Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1898-08-21
ORIGIN OF THE MONROE DOCTRINE


Everything relating to the principal of
territorial expansion or the reverse is
Of interest just now, and yet there are
few persons outside of public life who
are familiar with the origin of the much
discussed Monroe Doctrine" This is
how it came into existence:
Soon after the final defeat of the great
Napoleon, on the field of Waterloo, June
10 1915. the rulers of Russia, France,
Austria and Prussia, in dread of the re-
publican sentiment which seemed wide
spread, formed an international alliance
for mutual protection against the disturb
ing elements within their own borders and
in many succeeding years aided each 9th
err materially, as in the instance where
the French troops quelled the insurrec-
ton against Ferdinand VII. in Spain.
At Congress held by the allied powers
in Austria 1t was agreed that the main
purpose of the alliance should be 10
maintain the principle Of tho legitimacy
of the existing dynastes and that If this
principle was threatened in any country
in Europe they SHOULD preserve 1t by ac-
tual and armed interference.
George Canning. the English secretary
of state. conceived the idea that the
powers would attempt the subjugation OF
the Spanish colonies in America. which
We're then in successful rebellion, and
communicated his suspicious in the sum-
mer of 1923 to the American minister, Mr.
Rush. They were naturally submitted
TO our government, and there were ami
mated cabinet meetings. in which the
subject was extensively discussed.
The President. James Monroe, and the
Secretary of War. John G. Calhoun, were
particularly impressed with the possl-
BILE danger, and in his annual message to
Congress on December Q. 1S22. the Presi-
dent used the following language: I'VE
owe IL TO candor and the amicabie relax
tions existing between the United States
and the allied powers TO declare that we
should consider any attempt on their
part 70 extend their system to any portion
OF this hemisphere as dangerous TO our
peace and safety. With the existing coll
onies or dependencies of any European
power We have not interfered and shan
not Interfere but with the governments
which have declared their independence
and maintained II and whose ndepend-
ence we have on great consideration and
just principles acknowledged we could
not view an interpretation for depressing
them or controlling In any other manner
their destiny by any European power In
any other light than as a manifestation
Of an unfriendly disposition toward the
United States"
Again, referring to a Russian claim 10
some part Of the northern Pacific coast
which like a similar controversy with
Great Britain, was subsequently amicably
settled, this expression was used: The
American continents should no longer be
subjects for any European colonial set
tlement" This is tho gfst 81 what pop
ular opinion has crystallized into the
Monroe Doctrine" though It Is perfectly
well known that the phraseology was that
Of the then Secretary ~ State, John
Quincy Adams, the successor OF Monroe
in the presidential chair.
in n much wider but indefinite sense
a popular Interpretation Of the Monroe
doctrine means what Thomas Benton said
was a misconstructlon. Of it"-that Is,
a sort of political protection or guardian
ship Of the two Americas to be exercised
by the United States