordinary and indefensible step he
was keeping our government in the line
of the Monroe doctrine, he aimed wide
of the mark. The doctrine was set
forth in the message of President Mon
roe of December I'd, 1923, and owed its
origin to the fact that Russia, Austria,
France and Prussia had entered into
what is known as the Holy Alliance,
a league of absolutism against liberal
principles. and had given some intima.
ton that they proposed to help Spain
regain her footing on the North Amer
lean continent, and re establish her des
potic sway. Mr.. Canning, the then
British Minister of Foreign Affairs,
communicated to our Government the
secret articles of agreement which the
Holy Alliance had formulated. As
these threatened an interference with
affairs on this continent in way that
was likely to become threatening to the
interests ofthe United States, President
Monroe was induced to place on record
protest embodying the views which
have since come to be known as ''the
Monroe Doctrine" The fear then was
that the Holy Alliance would seek to
extend its peculiar notions of govern
ment on this continent, and that the
promised aid to Spain to recover colo
MES was but a step toward exercising
undue influence, extending, it might be,
to an attempt at conquest over other
portions Of the North American conti-
nent A very great deal of doubt,
jealousy, and even of fear of the Holy
Alliance existed at the time. In this
condition of public feeling President
Monroe gave utterance to the general
sentiment in these words:
We owe it, therefore, to candor and the
amcable relations between the United
States and those Powers to declare that we
should consider any attempt on their part
10 extend their system to any portion of
| this hemisphere as dangerous to our peace
and safety. With the existing colonies or
| dependencies of any European Power we
| have not interfered, aud shall not interfere.
| But, with the Governments who have de-
elared their independence, and whose indie
pendence we have, on great considerations
and just principles acknowledged. we could
not view any interposltion for the purpose
of expressing them, or controlling in any
other manner their destiny, by any Euro
pean power. in any other light than as the
manifestation of an unfrieHdly disposition
toward the United States In the war be-
tween those new Governments and Spain we
declared our neutrality at the time of their
recognition, and to this we have adhered
md shall continue to adhere, provided no
change shall occur which, in the judgment
Of the competent authorities of the Govern
ment, shall make corresponding change on
the partef the United States indispensable
TO their security.
The scope and interest of this doctrine
cannot be mistaken. It meant that
European powers would not be per-
mitted Overthrow governments on this
continent for the the establishment of
despotism, and it was intended as a
warning to them to keep their hands
off the existing governments Of this
hemisphere for the attainment of such
an end. Il was by no means repugnant
to such friendly and impartial arbitra
ton between belligereAts as would leave
them unshorn of their separate author
| ity and independence. Mr.. Blaine's
blunder has inspired Republican paper
as Jealous as the N. Y. Times to say
that it is well that he has so soon re-
tired from the post of Secretary of
State" It would be misnomer to call
the author of this hlunder a states.
man. He is compound of cunning,
and sentiment, with q large ingredient Of
plausibility aud hypocrisy, and these
combined qualities constitute an untrust-
worthy political leader. who, ike a
vessel in storm, without anchor, is La
bic to be carried hither and thither by
any wind Of doctrine that may happen
to be blowing.
We note that Proctor Knot, Of Ken
lucky. has entered for the war in the
ightoger the tariff. He says he pro-
poses during the present Congress to
advocate a complete revision of the
tariff He is dead set against the
commission scheme. He regards it as
a cunning device for delay, and believes
that if a commission were appointed it
would be controlled thoroughly BY the
protectionists, who would secure re-