The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1898-06-23
The O1lcial Paper Of San Juan County.
THURSDAY. JUNE 23rd, 1893.
THE MONROE DOCTRINE"

THE MONROE DOCTRlNE
There appears to be good deal Of
misconception in the public mind as to
the real meaning of what is commonly
called the "Monroe doctrine" and
especially with reference to its applica-
ton to the present attitude OF the
United States toward the Spanish COL
onial possessions in the West indias
and the Philippine islands.
It is o fact perhaps not generally I'M
derstood that it was the attitude be-
lieved to have been assumed by the
"holy alliance toward the Spanish
possessions in South America that led
to the assertion by President Monroe Of
the doctrine, so called, which bears his
name. This alliance had been formed
by Russia, Austria, France and Prussia,
soon after the final overthrow of the
first Napoleon, for mutual protection
not against other foreign powers but
against revolutionary movements with
in their own territory. At a congress
of these allied powers held in 1920 it
was agreed that the main purpose of
the alliance should be to maintain the
legitimacy of the existing dynasties,
and that if this principle was threat
ened in any country in Europe the
allied powers should preserve it by
armed interference. Not long after
ward popular uprisings in Piedmont
and Naples were suppressed by Aus
TRAN forces and little later revolu-
ton in Spain against Ferdinand VII.
was suppressed by an army of France.
For ten years previous to the formation
of the "hoIy alliance the South
American colonies of Spain had been
drifting into open revolt and setting up
independent governments, which the
United States had recognized. Eng
land had profited enormously by the
increased trade with the revolted Span
ish colonies, and when it was suspected
that the aid of the allied powers had
been or was about to be invoked to re
store them to Spain, the British secre-
tary of state, Mr.. Canning, made
known his suspicious to the American
minister at London, Mr.. Rush, and
expressed his very great desire that the
United States should aid in thwarting
this supposed design. 1t is believed
also that Mr.. Canning was very desir-
Gus that the United States should disa-
vow any intention to acquire any part
of the Spanish possessions. The matter
was fully discussed by President Mon
roe and his cabinet and the first direct
result was the following declaration in
the presidents message of 1923:
1--WE owe it to candor and to the AMIGA
BILE relations existing between the United
States and the allied powers to declare
that 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 exist
ing colonies OF any European power we
have not interfered and shall not inter-
fere; but with the governments which
have declared their independence and
maintained it, and whose independence
we have, on great consideration and just
principles, acknowledged, we could not
view an interpositiOn for expressing
them, or controlling in any other manner
their destiny by any European power, in
any other light than as q manifestation of
an unfriendly disposition toward the
United States.''
With reference to the Russian claim
of occupation, and also, perhaps, to
still further emphasize the principle so
boldly announced in the first declara-
ton, the president said: 1.-THE Ameri-
can continents should no longer be
subjects for any new European colonial
settlements" The language quoted
embodies all there is to the famous
Monroe doctrine" It was and is
nothing more nor less than vigorous
and statesmanslike expression of presi-
DENTAL opinion. It did not and could
not commit the United States to any
new rule Of conduct, although it did
announce new and broad principle
which public opinion in this country
has strongly supported for three-quar-
tiers Of century. But to allay the
false impressions that soon began to
prevail about it, the house of repre-
sentatives in 1925 passed the following
resolution:
That the United States ought not to
become party with the Spanish-Ameri-
can republics, or either Of them, to any
joint declaration for the purpose of pre-
venting interference by any Of the Euro
pean powers with their independence or
form of government, or to any compact
for the purpose of preventing c0loniza-
ton upon the continents of America: but
that the people of the United States should
be LEFT free to act in such q manner as
their faelings of friendship toward those
republics, and as their own honor and
policy may. at the time, dictate.''
EVEN the the religious papers are
getting imDatient over oonuroee;or,1