The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-04-26
SEATTLE, FRIDAY, APRIL go.
THE MONROE DOCTRINE.

II Is so long since n European power
landed troops on the American continent
that the news OF the impending oceupa-
ton OF Corinto BIZ the British Is naturally
causing much excitement. Cool consid-
Grafton, however. does not warrant the
assumption that the dignity Of the United
States Is at present Involved or that the
Monroe doctrine is Ia jeopardy. In dis
pute between Nicaragua and England.
the former treated consular ofiiciai or
Great Britain with disrespect, unmlndful
of the courtesy civilized nations in peace
accord the accredited representatives, OF
other powers. as indemnity Great Britain
required payment OF $1,000. giving Mica
ragua a certain slime within which 20
make It. That time Is expiring. and an
English man-of-war II ready 10 land sol
silers at the chief port and take measures
10 insure payment.
Public sentiment In the United States.
which has of late years leaned very
kindly toward the smaller American Ie-
pubiics. feared ia this action an infringe
ment OF the Monroe doctrine. The terms
OF that famous document, the circum-
stances under which 1t was penned. and
the conclusions 20 which II logically leads
become. therefore. of very decided In
terest.
The Monroe doctrine as promulgated to
the world is embodied in message TO
congress by President James Monroe, De-
cennber 3. iS23. The authorship Of tho
doctrine Is now generally ascribed to John
Quincy Adams. who was then secretary OF
state. but even SO respectable an author
lty as Charles Sumner. In his prophetic
Voices Concerning America" attributed
Il 10 the English premier Canning. A
rather common error regards the Monroe
doctrine as originally aimed at England.
The truth Is that IL II did not originate
with Canning Il received his approval
After the fall OF Bonaparte ia 1916 sew
eral OF the European nations entered into
what was called the Holy Alliance for
the purpose. az was believed. OF restoring
the Bourbon dynasty and re-establlshing
the domination or the Catholic powers,
Part OF the policy was suspected TO be a
restoration to Spain OF her revoited South
American coioni -. and to this England.
under Canning. was opposed. In an In
terview with Richard Rush. the United
States minister at the British court he
pressed upon this government the ad-
visibility OF cooperating with England.
To. this fact IL he Indebted for the report
that he originated the famous policy. bat
In the memoirs OF Adams there occurs n
diary entry which antciates the inter
view by n month. Adams says ne told
Baron he Tuyl. the Russian ambassador,
that I'VE should assume distinctly the
principle that American continents aye
no longer subjects for any new European
colonial establishments"
Monroe was 80 unpopular ar the time
4
would hardly have escaped cenyempora-
neous criticism had Il not reflected public
opinion. II IS more reasonable 20 suppose
that the occasion brought forth a formal
declaration OF a sentiment which had
long been growing. That sentiment was
expressed BY Washington and subsequent
leaders 50 far as It deprecated met3dlins
IN European affairs. but the Ereat priu-
cipla expressed by Monroe had never be-
fora been given acflntteaeas and forcc
T9ae famous message has the following
tsrse aud decisive passages, 'ewlth the
existing colonies or dependencies or any
European power we have not tuse~fered
and shall not interfere. nut with the gov
rrnmants who have declared their tu5e-
peraeuce. and maintained Il. AMI whose
Independence we have In great considera-
We could nos view any tuserposltion foi
the purpose % expressing them. or cor
trolling In any other manner thsir DIES
tiny. by any European power. In any
other Hight than as ire manifestation q.
an ungroadiy Disposition toward ths
United States VITA these exceptions
tho message Is consnsa 70 expressions OF
determination a. resent any ss;empt er
- u
thasr system 20 any portion Of this hssu-
fsphere as dangerous 70 cur peace and
safety"
Same political writers have been tfs
posed 70 think that Canning's oAiect wa,
rot only 90 defeat re policy ~ the Holy
Alliance. but 60 prevent extension 81
T'nited States authority - other rcnub-
lis. T9sou7as Jefferson. ~fso was th~r
familiar with European Diplomacy. may
have had shls IN mind when NJ erie~an
rnaucally A. cace extended the d~eirin.
aud Condensed the paraseolagy % -,
Monroe message lie wrote; Oar 1rs'
anA fundamental maxim aaoali 20 aevei
20 entAngle ourselves IN the boaAs az t'u
Yope. Oar second. newer 10 EuTcr EurQr1
10 sntecr'e 33ls With Cts-Atlantto Affairs
rariei Webster. ga 4 srsy>sa Csa3e tArc.
years later declared fa&t Ne reEarac-,
Nonroe's message - forming q hriEht
Yase gn car HISTORY VITA thss sensi
raent every ratr7ottc AaHericaa VII hear
ty sErec. ana Whi}e al independence gov.
comments nsust IN a reasonable sNten'
hesr the consequences of taelr own ACT,
of ager,sslen thts country owes u 2,
herself % demand thas 10 iaSasstce sal
Pa 6eae unaer rrs,Fuse - a EarOfsar
nasson mat e Is sesklag oa}y - vs4Eesi
us eva wrcns@