The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-11-02
THE MONROE DOCTRINE.

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The Times is in receipt Of the follow
ing letter:
Amelia county. Va. october q. 1895.
To the Editor of The Times:
Sir.-Will you please give the exact
meaning of the Monroe doctrine? Many
readers of your paper would like TO hear
from you on that important subject.
SUBSCRIBER.
When civilized Europe combined in
arms 10 put an end 10 the power of
Napoleon Bonaparte. the Fmperors OF
Austria and Russia and the King OF
Prussia entered into a compact. which
received the name Of the Holy Alliance"
by which they bound themselves 10 re-
main united in the bonds of true brother
ly love. to mutually help and assist each
other. 10 govern their people like fathers
of families. and TO maintain reiigion.
neace. and justice In their domains. This
alliance. so beautiful In theory, was made
in fact, the means of maintaining abso-
lutte power into the hands of the rulors
and Of suppressing free institutions, and
almost every form of liberty amongst
the people. In the name of this ALL
ance. a despotism was commenced, par
ticularly i'm Austria, which was as ligid
as any In the dark ages.
Spain had lost her South American
colonies during the disturbances OF the
latter part OF the eighteenth. and the
beginning of the nineteenth century and
about 1870 II was strongly mooted among
e la.
II should take part with Spain in re-
conauering those colonies and adding
them again TO the Spanish monarchy.
This was declared TO be In the interest
Of the Catholic religion and TO put an
end to revolutionary principles. But
this was pretence; its real reason was
TO crush out the spirit of civil liberty
and TO establish the dominion of arO--
tray power.
Great Britain had co-operated with the
powers that constituted the Holy ALI
ance" most heartily while the object
of the alliance was the overthrow and
suppression OF Napoleon. But her states
men easily penetrated the secret inip'ra-
ton OF the movement nominally IN aid
OF Spain. and she began gradually 70
draw off from her intimate alliance with
the other powers. Mr.. Canning pointed
out TO our Minister In London the true
meaning OF the new movement or the
"Hollv Alliance" and he suggested that
the United States should take the ground
that no European interference with
xvafiil ha tolerated nv
the United States intimating very strong
" that Great Britain would back this
country In the position.
Accordingly, on the 23d of December.
1sc3. President Monroe sent message
IN Congress in which he said: I'VE
could not view an interposition for OPP
pressing them Ohe South American
States) or controlling In any other man.
ner their destiny. by any European pow
or. IN any other lieht than as mani
festation OF an unfriendly disposition
towards the United States
This is the Monroe doctrine. and these
are the circumstances under which 1t
was called out. 1t is perfectly manifest
that at the time the threatened move
ment against South America vas really
a movement against the principle of
civil liberty. and that in lighting the
battles of any South American country
We would have been hghting cur own
battles. for, II the Holy Alliance had
succeeded In its aims in South America,
II would Immediately have pursued them
N North America.
But the doctrine. even TO this extent.
has never received the sanction or the
Congress OF the United States-the only
mower which can make any principle
chateyer law for this country. The
House OF Representatives. indeed. has
soted against the principle.
II Is now stated every day In the public
,ress that the Administration has taken
The ground with Great Britain that the
dea involved in Mr. Monroes doctrine
q part OF the public law OF the United
states. and that this Government con-
tiders the action which Great Britain
,roposes to take In he: controversy with
Venezuela as an infringement CT that
doctrine.
The actual case IN Venezuela rs this:
England acquired British Guiana by
.orouest from the Dutch In 1916. There
vas q broad strip OF territory At that
ame In dispute between Venezuela end
ne Dutch. and though England as sue
seeded In since establishing her right
= great deal Of this. large .errltory
"a always since remained In dispute.
noeentIy rnglsnd hes shown evidences