The record-union., 1895-12-20
THE MONROE DOCTRINE.

IN the libraries 10 WHICH Iney HAVE &C
cess the diplomatic history of the
United States. we present in a brief and
condensed form the evolution Of the
Monroe doctrine, believing that by this
means its meaning and applicability
will be better understood. In attempt
ing this task we have studied brevity
and directness.
After the French and American Revo-
lutions the establishment of a repub-
lican form of Government in America
under Constitution, and the rise and
fall of the empire established by Ma
poleon, all the Christian nations Of Eu-
rope, except England, formed what is
known in history as 1.-THE Holy Ali
ance." 1t was the object of this alliance
to maintain the rightful authority of
Kings. The monarchies of the world
had much occasion to feel alarm at the
progress Of popular government. Their
own people were demanding the extern
sion of constitutional privileges.
Therefore the thrones of Europe, as 1t
were, combined to maintain royal pre-
negatives. Some of the Spanish-speak-
ing peoples Of America had achieved
their independence The United States
was the first to recognize the independ-
ence of these new American States.
England had failed or refused to recog-
might involve conflict with Spain d.
rectly, and the Holy Alliance indirectly.
Spain appealed to the Holy Alliance to
afford her assistance in the restoration
of the rightful authority of the crown of
Spain over her lately rebellious pro-
vince in America.
At this point Canning, the British
Premier, proposed to Richard Rush, the
American representative at the Court Of
ST James, a joint protest on the part
of the United States and Great Britain
against the interference of European
nations to restore the authority of
Spain, or to establish other govern
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those they had chosen for themselves.
The proposition was submitted by Mon
roe to Thomas jefferson, the then Sec
rotary of State, and John Quincy Adj
ans. Thomas jefferson wrote the
President urging the acceptance of the
proposition. Adams, however, opposed
nv %
contained the declaration that neither
Great Britain nor the United States de-
sired the acquisition Of further terri
tory on the American Continent. Evil
IDENTIFY this feature was unsatisfactory
to Adams. The United States had
ambitions in the direction of territorial
ACKNOWLEDGMENT. Adams counsels pre-
vailed with President Monroe. The
United States refused to join Great
Britain in any protest against an at
tempt on the part of the Holy Alliance
to restore the authority of Spain on the
American Continent, and the decision
and the determination Of this question
is set forth in the message of President
Monroe to the Congress of the United
States on the I'd day of December, 1923.
Read in the light Of the circumstances
which called it forth, it may be con-
densed into the following statements of
National policy:
First-It declared that there no longer
existed any territory on the American
continents not already under the juris
diction of a sovereignty; that colonial
ton, therefore, by European Powers
was no longer admissible. Colonization
by European Powers meant COLOMBIA
ton by charters which extended the
authority of the Government over the
territory subject of the charter. In this
respect it was declaration of histor-
ical fact that the American continents
were no longer subject Of subdivision
by the diplomatic methods of European
Powers. The message of President Mon
roe declared the close of an historic era.
The American continents were under
the jurisdiction of Governments of peo-
pie inhabiting these continents, and
there was, therefore. no room for char
tered colonies. The attempt on the part
of the European Governments to estab-
Hsh such colonies would be in the ma
ture of an arbitrary invasion of the
rights of the American Governments.
Second-That the Government of the
United States would not look with in
difference upon the attempt of Euro
pean Powers, meaning specifically the
Holy Alliance, to establish over the
peoples of America Governments not Of
their own choosing.
Third-That the arbitrary and for
chile acquisition of territory on the
American continents by European
Powers would be resisted by the United
States.
The language of the message is not
followed in this summary. nor is there
an attempt to paraphrase it. The three
subdivisions here presented constitute
the leading features of this historic dec
laration of national policy
To apply this policy to the matter in
controversy between Venezuela and
Great Britain, let 1t be understood
that Great Britain claims 10000 to
$4,000 square miles of territory which
was ceded by Brazil to Venezuela The