Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1895-12-25
Lincoln Oh the Monroe Doctrine.
John N. Thayer in Mcclure ). I


republic of Mexic, by the musket, the
bayone; aud the cannon. He had
fitted the bauble of on empire across
the sea before the easily impossible
mind of the Austrian archduke, Max
imilian, and his ambitious consort, the
beautiful Carlotta, formerly the Ouch.
esS of Brabant, and sister of the King
of the Belgians. They caught at the
bait, and Napoleon sent French army
to seat them upon the throne. This
action OF his and that of Maximillian
were exceeding offensive to the officers
and soldiers of our armies in the field.
1t occurred to me to learn LincOln's
views on the subject So | said to him:
"Mr. President, how about the
French army i'm Mexico?"
Struggling up bis shoulders and
wrinkling up his eyebrows. he said:
"Fm not exactly 'skeered,' but
don't like the looks Of the thing. Ma
poleon hes taken advantage of our
weakness in our time of trouble, and
has attempted to found monarchy on
the soil of Mexico IN ut ar disregard of
the Monroe doctrine. My policy is,
attend to only one 'ouble at time.
If we get well out Of our present diff
culties and restore the Union. l pro-
pose to notify Louis-Napoleon that it
is about time to t,ke his Amy out of
Mexico. When that army is gone, the
MeXicans will take care of MaximilIian.
| can best illustrate my position touch.
ing this subject 10y relating an anec.
dot told by Daniel S. Dickinson, sen.
ator from New York, in a speech deliv-
cred by him few evenings since IN
New York City. He said that in a
certain Connecticut town there had
lived two men as neighbors and friends
for more than sixty years. They were
pillars in the village church, one of
them being deacon named White.
The other was named Jones. After u
unfortunately sprang up between
these two brethren of the church. The
feeling waXed so warm between them
that it grew into bitter feud. Mutual
friends attempted reconciliation, but
the men would not reconcile Finally
Deacon White became dangerously i'll
and drew nigh unto death. Mutual
friends again interposed their kind Of.
fees to effect "A reconciliation. They
said to Brother Jones that it would be
a sin to permit the sick brother to die
with the quarrel standing. Jones was
persuaded and called on Deacon White
The two men talked over their mutual
grievances, and, agreeing to let them
be buried, shook hands and exchanged
mutual forgiveness in the presence OF
death. The deacon then lat back
upon his pillow awaiting his final sum
mons, and Jones arose to leave. But
as the visitor reached the door, Deacon
White, with great effort, raisel him
self on his elbow and called out in a
weak, fainting voice:
Brother Jones! Brother Jones! l
want it distinctly understood that if ]
get well the old grudge stands"
Lincoln laughed at the conclusion
of the story, saying that was about the
way he felt toward the French emperor.
He manifested strong feeling on this
subject, and said the creation of an
empire, especially by force, at our very
doors, was exceedingly offensive and
could not be overlooked bv the United
States. 1t had caused him great an
noyance, as he was not in a condition
to interfere so as to prevent it. He
expressed himself strongly in favor of
the position taken by President Mons
roe in his celebrated message to con.
gress, in which he declared against the
acquisition of any territory on this
continent by any foreign power.
Besides successfully defending his
country against most rnprinclpled and
most interruptions invaders, Juarez
in putting Maximillian to death, was
the vindicatOr of the Monroe doctrine
he was the examplar of what should
be ITS real meaning-that any search
after throne or monarchical foot.
hold on this Western hemisphere is
undertaken at the searcher's peril. 1t
is full time the nations of Europe
were made - understand that the
Monroe declaration is not string of
mere glittering words, but is living
reality. Lincoln was in full sympathy
with this view, and l am fully con-
WINGED ''om his own expressions to
me that if we had not been engaged
in "a gigantic civil war he would have