The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1895-12-20
THE MONROE DOCTRINE

u DOOIKllNE
and emigrants went from all the leading
countries of Europe to the New World.
English emigrants settled at Plymouth
and Jamestown; the French took posses
sion of the st. Lawrence and part of
the territory surrounding the Great
Lakes; Spain established colonies in the
land of the Aztecs; and they all took
title to the territory thus occupied, not
by conveyance from some other sover-
eighty, and not by conquest from any
civilized people, but by virtue Of their
discovery and prior occupation. This is
the process to which the term "coloniza-
ton" is applied, and to which President
Monroe refers in his message. Colon.za-
ton could continue as long as there re-
manned any portion Of the American con-
tinents which had not been appropriated
by some sovereign nation or its represen-
tatives but when the titles of the nations
occupying the continents cover every foot
of land thereon, then colonization must
cease. In 1923 that time had come, and
when President Monroe said that the
American continents are henceforth not
to be considered as subject for future
colonization he was simply stating the
geographical fact that they were already
occupied. This was the view taken of it
in 1918 by Mr.. Calhoun, who had been a
member of Mr.. Monroe's cabinet to which
the message had been referred; and the
context of the message, and the state of
facts which give rise to it, exclude any
wider view of the presidents meaning.
Vt is TO he observed, also, that there Is
no intimation connected with the state
ment of this geographical fact as to what
the United States would do in the event
of the refusal of European power to
take the same view Of the subject. This
language OF the president did not commit
himself or his administration to any par
ticular course of action in such an event.
At any rate 1t has for a long time been
recognized by all nations that the terri
tory of the American continents Is Who'll
ly occupied by sovereign nations, and
that they will be accessible to Europeans
and each other on that footing alone" F"
We may safely say, therefore, that the
occasion for the assertion of that fact or
principle has passed away. and in our
dealings with foreign nations we s'all
hereafter have no occasion to refer to 1t.
SECOND DECLARATION.
But in the message there is another dec
laration by the president as to the rela-
ton of foreign powers to the American
continents. The facts which gave rise
to It are these:
Upon the downfall Of Napoleon, as every
student of history knows, an alliance OF
European powers was formed, and be-
came known as the Holy Alliance, COM
posed of Russia, Prussia, Austria and
France. The objects of this All ance
were, among others, to sustain and ex-
tend monarchal principles as far as pos
sible and especially to restore to their
thrones the legitimate monarchs who had
been deposed by Napoleon, or by their
own subjects under the influence OF the
principles of the French Revo' 'ution. This
was a powerful Alliance, and accom-
plished much in the directions Indicated.
In fact, Europe was thoroughly reaction
airy at this time. Public constitutions had
been subverted, and the people oppresse d.
Bourbon rule was fully restored. AT this
point the Holy Alliance turned its atten-
ton to the New World The Spanish
American states had successfully revolted
from Spain, and were now In existence
as Independent governments. The Holy
Alliance proposed to extend its operations
to this continent, and to restore Ferdi-
nand to his revolted states. England was
not a member Of the. Holy Alliance, but
was favorable to its general principles
and policy To this particular venture
however, she was very much opposed
The general principles of the Hoy ALI
ance were In harmony with the monarch
ical institutions and ideas of Great Brit
ain, but the possession Of Central Am rica
by Spain, or by any other European coun-
try, would have been injurious to the
commercial interests of Great Britain
This, and other considerations in the sam
direction of greater or less Importance,
prevailed, and England came out IN OPP
position to the scheme of the Holy ALI
ance She sought to enlist the sympathy
and cooperation of the United States,
whose government was naturally very
much interested in the question. AS re-
public, it could not view except with g ea'
dspeasure, the extension of the reaction
cry movement to this continent ard so
ereat was the power of the Alliance that
tire United States then young nation
ara . pioneer in free government, was
not entirely free from the fear that the
Alliance would ultimately extend It's In
reference to ourselves For this reason
the attitude of England was viewed with
great public approval in this country' and
while the United States government did
not act on the subject in the manner pro-
posed by England, yet the president, win
'he advice and approval OF his cahl'et'
took the position that the United States
would not approve OF the extension OF the
operations Of the Holy Alliance to this
continent. The same message from which
we have heretofore quoted contained the
following language:
RIGHTS INVADED.
"In the wars of the European powers,
in matters relating to themselves, we
have never taken any part, nor does II
comport withour policy so to do. III ls
only when our rights are invaded or SER
iously menaced, that we resent injuries or
make preparation for our defence. with
the movements in this hemisphere we are
Of necessity, more Immediately connected
and by causes which must be obvious 10
all enlightened and impartial Observers
The political system OF the Allied Powers
is essentially different In his respect 70
that Of America. This difference procc eds
from that which exists in Their respective
governments. And to the defence Of our
own which has been achieved by the loss
OF so much blood and treasure. and ma
t1red by the wisdom OF their most en-
ljghtened citizens. and under which we
have enjoyed unexampled felicity, the
whole nation is devoted We owe. II. there
fore, 20 candor and TO the amicab'e reia-
tions existing between the United States
and these powers, 70 declare that we
should consider any attempt on their part
to extend their system TO any portion OF
this himiSphere as dangerous 70 our peace
and safety. With the existing colonies
or dependencies Of any Euroepan power
we have not interfered and shall net inter
fere: but with the governments who have
declared Their irdapend nee and ma Mt n
ed Il. and whose independence we have on
great consideration and on just principle
acknowledged. we could not view any In
terposition for The purpose Of depressing
them, or controlling in any other man.
ner their destiny. by any European power,