The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-12-24
DANIEL WEBSTER AND THE MON
ROE DOCTRINE.

To all persons who would really under
stand the essence and spirit OF the doc
trlne announced by President Monroe in
1893 regarding the way this country would
look upon foreign interference with af-
fairs upon this continent. we commend
careful perusal and study of the speech
made by Daniel Webster in the House of
Representatives in 1926, when the propo-
stion for this country to send dele
gates to the Panama Congress was under
discussion. This speech is in all The edi-
tions of Mr. Websters works. We have
before us now the eighth edition Of his
speeches and Forensic Arguments
volume l.. page s22. The history of the
doctrine and its whole tenor and pur-
pose are so fully set out in this speech
that whoever reads it may feel that he
has made himself entirely master of the
subject. and its instruction is all the
more complete because Mr.. Webster was
an advocate OF the doctrine, and was
claiming for it It's just scope and effect.
A resolution had been offered in the
House that funds should be provided
for sending representatives to the Pana-
ma Congress. Mr.. McLane, of Delaware.
moved a resolution Of some length as an
amendment declaring that it had always
been the policy of this Government to
have as little political connection as pos
sible with any foreign nation, and for
bidding our representatives TO the Pana-
ma Congress to discuss any proposition
of alliance between this country and any
South America State, or 20 make any
declaration binding The United States in
any way to resist interference from
abroad with the domestic concerns OF
any of the South American States, and
generally forbidding our representatives
In that congress to take any sort OF steps
that would hold out hopes or exDecta-
tions TO the countries Of South America
that we would ever think Of fighting
their battles with the powers Of Europe.
Mr.. Rives. Of Virginia. moved that the
resolutions should be made even more
oNpncit still upon this point by declaring
that the United States should not be un-
derstood as being pledged TO the Spanish
American States 70 maintain by force
the principle that no part Of the Ameri-
can continent is henceforward subject TO
colonization by any European power"
10 was 10 these resolutions and amend
ments that Mr.. Wcbster's speech was ad-
dressed.
...I.t he r..fN
roe's declaration. he went on then 70
argue that it's entire purpose was to make
known 10 the world that this country
would not sit quietly by and see monar-
chical institutions established on this
continent that were prompted by pur-
pose TO overthrow republican institutions
and bring this continent under despotic
dominion. The speech is a broad. states
mans exposition Of this great and benea-
cient principle and is complete demon
stra.ion that that was the purpose In the
minds OF President Monroe and his ad-
visers and that petty squabbles between
south American States and European
powers over the boundaries OF their re-
out OF injuries inflicted by one upon an
other never entered into the minds of
tho President or those with whom he adj
vised. The doctrine had relation TO great
and high politics and not TO squabbles
over money-gettcrs' rights.
And the House Of Representatives took
up the subject in 1926 and adopted The
following resolution:
..rhat the United States ought not to
heoome "A party with the Spanish-Amefi-
can republics. or either OF them. to any
ioint declaration for the purpose OF pre-
venting interference by any OF the EURO
pean powers with their independence.
form Of government, or to any compact
ton upon the continents OF America, but
aAat The people ri The United States