The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-01-15
The Monroe Doctrine.

No principle OF national polity is more
deeply embedded in the American mind
than that OF the MONROE doctrine. It is
an undlsputed article OF faith to one of the
great political parties. and indeed among
sections Of our people. and has been sos since
1t was first ~propounded by President Mon
ROE in 1928. But. curiously enough. its
history. its precise significance. and the
conditions for its application, are by no
means generally understood.
At the close OF the N%apoleonic wars in
1915 the allied powers-Austria. Russia.
Prussia. and Frunce-entered into 1.-The
Holy Alliance" the ostensible object Of
which was to subordinate politics to the
Christian religion: but its real design was
to extend monarchical principles as far rs
possible. and to repress and put down popu-
lar institutions. Sc long as the operations
OF the allies were confined to Europe, they
were viewel by American statesmen with
comparative indifference: but when the
Spanish aud Portuguese colonies threw off
their allegiance to their European SOW
ereiyns and set up for themselves.
the Holy Alliance proposed TO inter-
vene against them. This at once aroused
luo dtLCuttOn VI SiI' NhNNlNo, Lltu Illl.lC
Minister Of Great Britain. who in turn
brought IL to the attention OF Mr.. RUSH. at
that time OH representative in England.
The British Government. in its own inter-
,st, suggested that the United States should
take decided grounds against the proposed
Intervention. On the receipt OF the cor
respondence from Mr.. RUSH. Mr.. MONROE.
then President. profoundly impressed with
tho importance OF the subject. sent the pa
pers to Mr.. JEFFERSON at Monticello with a
letter asking his advice. The latter replied
as follows:
"Ths question Is the most momentous ever Of
fersd to my contemplation since that OF indepen.
dence. That made Us n nation; this sets our compass
aud points the course which we should steer through
the ocean of time opening on US And never could we
embark upon 1t under circumstances more auspicious
Our nrst and fundamental maxim should be never to
entansle ourselves in the broils OF Europe; our second,
never 10 suffer Europe to intermeddlo with els. Atlantic
Affairs. America, North and South. has 4 set OF inter
ests distinct from those Of Europe and peculiarly hel
own She should therefore have a system Of her owr
separate and apart from that Of Europe. While tn,
last 10 iaboring TO become the domiciie OF despotism
our sndsAvor should surely be to make our hemispher,
that Of freedom"
After pointing out that our accession Il
tile proposition OF Mr.. CANNING would no
only" bring the weight OF Great Britain
into the scale OF free government ant
emancipate a continent at n stroke but
that it would " prevent instead Of provok,
o war;" he added:
Nor 10 the occasion TO be sighted. which this prop
osition offers Of declaring our protest against tho afro
cious Violations Of the rights Of nations by the inter
ference OF any one In the internal affairs OF another. o.
nAEitiousiy begun by BosAPARIE and nov continue,
by the equally law!sss Alliance calling itself Holy"
Perceiving. however. that the broad prin
ciples laid down might be used to proven
our own future development. he continued
But We have nrst to ask ourselves . question. d
We wish 10 soguirs to our own confsdsracy any more o
the spanish provincess I~csudidiy confess that I hav'
ever looked ou Cuba - the most interesting addition
which could ever be made to our system Of States
The control which. with Florida Point. this islam,
would give US over the Gulf OF Mexico. and the coun
tries aud islhmus bordering on II, Is well as all thos,
whoss waters flow into it. would MI up the measure o
oar political well being"
After referring to the fact that this coult
not be obtained except by war and the in,
dependence Of Cuba. and especially its in
dependence OF England. he said:
II could honestly therefore Join In the declaration
proposed that We aim not at the acquisition Of any o.
those possessions: thai We will not stand in the way Of
ANY aaurabie sraagsmsnt between thsm and III,