The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1895-12-27
The Monroe Doctrine. Its origin, DeyeI-
Opcipent ana Meaning.

fury for decision by the America
people. 1t is whether the Monroe doc
trnc shall finally and deiinitel
and with tho force of law, be incorp
Grated into our political system,
The Monroe doctrine stands noy
simply az an executive utterancc. |
has never mad the sanction of congress
which camosyery near rcpudiating i
the only time ii ever acted on it, ant
ii has never had the formal approval
of the people. 1t is an idea that YER,
early and very naturally appeared il
our political: thought and was tn,
logical outgrowth of thel advice OF
Washington's Farewell Address to keeE
clear of entangling alliances with
Europe. II has been reiterated many
times in diplomatic correspondence
and several times in presidential mes
sages. until it has come to have sort
of vague andIgeneral acceptance, as we
believe it should have: but that is all
that can be claimed for it. There is
nothing like the binding force of law
to il, and there is nothing to prevent
the country from disavowing ii. il it
wishes, or at least from considering it
de novo.
The germ idea of the Monroe doctrine
was first advanced by jefferson in the
correspondence over the Louisiana
purchase. The events of the war of
1912 and the final divorce of our do
nestle politics from any connection
with English and Napoleonic interests,
had strengthened the tendency and
ideal towards New World system en-
tirely independent of that of Europe.
An explicit assertion of the doctrine
was made July %, 1928 by John
Quincy Adams. secretary of state.
with regard to the territorial dispute
With Russia and England, which then
included the whole Pacific coast. Mr.. |
Adams wrote to our minister to Russia
1ncrc can perhaps ut no DettcT tllnt lot Say
ne frankly and explicitly to the Russian gov;
that the future peace of the world anu
he interest of Russia itself, cannot be promoted
" Russian settlements upon any part OF the
american continent. With the exception of the
British establishments north of the United
tates the remainder of both the American con.
inents must henceforth DC left to the manage
lent of American hands"
Preidert Monroe in his next annual
Message met with his historical dec
aration the plan of the Holy Alliance,
+ combination of European despo
isms. to assist Spain in rcconquering
Ter revolted colonies IT. this message
lie declared:
THAT we should consider any attempt on their
art to extend their system to any portion OF
his hemisphere as dangerous to our peace and
afcty." That the American continents,
y the free and Independent condition which
ley have assumed and maintain, are hence
birth not to be considered as subjects for future
domination by any European power"
ny interpo.ition for the purpose of depressing ;
nc governments that had declared their indc-
or controlling in any other manner
ler destiny by any European power could not
. viewed in any other light than as the mani
station of an unfrcndly disposition toward '
e United States ,
He did not say what we should do If
urope disregardcd this warning. 1t !
as not necessary. for his message at :,
ice put an end to the scheme of the
oily Alliance. 1t has never been I
cessary since, not even with Louis
apoleon's raid on Mexico, for as :,
On as the suppression of the civil .;
II enabled us to attend to it. a very 8.
lite notice to Napoleon. in Secretary .,
wards happy phase. that We expect .,
him to get out was sufficient, after :.
had several times been repeated, to 49,
ure the withdrawal of the French -
MES. The issue which has never -,
N forced before. is now plainly and
made. after 10 years of
itless negotiation tfor 1t was in u"
6 that Venezuela first asked our u
d Offices in the matter, by the fiat W
lsal CT the Tory administration in ="
gland to arnitrate, or to allow US -,
else to have anything to -
about the matter, or to do any VI
lg less than to keep what she has "a,
bbed and arbitrate about some more. i"'
he Monroe doctrine, as laid down ,n'
p.o.;,1o,,+ ,ta,noo l,,ao 49, a,,,,, the
uch case as this. then ii means -"
nothing at all. The territory 'O'
ell England purposes to take from m'
ezuela. without any determination 'ii'
lsht except her own, is twice as WI
c as New England, and rich in pr
l.. ,1;.a,,.oua,l aa1d eo,d. If CHI, 10 diff
. allowed to seize this, simply be- con
70 she will, she can just as we'll CO..
half or the whole of Venezuela or w
other country where she chooses a'io
It up territorial claim. So can nav
of the other European powers, and h>'''
an be sure that they will after WIZ
terrible lust for conquest they have VIZ
N in Asia and Africa. If we once iia''
on this point, or retreat from 'se'
position that England must take pois
what fair arbitration shows her h'
led to, there will be no standing mas
nd left anywhere. 1t will be an nav
1opmont If tbc Monroe doctrine they
vital point, and will be so in wen
eted by Europe. The American t ~
G must now take their position, uiSa
itely authoritatively, for all time. res
have every advantage, morally, in 'oi"l
no tbe ;sep. with Enoland no. and
while With amy othnr n,t,on van,
:, ;cb+ no souo ,l;aic,,t, !, soft ucat
p up the Monroe doctrine as anu
st international law. she is fairly io"'S
-. :. :. allow