The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1896-05-16


ance, attended by Ministers from nearly
all the other European powers. met at
Troppau, in Austria Silesia, on the Goth,
and held diplomatic congress which
lasted until the Goth of November, when
they removed to Leybach, Austria.
1t was resolved in the congress by the
soyereigns Of Russia, Austria and Prussia,
to crush the Neopolitan constitution By
force of arms. France approved of this
measure, but the English cabinet remained
neutral The old Kind Ferdinand, who
had been invited to visit the sovereigns at
Leybaeh, was quickly and easily convinced
that his promises had been extorted and
were not binding, and the Austrian troops
Immediately prepared to execute the decis-
sion of the congress, while the aid Of a
Russian army was promised, if necessary.
The result was that an Austriae army
43, 900 strong entered the Neopolitan
territory, heralded by proclamation from
Ferdinand calling upon his subjects to re-
ceive the invaders as friends. The resist
ance was feeble; skirmishes took place, but
the country was quickly overcome; foreign
troops garrisoned the fortress; the king 8
promises of amnesty were forgotten, and
courtsmartial and summary execution closed
the brief drama of the Neopolitan Revo-
luton.
Having treated upon the insurreetion
in the kingdom Of Naples, we must turn
to Spain and note the movement for popu-
lar government in the native country of
Ferdinand. During the reign of general
peace, from 1915 to 1920, Spain, under
the restored rule of Ferdinand, was in
state of constant agitation, and in 1920,
an insurrection of the soldiery compelled
the king to restore to his subjects the full
and almost republican constitution of 1872.
The Republicans, however, who thus
obtained the direction of the government,
showed little wisdom of moderation, and
large party, directed by the clerical ele-
ment, and supported by the lower ranks
of the populace, was formed for the restor
alton of the monarchy
Again were the monarchs of the Holy
Alliance called upon by Frederick for aid,
and in a congress held at Verona they
adopted resolution to support the au-
thority of the king in opposition to the
constitution which he had granted.
France was represented at this congress
by NJ. De Chateubriand, and England
although not altogether conforming to the
objects of the congress, consented to be
also represented in the person of the Hon.
Mr. Canning.
The diplomats, after lengthy debate,
decided that as France bordered on Spain,
she should be entrusted with the odious
measure of supressing the democratic
principles of Spain. Accordingly, early
in the year 1928, French army of lO0,-
900 men under the command of the Duke
D'Augouleme entered Spain The Span
ish patriots made but a brief resistance,
and Ferdinand was restored to absolute au-
thority on the ruins of the constitution.
Canning, although at heart a liberal
spirit and defender of liberty, had, never
theless, by his presence at this congress
of the Holly Alliance, acquiesced in this
act to suppress the free will of an inde-,
pendent nation, with the result that upon
his return to England he was bitterly as
sailed by the party of which he was a
member. Finding himself in most dis
agreeable position, politically, he, like the
shrewd politician and clever diplomat that
he was, resolved to avail himself of the
first opportunity to find his way out of the
difficulty and again regain his popularity
with the party of which he was so disting-
uished member
In the meantime, the South American
colonies of Spain had rose in rebellion,
commencing with the year 1910, and
were striving each Individually to establish
free and Independent governments Here
was the chance desired by Canning.
Awaiting himself of the opportunity, he
made overtures to the American Minister
at London, Mr. Richard Rush, and pro-
posed that President James Monroe should
be approached and an agreement entered
into, in virtue of which it should be un-
derstood that, although Great Britain had
Joined with her old allies, the sovereigns
of the continent, in qnelling a revolution
in an European State, she would not feel
bound to pursue the same course in Span
ish America, which was then engaged in
throwing off the yoke of the mother coun-
try, as the United States had done half a
century before. This shrewd move on the
part Of Canning not only restored him to
favor in his own country and party, but
was also received with unbounded favor in
the United States to such an extent that
in the annual message of President Mon
roe, that was submitted to Congress De-
cember I'd, 1823-mark the date-we
find the following interesting paragraph,
that has since been ineulcated in the
American political system
SIN the wars of the European Powers, in
matters relating to themselves, we have never
taken any part, nor does it comport with our
policy to do so. 1t is only when our rights
are invaded or seriously menaced that we re-
sent injuries or make preparations for defense.
With the movements in this hemisphere we
are, of necessity, more Immediately connect
ed, and by causes which must be obvious to
all enlightened and impartial observers. The
political system of the Allied Powers is es-
sentially different in this respect from that of
America. The difference proceeds from that
which exists in their respective governments.
And to the defense of our own, which has
been achieved by the loss of so much blood
and treasure, and matured by the wisdom of
the most enlightened citizens, and under which
we have enjoyed unexampled felicity, the
whole nation is devoted. We owe it, there
fore, TO candor, and to the amicabe relations
existing between the United States and those
Powers to declare that we should consider
any attempt on their part to extend their sys-
TEN to any portion of the hemisphere as
dangerous to our peace and safety. With the
existing colonies or dependencies of any Eu-
ropean Power we have not interferred aad
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 prin-
ciples acknowledged, we could not view any
interposition for the purpose of expressing
them, or controlling in any other manner
their destiny, by any European Power, in any
other light than as the manifestation of an
unfriendly disposition toward the United
States y
p;Lssr;U. MI Nm, 1909