The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1895-12-27
THE MONROE DOCTRINE,


so much talk in regard to the Monroe
doctrine, we think that the following
explanation of it, as written by a con
tributor to the Gazette aud Bulletin,
would be interesting to our readers,
and hence publish it. The wri er says:
Unusually great events transpired
during the public life of Monroe, con
ssting of the admission to the Union
of eight states, the purchase of Louis
lana and Florida, and in his second
term, the liberation of Mexico and
the South American provinces from
the rule of Spain. These were form
ally recognized as separate states in
1922.
Growing out of long sequence Of
circumstances there came to be recog.
nized what was then often called
neutral policy" by which was meant
that the United States would not in
terfere with nor participate IN Euro
pean politics, since il was conceded
we had no such geographical right.
Very naturally then, too, in the course
of this, it was held that European
countries should not meddle with
American policies, and, in his last
annual message but one, exactly
seventy.two years ago, Monroe, sup
ported by such men in his Cabinet as
Adams, Calhoun, Crawford and Writ,
gave to the world that immortal pro-
nunciamento that America is for
Americans.
The immediate occasion of this
declaration was the secret information
that the "Holy Alliance was con-
templating the seizure and return to
Spain of these countries she had just
lost Therefore, these words are used:
awe would not view any inter-
vention for the purpose of expressing
them (these Spanish American prov
inces), or in controlling in any man
ner their destiny by any European
power, In any other light than as the
manifestation of an unfriendly dis
position towards the United States"
And further, that any attempt on the
part OF the European powers to
"extend their system to any portion
of this hemisphere" would be regard
ed by the United States as dangerous
to our peace and safety" and would
be accordingly opposed.
In fine, that while we are commit.
ted to the policy of no entanglements
in European Affairs, conversely, we
would not suffer the old world to in.
terfere with the domestic matters of
the new, This is the "Monroe doc
t-ine."
Does this claim apply to the dis.
pute between Great Britain and
Venezuela? +? Venezuela is an exten.
sive country, being about fourteen
times as large as Pennsylvania, and,
should England be permitted to thus
forcibly seize and unwaprantably hold
the more valuable portion without
our protest, very soon all would be
taken, and then Columbia, Ecuador
and Peru would soon come within her
octopus grasp. The whole claim is
for the purpose Of extending teyritor-
ial possession in America, and ii this
is not violation of the Monroe doc
trine it is difficult to say what would
reasonably be considered a violation.
Did she simply Sc re port until a
reasonable indemnity was paid
whether that indemnity were reall,
justly levied or not, our country would
have nothing TO say beyond, perhaps
a friendly protest, but that Great
Britain should gradually push into
the interior an imaginary line found
ed on no ownership higher than ar
rogance, can never be permitted. Il
it should be, the time would not b;
long until powerful British posses
sion to the south of us, as there is al
ready one to the north, and we woulc
be sandwched between the two, tc
our eternal danger, annoyance anc
regret. This the Yankee nation vii
not petJait. In this matter the gov
ernment of the United States will not
be igaoced.