The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1896-03-01
Monroe doctrine =. II ha. been understood

The mere announcement Of this doctrine
by Monroe foilcd the Holy alliance and
stopped all action looking toward Euro
pean interposition In South America, and
the result was the establishment of inde-
pendence by the South American states and
their recognition by tho whole world.
In the same message of December. 1879,
was embodied the statement which had
been made by Secretary Adams TO the Rus
sian minister In respect to the territory on
the northwest coast OF America. II read
as follows;
The occasion has been Judged proper for
asserting as principle. In which the rights
and principles OF the United States are in
VOWED. that the American continents. by
the free and independent condition which
they have assumed and maintained are
hencotorth not TO be considered as subjects
for future colonization by any European
power"
THIS declaration. as we have seen. was
hrst made by John Quincy Adams to Baron
Tuyl, rho emperor OF Russia had made
claim TO all the territory on the northwes,
coast Of America, as far south as latitude
81. Great Britain claimed a portion OF the
snmc territory, and In an indehnite way
the United States had considered our
northern boundary line to extend to lati-
tudo 81 degrees 40 minutes. IL will he ro-
membercd how In iSi5 we reccdci from
this cNtravagnnt pretcnsion and accepted
the parallel OF ~ degrees as our northern
boundary, showing that we did recognize
the right OF other governments 10 acquire
territory on this continent and even some
that we supposed ourselves entitled to.
How. then, did Adams and Monroe un-
derstand this broad statement In the mes
sage. and how has 1t been understood by
our leading American statesmen since It's
announcements
John Quincy Adams succeeded Monroe
In the presidency and Henry Clay became
his secretary OF state. In special mes
sage to congress on December &c, 1875, Mr.
Adams announced that the Spanish-Amer-
lean republics had resolved upon con-
gress to meet on the Isthmus OF Panama,
in which they should all be represented;
that they had invited the United States
to send Observation-Disclosures. and that the In
vtation had been accepted. In the course
of his message President Adams quoted
from Monrocs message OF 1S2s the policy
II. In speaking OF the objects Of the Pan
anna conference, he said:
IAN agreement between tho parties rep
resented at the meeting, that ench will
guard, by its own means, against the es-
Establishment Of any future European col
ony within its borders. may he found adj
vlsable This was more than two years
since announced by my predecessor 10 the
world as principle resulting from the
emancipation Of both American CONT
nents."
Such was tho "doctrine'' as construed
by the statesman that first declared It.
Each nation was to GUARD by It's own
means against the establishment OF any
future European colony within its bor-
ders"
President Adams never dreamed that the
United States assumed guardianship
over the other American states We pro-
posed 10 guard against any colonization of
our territory, and II was hoped that the
South American gtatcs would do tho same,
President Adams advocacy OF tho Pan
anna congress rested On that ground. and
that It would result IN the adoption of such
n policy by all tho American states,
In the debate that followed ms to the OK
pediency Of sending representatives TO
Panama tho whole subject of the relation
Of the United States to the South Amer
lean states wax discussed both In the s"us
ate and the house But not even the
strongest advocates Of the mission limited
at the idea that the United States would
under any circumstances exercise guard
Innship over the Central and South
American republics, or in any way protect
them.
Although In the outcome representatives
to Panama were appointed by our COVER
ment the conference itself proved to be u
failure. Iut what the whole historical
passage ia notable for Is the exposition of
tho ,sAionrne doctrine" nv Holm Quincy