The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-12-29
DANIEL WEBSTER on The MONROE
DOCTRINE.

We have several times referred 10 Mr.
Webstcr's speech delivered in the House
of Representatives i'm 1926, three years
after the Monroe doctrine" vas announc-
cd, giving his Wow of what that doctrine
meant We copy from it tbs morning the
passage quoted below, which shows that
i'm his opinion Il meant that this coun-
try would not stand quietly hy and see
@ combination OF European powers set
themselves TO work to overthrow re-
publican institutions on this continent
and set up despouc monarchical nsu-
utions in their place and that that was
all that was mcnat jy it, How, then, can
it be said to be involved 10y Great Britain
when she is doing no more than to as
sert against Venezuela a claim TO some
territory which her grantor, Holland. as
serted against Nonczuola's erantor
Spain. I'm 1869, and which territory Hol-
land and Great Britain have occupied in
large part ever since? it appears per-
fectly absurd TO say that the case fans
within the principle Of the Monroe doc
trine, If Mr.. Webster understood II. The
extract from Mr. Webs-c--s speech is as
follows.
IL must now ask the Indulgence Of the
committee 10 an important point IN the
discussion, 1 mean the declaration oil the
President ln 1923. Not only as a mem
Der OF the House. but as a citizen or
the country, l have an aXlOus desire that
this part Of our public history should
stand in its proper light. Sir in my
judgment. the country has very high
honor, connected with that occurrence
which we may maintain, or which We
may sacrifice / look upon 10 as part
of its treasures Of reputation, and, for
one. i intend TO guard it.
Sir. let us recur TO The important politi-
cal events which led TO that declaration
or accompanied H. I'm the fam of lN2-
the allied sovereims held their Con
grcss at Verona. The great subject OF
consideration was the condition of Spain
that country being under the govern
ment of the Cortes. The question was
whether Ferdinand should be reinsiated
i'm all his authority. 10y the Intervention
of foreign force Russia. Prussia. France
and Austria we're inclined 10 that mea-
sure. England disscnted and protested
but the course was agreed on, ana
france Win the toITtll OF ANtet Quiet
continental powers. took the conduct OF
the operation into It's own hands. I'm the
spring of 1923 "a French army was sent
into Spain Its success was complete The
popular government was OyerthrOWn,
and Ferdinand re-established In all his
power. This invasion. sir, was deter
mined on. and undertaken, precisely on
the doctrines which the allied monarchs
had proclaimed the year before at Lay
BACH and that IS. that they have a
right to interfere In the concerns of an
other state, and reform its government
I'm order 20 prevent the effect Of its bad
example, this bad example. be IL remem-
bercde. always being the example OF free
government Now, sir. acting on this
principle of supposed dangerous example.
and having put down the example OF the
Cortes i'm Spain, IL was natural 10 IL
uuire with what eyes they would look on
the colonies OF Spain. that were following
still worse examples. Would King Fer
dinand and his allies be content with
what had been done I'm Spain itself, or
would he solicit their aid, and was II
likely they would grant It, TO subdue his
rebellous American provinces.
"Sir, IL was in this posture Of affairs.
on an occasion which has already been
alluded TO. that / vcntured 10 say. early
in the session Of December 1873. that
these allied monarchs might possibly turn
their attention 10 America that America
came within their avOwed doctrine ana
that her examples might very possibly at
tract their notice. The doctrines of Lay
bach We're not limited 70 any continent;
Spain had colonies in America. and hav-
ing reformed Spain herself TO the true
standard IT was not impossible that they
might see III 70 complete the work by
reconciing, IN their way. the colonies 10
the mother country. Now, sir. II did
so happen that as soon as the Spanish
King was re-established. he did invite the
cooperation OF his allies in regard 10
South America. In the same month OF
December, Of 49,, formal invitation was