San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1895-05-12
MONROE DOCTRINE.
TO WEIUH THIS WHOLE NATION
Is DEVOTED"
How Foreigners We're Ordered $40
Quit Oregon and Texas"

luQ ulTlSs anu ulsCuSslOuSs hIStOTy
refers to the Monroe doctrine as
scheme OF public policy, named
after its author, James Monroe,
fifth president OF the United States
OF America, by whom it was enun.
ciated in his message to Congress
Dec. 2, 1923.
Mr.. Monroe set forth in his mes
sage that "as principle, the Ameri-
can continents by the free and indie
pendent position which they have
assumed and maintained, are
henceforth not to be considered as
subjects for future colonization by
any European power" and that
any attempt on the part of the
! European powers to "eXtend their
system to any portion OF this hemi-
sphere" would be regarded by the
United States as dangerous to our
peace and safety" and would be
opposed accordingly. The patriotic
words OF President Monroe, dear to
the hearts Of every true American,
and which effectually stopped all
attempts at foreign aggression on
this continent at that time, and in
striking contrast with late action,
are as follows:
"Our policy in regard to Europe,
was adopted at an early stage of
the wars, which have so long
agitated that quarter of the globe,
nevertheless remains the same
which is not to interfere in the in
ternal concerns OF any Of its
powers; to consider the govern.
ment de facto as the legitimate
government, for us to cultivate
friendly relations with it and TO
preserve those relations by frank,
firm, and manly policy. Meeting
in all instances the just claims Of
every power, submitting to iujur-
les from none, but in regard to
those continents, circumstances
are eminently and conspicuously
different. 1t is impossible that
the allied powers should extend
their political system to any
portion Of either continent without
endangering our peace and hap
piness, nor can any one believe
that our southern brethren, IL left
to themselves would adopt il of
their own accord. 1t is equally
impossible, therefore, that we
should behold such interposition
in any form with indifference.
In the wars of the European
powers in matters relating 10
themselves we have never taken
any part, nor does it cOmport with
our policy so to do. 1t is only
when our rights are involved, or
seriously menaced, that we resent
injuries, or make preparation for
our defence. With the movements
in this hemisphere we are, of ne
cessity, more Immediately con-
nected, and by causes which must
be obvious to all enlightened and
impartial observers. The political
system of the allied powers is es-
sentially different, in this respect,
from that OF America. This differ
ence proceeds from that which eX-
lists in their respective govern
ments. And to the defence OF our
own, which has been achieved by
the loss of so much blood and
treasure, and matured by the wis
dom of their most enlightened citi-
zens, and under which we have en-.
joyed uneXampled felicity, this
whole nation is devoted. We owe
it, therefore, to candor and to the
amicable relations existing be-
tween the United States and those
powers, to declare, that we should
consider any attempt on their
part to extend the system
to any portion of this hemisphere
as dangerous to our peace and
safety. With the existing colonies
or dependencies Of any European
power, we have not interfered, and
shall not interfere, but, with the
governments who have declared
their independence, and maintain
ed it, and whose independence we
have, on great consideration, and
on just principles, acknowledged,
we could not view any interpOsi-
tion for the purpose of expressing
them, or controlling in any other
manner, their destiny, by any
European power, in any other light
than as the manifestation of an I'M
friendly disposition towards the
United States. In the war between
the new governments and Spain,
we declared our neutrality at the
time OF their recognition, and to
this we have adhered, and shall
continue to adhere, provided no
change shall occur, which, in the
Judgment of the competent
authorities of this government,
shall make a corresponding change
on the part Of the United States,
indispensable to their security"
What did the statement Of Mon
roe mean, if not that we declared
this continent sacred to Republican
institutions, and that we would
take an injury done to any one Of
our weaker sister republics by a
European power as an injury done
to ourselves? How very full of the