The Irish standard., 1895-11-02
the faithful departed. 81. odilo, abbot Of.
CLANCY who died ia the year 104s com.
manded that prayers be- said for the dead
in all the nionasteries subject to him on
November q: &
THE MONROE DOCTRINE. h

prOmissory note. The reason they use
the word unconstitutional" SO often is
because they imagine it is impressive
Others are very glib in talking about
vested rights, and. the eminent domain
and the comfy Of nations and great
number of other principles with high
sounding names, but which in them
selves are simple enough TO an ordinarily
intelligent mind. Still if those who scat
ter these terms so profusely in their or
binary conversation were asked to define
one of them they would be at a loss tc
do it.
Just now the Monroe doctrine is in the
mouth of every one who attempts to dis
cuss public affairs and yet every nine
men out of ten who talks about it has a
wrong conception Of its principles. This
does not arise because it is difficult to
understand but because they do not give
the matter proper attention. The pre-
vailing opinion is that a recognized law
exists. acknowledged by all nations, that
the United States is expected, and, in
fact, is obliged to protect all the South
American states from outside interfer.
ence. Such, however, is not the case.
1t had been claimed by Great Britain
and Russia, up to the year 1922. that all
the northwestern territory, which in-
oludes British Columbia and the present
states of Washington and Oregon, was
open to colonization and settlement by
any country in Europe.
John Quincy Adams at that date was
Secretary of State under President Mon
roe. In diary which he kept, and un-
der date of July II, 1923, he makes this
observation as to conference he had
with Baron Tuyl, the Russian minister:
II told him specially that we should con-
test the right Of Russia to any territorial
establishment on this continent, and that
we should assume distinctly the principle
that the American. continents are no
longer subjects for any European colo
nial establishments
What had been the privilege Of Euro
pean countries in the sixteenth and sew
enteenth centuries as to the planting of
colonies in this hemisphere was thus de-
MED. The emperor of Russia, Alexan-
der l., acknowledged the dictum of Ad-
ans and thereafter did not seek acqui-
sitions south of Russian America, now
Alaska.
During this time, however, the Spanish
colonies in South America revolted and
set up republican forms Of government
for themselves. This country acknowl-
edged them but Spain was determined to
bring them again under her control and
made the utmost efforts to do so. In the
year 1922 Spain had hopes that she could
induce the holy alliance to come to her
assistance. This alliance was composed
of Russia, Austria, Prussia and France,
and did not appear unwilling to assist
Spain in her endeavor to recover her coll
onies
This was the situation when Monroe
became president and in his message he
said: d
ssWe owe it, therefore. to candor and to
the amicable relations existing between
the United States and those powers to de-
clare that we should consider any at
tempt on their part to extend their sys
TEN to any portion Of this hemisphere IS
dangerous to our peace and safety. With
the existing colonies or dependencies of
any European power, we have not inter
fered, and shall not interfere. But with
the governments who have declared their
independence and maintained it, and
whose independence we have on great
consideration and On just principles ac-
krowledged, we could not view any in
terposition for the purpose of expressing
them, or controlling in any manner their
destiny, by any European power, in any
other light than as the manifestation Of
an unfriendIy disposition toward the
United States"
This doctrine has been accepted by all
American writer's and statesmen. Daniel
Webster said of it:
'sSir, look on the message of Decen ber,
1928, as forming a bright page in our his
tory will help neither TO erase it nor
tear 1t out; nor shall it be by any act of
mine blurred or blotted. It did honor to
the sagacity of the government, and Will
not diminish that honor. It elevated the
hopes and g1atiaed the patriotism of the
people. Over those hopes viii not bring
mildew, nor will I put that gratif1ed
patriotism to shame.
The doctrine has been universally ac-
knowledged in the United Staets and has
become a settled national question and yet
congress has never formally indorsed it.
That 1t has become deeply rooted will be
seen by the action Of this country when
Napoleon III. attempted to maintain an
empire in Mexico.
When this doctrine was announced by
President Monroe the holy alliance gave
up all intention of aiding Spain in re,-}|
covering her lost colonies and they have
been independent ever since.
What Adams, as secretary Of state, had
announced to the Russian minister, Mon
trr1n innnrnnrated in the same rr1pssa gs