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

| the uOly AlAuuGe, vohN SSANoh "Dn"o
then Secretary Of State. replied through
our Minister. Mr.. MIDDLETON:
Tho political system of the United States is essen.
TALLY extra European. To stand In nrm ana cautious
l independence Of all ENHANCEMENT in the European
system has been n cardinal point OF their policy Under
every administration of their government from the
peace OF 1TS3 to this day
And this was considered rs an ample rea-
son for declining the Emperor's invitation.
But 1t should be remembered that Russia
Mt that time owned Alaska. and that a dis
pute had arisen between her. England. and
the United States as to the exact limit OF
the Russian possessions. and this was made
an additional reason by President MONROE
for saying In his message Of Dec. 2. 1928. to
Congress- that:
.The occasion has been judged proper for asserting
A. A principle In which the rights and interests Of the
United States are involved. that the American cont.
l nents. by the free and Independent condition which
they have assumed and maintain. are henceforth not
to be considered as subjects for future colonization by
any European powers"
In the same message. after referring to
the efforts then making to improve the con-
dition Of the people in Spain and Portugal.
and calling attention to the friendly senti-
\ msnts OF DUN people, he continued:
1.-THE political sybtem OF Inc Allleu pOWeFp - etseu.
TALLY different in this respect from that Of America.
| This difference proceeds FRONT hat which exists in their
respective Governments. And to tho defence OF our
own, achieved by the loss of ~ much blood and treas
ure. and matured by the wisdom OF their most enltght.
ened citizens. and under which we have enjoyed unex.
smplsd felicity. this whole nation 10 devoted. We owe
It.. therefore. to candor and to the amicable relations
existing between the United States and those
powers to declare that we should consider any
attempt on their part to extend their system
Al - stl. r.av N . IA naRar AM m OnP
peace aud safety. With the existing colonies or de-
tendencies of any European power we have not inter.
fered, and shall not interfere. But with the Govern.
ments who have declared their independence and
maintained 1t. ami whose independence we have. on
great consideration and on Just principles acknowl-
edged, we conld not view any Interpolation for tho
purpose Of depressing them or controlling in any other
manner their destiny by any European power. In any
other light than as the manifestation OF an unfriendly
disposition toward the United States"
Mr.. GA1LATN, at that time Minister to
France, Mr.. RUSH. Minister to England. J..
@. ADAMS, Secretary OF State. and many OF
the leading members OF both Houses Of Con-
gress approved these sentiments. and yet
it is but proper to add that Congress. as a
BODY, never gave formal expression to them.
CLAY. CALHOUN. and WEBSTER each subse-
quently, as Secretary OF State. asserted
them on every proper occasion. and Presi-
dent POLK, In 1845. after declaring that
the European balance Of power could not
be permitted to have any application on the
North American continent" added:
I'VE must ever maintain the principle that the poo
pic of this continent alone have the right to decide
their own destiny. Should any portion of them. con.
stituting an independent State. propose to unite them.
selves with our contederacy. this will BIO a question for
hem and us to determine without any foreign inter
position. We can never consent that European powers
shall interfere to prevent such q union because It might
disturb the balance Of power which they desire to
maintain upon this continent"
Again. Mr.. CAss, Mr.. SEWARD. and Mr..
FISH. as Secretaries Of State. and Gen.
GRANT. as President. each in turn found
occasion to reiterate and endorse the doc
trine in one form or another. until now it Is
so enlarged and embedded in the polity OF
the country that it may almost be consid-
cred as a part OF the law OF the land.
While 1t will not escape the attention Of
the reader that the official declaration made
by President MONROE had its origin in the
suggestion conveyed to him by Mr.. CAN
MING through Mr.. RUSH. Inc doubtless re-
ceived its concrete form largely from the
influence of JOHN QUINCY ADAMS. its
fullest statement was made by THOMAS
JEFFERSON. and its expression by
both JEFFERSON and MONROE went far be-
yond anything contemplated by Mr.. CAM
MING. While it was limited to the discour-
agement of further colonization in the
Western hemisphere by European Govern
ments. and especially by nations belonging
to the Holy Alliance. and to the further ex-
tension of such colonies. the underlying
principles were so broadly stated as to ap-
| AZ ~ ,rith nn,ol fNrnn "a lcnnN vl,ttotr .-l
such OF her colonies as might assert and
establish their independence. Considered
in it's broadcast sense. no matter who is
President or which party is In power. it
would manifestly justify our people not
only in extending their sympathy to any
revolving English colony in America. but
1t would compel our Government to assert
and maintain the right OF such colony. even
at the hazard of war. to enter the
Union, II it so desired and tho terms
could be mutually agreed upon. 1t may
also be fairly claimed that the federation Of
the British colonies In North America, as
the result OF the Trent affair, and OF the
rebellion OF the Southern States. inasmuch
as it strengthened and extended British
colonial power on the continent. vas an un.
friendly act. dangerous to our peace and
safety" and therefore In violation OF the
MONROE doctrine.
1t ia now known that this was the view
taken Of this important measure by leading
men OF the last Republican National Con-
v~ention. which incorporated both the Mon
roe doctrine and manifest destiny into
their platform. 1t Is an open secret that
the subcommittee on foreign affairs re.
ported a resolution on the subject In the
following words:
while 1t the Republican partly dsprscatss war IN
all its forms. and favors the settlement OF all intorna
tional difficulties by arbitration rather THAI by force. 4
reahirms its approval OF the MONROE doctrine in III
broadcast significance as a fundamental principle of oul
national pohty, In pursuance Of our permanent ant
aramoun interests II fayors such an enlargement Of
the terms Of that doctrine as viii tend TO tho psacefa
achievement and not to the delay OF that political ant
commercial union Of the English speaking and allied
people on the North American continent and the ada
! cent islands. which IL the manifest destiny Of th'
great republic"