Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-01-09

Mexico was acknowledged, and the indie
pendence of tie South American colonies
(1S22l from Spanish domination was recog-
|, nized; and here was the beginning of the
growth of the Monroe doctrine, shortly
after adopted as the national policy, and
never since departed from, with solitary
exception, and from which departure the
United States returned at the first oppor-
tunity.
In brief and simplest form this doctrine
-as enunciated by Monroe in his famous
messages that it is the policy of the
United States of America to refrain from
interference or ENHANCEMENT with
European issues and contests, and to re-
sent as unfriendly acton and as intolerable
| any interference by the powers of the old
world with the affairs of the new. Also,
| that the United States will view as men,
| aclng, any effort on the part of European
| Governments ito extend their system to
any portion of this hemisphere )" and that
any such attempt will be regarded as
dangerous to our peace and safety"
A concert of European Powers, known
as the "Holy Alliance" was put afoot to
aid Spain in reclaiming the revolving
South American colonies, whose indie
pendence we had recognized. England,
by her commercial interests and the fear
that such reclamation, if effected, might
lead to efforts by the French to regain TIE
possessions she once enjoyed upon this
continent, opposed the E" Holy Alliance"
and encouraged the United States to resist
1t. The first indication of the coming
policy is to be found in the notable con-
ference between the American and British
Ministers in which they agreed upon, and
submitted to their Governments the declare
ton that neither nation could view the
reclamation of the South American States
with indifference
| The next year, 1898, Mr.. Adams as
Secretary of State, replied to Russia that
we would contest her claim to any new
colonization upon American coasts, and
that "the American continents are no
longer subjects to any new European colo
NAL establishments" Upon the very heels
of this correspondence came President
Monroe's great message-December, 1923
that sounded anew the doctrine of free
government, and the conservation of Amer
lean soil to the cause Of liberty:
The American continents, by the free
and Independent condition which they
have assumed and maintain, are hence
| forth not to be considered as subjects of
future colonization of any European
| power"
In the course of his consideration of the
! matter, President Monroe took occasion to
submit certain correspondence involving
the principle to the sage of Monticello,
then in retirement from long and illustri-
GUS service to his country. Jefferson ex-
claimed: The question is the most
momentous ever offered to my contempla-
ton since that of independence. Our first
and fundamental maxim should be: never
to entangle ourselves in the broils of
Europe; our second, never to suffer Eu-
rope to intermeddle with cis-Atlantic
affairs"
From that hour the policy Of the nation
has been to resent any attempt by Eu-
ropean powers to gain a foothold upon
American continents, and on our own part
to refrain from intermeddling in European
affairs. In 1916 we concluded treaty
with New Granada-still in force-guar-
anteeing to US the use of the Isthmus tran
sit without discriminating tolls. In 1850. !
when we had little capital and broken and
precarious communication with our Pacific |
coast possessions, we concluded the Bull |
wer-Clavton treaty with Great Britain. |
|
Central America, and both Governments |
agreed upon the construction of Nicara- |
qua canal, and mutual rights and author
lty over 1t, but that neither should acquire |
exclusive control. This was relaxation of |
the Monroe doctrine which we speedily |
regretted as will be seen.
The Colombian Government granted |
charter to the" international Society of |
the lnter-Oceanic Canal" for construction |
of what is now known as the Panama |
Canal, but it secured its neutrality in case
OF war between other nations and denied |
the right of the grantees, or their assigns, |
to cede any rights gained to any foreign |
nation or Government. In 1865 General |
Grant sent General Sheridan with full |
army corps to the Mexican border to |
watch the movements of the French in |
Mexico The result was that the French |
menace was Withdrawn and Macmillan |
left to his fate. In 1870 General Grant |
vigorously urged the annexation of Santo |
Domingo, then offering to come to us |
freely, because it would be action in har-
mony with the Monroe doctrine, and an |
emphatic notice to European powers that |
no acquisition of territory on this side |
by them would be permitted.
In 1880 President HAYES reasserted the |
Monroe Doctrine in the consideration OF |
the question of an inter oceanic canal. |
The same year Congress discussed the doc |
trine at great length, and though adjourn |
ing without action, received and consid- |
cred the report of the Committee on For
eign Affairs, which was emphatic against
any scheme or policy to give any Euro
pean power the right to interfere with the
| concerns or destiny of any independent
States of this continent. 1t was in this
year, also, that a protocol to the treaty
OF 1916, heretofore referred to, was pro-
posed, giving to the United States in case
the neutrality of the Panama Canal should |
be threatened, the right to take possession
of 1t. The Colombian Government refused |
TO accede to the proposition
In 1881 Secretary of State Blaine sent
out to the European powers the notice |
which created such stir in international
circles, that the activity they were then
manifesting jointly in guaranteeing the
| neutrality of the Panama Canal was I'M
| called for, as the United States Govern
ment had provided for such neutrality bv
| the treaty Of 1916 with New Granada, and
| felt able and proposed to maintain it alone.
He added that any iavolvment in the mat
| ter by European Governments would be
regarded as an intrusion, since the policy
OF the United States was to refrain from
interference in European affairs, and to
exact the same of them concerning the
American continent. This vigorous state
ment, followed by his proposition to Eng
land to modify the Bulwer- CLAYTON treaty
OF 1850, greatly angered the English press,
which denounced Mr. Blaine's declaration
as jingoism, and advised against any re-
taxation Of the Buiwer- CLAYTON treaty of
1850, by which we distinctly waived the
Monroe doctrine. To this, reflected
through diplomatic correspondence, Mr..
Blaine replied that the conditions under
which the Buiwer- CLAYTON treaty had been
negotiated and concluded were exceptional.
peculiar and temporary, had long since
ceased to exit, and could never again be
revived. We were now provided with
home capital; We had rail communication
with our Pacific coast we were able alone
to furnish means to construct an inter
oceanic canal, and to permit any other
power to take part in it, since Europe was
now armed and had powerful navies afoat
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