Mexico weekly ledger., 1896-01-02
Vol. XXXVII.
lanes Monroe,

be the absorbing theme in two hemis-
pheres, which possibly may lead to
war between the two most powerful
nations in the world, a esum of the
life and work OF the author of the
celebrated doctrine may not be with
out interest.
James Monroe, the fifth President
of the United States, was born in
Westmoreland County, Va, April %,
1855; attended William and Mary Col
lege; enlisted and served a short time
in the revolutionary army studied law
and was a protege of Thomas Jeffer-
son; served liz the legislature of Vir-
ginia and in the Senate of the United
States; had been q member of the
convention that considered the ratIf-
cation of the constitution, which he,
with Patrick Henry, opposed; twice
he had served as Governor, twice he
had been sen abroad as a minister,
and he had been accredited to three
great powers, and had held two
places IN Madison's cabinet. He was
one of the pIenipotentiaries that made
the purchase of the Louisiana terri
tory when the purchase was conclud-
ed.
Bonaparte made this remark, which
is peculiarly significant now: 81 have
given to England" he said, "a mari
time rival that will sooner or later
humble her pride" The cap sheaf of
this long, brilliant, public career was
his election twice as President of the
United States. John Quincy Adams,
John G. Calhoun, VIM. II. Crawford
and VIM. Vert were members of the
cabinet during his entire administra-
ton. During his second term as
President he promulgated the declara-
ton now known as the 'Monroe Doc
trine." The words of this famous
utterance constitute two paragraphs
in the Presidents message of Decem-
Der =, 1923. The first is addressed to
Russia and Great Britain, the second
to Spain and Portugal. They are
literally as follows:
At the proposal of the Russian i'm
perial government, made through the
minister of the emperor residing here,
full power and instructions have been
transmitted to the minister OF the
United States at St. Petersburg to ar
range, by amicable negotiation, the
respective rights and interests of the
two nations on the northwest coast OF
this continent. a similar proposal
had been made by his imperial mai
esty to the government of Great
Britain, which has likewise been &C
ceded to. The government of the
United States has been DESTROYS by
this friendly proceeding of manifest
ing the great value which they have
invariably attached to the friendship
of the emperor, and their solicitude to
cultivate the best understanding with
his government. In the discussion to
which this interest has given rise, and
in the arrangements by which they
tmay terminate, the occasion has been
| Judged proper for asserting as a prin-
cipIe in which the rights and interests
of the United States are involved thai
the American continents, by the free
and independent condition which they
have assumed and maintain, are
henceforth not TO be conSioereo as
subjects for further colonization by
any European power. we
owe it, therefore, to candor, anc the
amicable relations existing between
the United States and these powers,
to declare hat we should consider
any attempt on their part to extend
their 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 lot interfere. But with the
governments who have declared theil
. independence and maintained it, and
whose independence we have on great
consideration and just principles &C
k~nowledged, we could not view any
interposition for the purpose of OPP
pressing them, or controlling i'll any
! other manner their destiny, by any
European power, in any other light
than as the manifestation of an un'
friendly disposition toward the United
States.
This dictum has now the force o
Y international law.