The National tribune., 1894-03-29
THE MONROE DOCTRINE.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: VIII you
please answer the following questions
through the columns of THE NATIONAL
| TRIBUNE:
Isl. What is the Monroe Doctrine?
I'd. Was said doctrine ever put in force
| by the United States Government?
Sd. If not, why boast of said doctrine?
4th. What was the gist of the Ostend
| Circular?
5th. Was James Buchanan its author?
J. W. PARK, Co. E, 18th Ohio, Dana, Ind.
l. The Monroe Doctrine was first for
mulated by J. @. Adams, Secretary OF
State, and announced in the Message OF
President Monroe, at the opening OF
Congress in 1923, in these words:
We owe it to candor and to the amicable
relations existing between the United States
and the allied powers, to declare that we
should consider any attempt on their part
to 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 and shall not interfere
but with the Governments which have de-
clared their independence and maintained
it, and whose independence we have, on
great consideration and just principles, &C
knowledged, we could not view an inter
position for expressing them, or controlling
in any other manner their destiny by any
European power, in any other light than as
a manifestation of an unfriendly disposition
toward the United States
The Message also declared:
The American continents should no longer
be subjects for any new European colonial
settlements.
The reason for the announcement of
the doctrine at the time was that four
Prussia and France, the over
great European powers,-Russia, Austria,
throw of Napoleon, formed the famous
Holy Alliance" for the maintenance
of the existing dynasties and the sup
preston of all revolts by the subjects
of any power. Spain tried to get the
assistance of the alliance to subjugate
her American colonies, who had thrown
of, or were trying to throw off, her yoke.
The United States gave them distinctly
to understand that while we would not
interfere with any efforts of Spain to re-
assert her authority, the other powers
must not interfere.
2. Yes; the doctrine has repeatedly
been "put in force" so to speak. The
first time was during Monroe's Admins
tration, when Spain was trying to cede
some of her colonies to Russia. This
was prevented. 1t was reiterated
strongly by Taylor's Administration,
against the attempt of the British to
take possession of the Musketo Coast of
Nicaragua, and the British Government
finally yielded the point. At the close
of the war of the rebellion we made
ready to enforce it against the French,
but Napoleon LII. wisely withdrew his
troops.
3. We think we have pretty good
reasons to "boast of the doctrine" since
it is eternally right, and will be enforced
by our people, no matter what Admins
tration happens to be in power.
a. In 1854 President Pierce directed
James Buchanan, Minister to Great
Britain; John Y. Mason, Minister to
France, and Pierre Soule, Minister to
Spain, to meet in some convenient city
and discuss the Cuban question. They
met at Ostend Oct. 8, and drew up a
dispatch known as the Ostend Mani
festo" It declared the sale of Cuba
would be as honorable and advantageous
to Spain as its purchase would be to the
United States but that if Spain should
obstinately refuse to sell the island, self
preservation would make it incumbent
upon the United States to wrest it from
her, and prevent it from being converted
into second San Domingo.
GEN. JOHN c. BLACK says that new
pension legislation is needed. Certainly.
| In the first place we want a law that