The San Francisco call., 1898-04-10
\HOMAs JEFFERSON wrote to President James Monroe from his home at Monticello, under date of October "A. 1923:

| / l President James Monroe from ms i home at Monticello, under date
 of October "A. 1923:
 'I have ever looked upon Cuba as the most interesting addition which could ever be made to our system or States"
 Monroe had addressed letter to Jef- ferson, dated October 17, 1923, Tn which Monroe expressed his opinion that we ought to meet the proposal of the Brit ish Government, and to make It Known that we would view an interference on the part of the European powers, ana especially an attack on the (Spanlsn) colonies, as an attack on ourselves. This expression preceded the famous Monroe doctrine message by but forty days In that short per1oo, now ever, Monroe's impression had so1dlned into the strong words of his message 10 Congress, December g. 1923. At the con clusion of his letter Monroe asks Jer- ferson's opinion and requests that the correspondence be forwarded to James Madison.
 In view of the talk of an alliance with England, 1t will be interesting to glve enough of this correspondence 10 snow how Monroe. Jefferson, Madison ana John Quincy Adams looked upon slml- lar proposal. made when the Cuban 
 question was uppermost seventy-hve | years ago.
 In reply to Monroe's letter, Jefferson writes that the question is the most momentous which has ever been oIieIeo to my contemplation since that oi III dependence that made us nation. lie points out the advantages or oetacn. ing Great Britain from the oano ol despots," and bringing "her mighty weight into the scale of free govern ment." With her on our slde, writes Jefferson, we need not fear the "hole world" But in the next line ne de- clares that he would not purchase her | auity at the expense of taking part in her wars"
 Jefferson declared his position on the Cuban question in anticipation or the designs of Russia, Prussie and Austria, "a lawless alliance" says JeHerson, "calling itself holy" He believed we should oppose, with all our means, alae interposition of any other power, unoer any form or pretext," in the affairs or this hemisphere
 In the memoirs of John Quincy Adams we find that he, also, was called into consultation on this "momentous question Adams writes under date or November 15, 1923, that President Mon- | roe sent for him to come to the state Department, where the letters or Je1- ferson and Madison were laid before him. Adams says that Madison's opln- ion in favor of accepting England pro, posal Is Hess decisively pronounced (than that of Jefferson). and he (Maol- son) thinks as do, that this movement on the mart of Great Britain is impelled more by her interest than oS pi iiiei- pie of liberty"
 The full text of Jefferson's letter IS as follows:
 MONTICELLO, October "A. 1923.
 Dear Sir: The question presented by
 the letters you have sent me IS the most
 momentous which has ever been oILeIeo
 to my contemplation since that or 1n-
 dependence made us nation. This sets
 our compass and points the course
 which we are to steer through the
 ocean of time opening on us; and never
 couId we embark on it under circum- stances more suspicious. Our first and
 Fundamental maxim should be never to
 entangle ourselves in the broils of Flu
 rope: our second should be never to suf-
 fer Europe to interfere with ClS-Atlan-
 tic affairs America, North and south,
 has set of interests distinct from those
 of Europe. and peculiarly her own.
 While the last is seeking to become the
 domicile of despotism, our endeaVor
 should be to surely make our hemls-
 phere that of freedom. One nation, most
 of all. could disturb us in this pursuit.
 She now offers to lead and accompany
 us in 1t. By acceding to her proposition
 we detach her from band or despots
 bring her mighty weight into the scale
 for free government and emancipate a
 continent at one stroke, which might
 otherwise finger long in doubt and diffi- culty.
 Great Britain is the nation which can