The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1889-03-06
THE MONROE DOCTRINE.
What 1t Is and why 1t Is Upheld by All
American Statesmen.

What It Is and why 1t Is Upheld by ALI
American Statesmen.
The collapse of the company which
undertook to construct the Panama
canal, and the possibility OF prosecu-
ton of the enterprise by the French
Government, have called attention once
more to ''the Monroe Doctrine, which
is generally supposed to be hostile to
the interference of any European gov.
eminent with the scheme.
What is the Monroe doctrineP
The best way of answering this ques-
ton is to quote the words of President
Monroe himself, in his annual message
of 1928, when it was feared that Spain
and Portugal, with the aid Of the re-
stored Bourbons of France, were about
to send powerful expedition to re-
conquer Brazil and Columbia, and SUBJ
iect them again to the powers from
which they had successfully revolted.
The United States had acknowledged
the independence of these countries,
and this threatened attack was regard
ed by Mr.. Monroe as aimed at repub-
lican institutions in general. He said
in his message:
1--WE owe it, therefore, to candor,
and to the amicable relations existing
between the United States and those
powers, to declare that we should con-
slider any attempt on their part to ex-
tend their system to any portion OF this
hemisphere as dangerous to our peace
and safety"
Again, in the same message, and
evidently still referring not to the pos
session of parts of America by Eu-
ropean governments. but to the intro
duction of monarchical forms on Amer
lean soil, he said:
1T is impossible that the allied
powers should extend their political
eystem to any portion of either con-
tinent North or South America with
out endangering our peace and happi-
ness
The circumstances OF the world have
changed since these words were writ
ten. France is republic, and can
have, therefore, no interest in extend
ing political system not in harmony
with her own. The object of her
anticipated action in Panama is the
completion of canal, to be used by
the vessels of all nations on equal
terms. 1t is evident that the words OF
Mr.. Monroe, wise and weighty as they
were in 1923, do not apply very obvious
ly to the case in hand.
What he feared was union of the
despotic powers of Europe for the ex-
tirpation of the republican system in
America Nor would his fears have
been groundless il the Bourbons had
not been more incompetent than they
were perverse.
But Presidents do not always say all
that they mean in their messages.
From the time when Benjamin Frank
lin, about the middle of the last cent
ury. began to foresee the destiny OF
America, all American statesmen have
felt, as he did, that it is not best for
any European power to have posses
sions in America-not best for us, not
best for Europe.
Twice Franklin had seen his country
embroiled in long and bloody wars
solely through the fact that Canada
belonged to one European power, and
the colonies south of it to another.
Hence, at the peace of 1888, he put
forth all his powers to induce Great
Britain to give up Canada, so as to re-
move forever a peril to the peace that
ought to subsist between the two En-
glish-spealSing nations.
He favored this policy not for the
mean and pitiful reason OF adding to
the magnitude of his country, but for
reasons noble, humane and worthy of
u man. He deemed it best for both
nations, as we'll as for the general in
terest of civilization that what nature
had joined together, and interlocked
by every device of geography, the fool
ish politics of men should not put
asunder.
This is the real Monroe Doctrine Vi
which renders the people of the United
States a unit against the mingling OF
American and European powers and
possessions. Mr.. Monroe applied it to
one case; Mr.. Jefferson to another
when he bought Louisiana; General
Washington to another when he signed
the Jay treaty; and no doubt future
Presidents will be equally vigilant and
decided. -Youths' Companion.
O.