New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-10-30

Among all the men who helped to create the
United States Monroe is the one whose figure
dwells least in the imagination Of men. Yet
it fell 20 his lot 10 accomplish two things the
memory Of which makes his an ever-present
figure. Many of the Fathers of the Republic
seem very din and remote, but McEroe stands
beside the descendants Of his race. with his
Doctrine, like one Of the most modern of men,
Americans have passed far beyond much that
is in The Federast." They have left slavery
behind with all the discussions that it involved
They are no longer troubled with the bank
question, nor with State sovereignty. nor win
property suffrage. But one may say that they
have just got 10 the point where the Monroe
Doctrine becomes Of critical interest. WIFE the
recurrence of that principle has Cme also, by
way Of coincidence. more harmonious reia-
ton arnon, TIE parts of the Nation than was
ever seen since the Era Of Good Feeling which
Is associated in history with Morrce's Admins
tration. Thus with Monroe's name are linked
those ideas Of National unity which are the
sole promise for the future Of the Republic
If he had been man Of highly original mind
Ike jefferson or Hamilton. Of powerful cx-
ccutivc capacity, like Washington. this peculiar
distinction which he posse wOuld not have
come to him. He was decidedly prCsaic. In
the present volume of his writings he is left
on the oy, Of his departure Minister to
France. and there is nothing to show that he
was :; man Of great ideas though there is
certain touch everywhere from first to last hat
shows the successful man. HonOrs come 10 him
in his tuyn with admirable regularity. He is
rarely on had terms with his friends. once
+ or twice Re complains to jefferson that Madison
is acting unfairly in some mysterious way
, Curiously enough. for a man who was 10 write
his nam" indcibly on the cSterna! policy Of the
Nation as It united whole. he strict par
tisan even in a time when parties were only
beginning to exist. 1t j. he who comes Cor
ward with a protest to President Washing on
aoans, ;hc military appointment Of Hamilton
1t is h. who is selected by Washington as a
particular example OF democracy TO be sent to
the French Republic II is he who ccnfessedly
thinks always as jefferson thinks, ard If he
does not know what JcffcrsOn's opinions are on
a given point waits. if he can. to find out
J"ffcr.on's absence in France and his own eau
ton doubtless saved him from error az the
zeal moment in the development Of the Con-
sti;uto3. AR Hamilton has drawn from IFS
hiding place unique pamphlet III which MOE
roe took ground against the adoption Of the
Constitution. 1t appears never 10 have passed
tcyoni the stage cf -"proofs for the author
/ W
4 monument to his discretion The pamphlet
which was published and was long supposed TO
be Monrnc's observations Upon the Proposed
Pan Of Federal Governm ent. with an Attempt
to Answer Some OF the Principal Objections
to It," by "A Native OF Virginia" is of dr.
fe-cnt tenor from the one he undoubtedly wrote
While this suppressed pamphlet from Monroe's
pen would at the time have been injurious to
the prospects Of the country. it is worth notice
that he was far from being separatst in any
sense Of the word His opposition to the pro-
posed plan Of government is mainly that it will
not be strong enough. If the thing could be
done ne would willingly see all State soy
eicientv swept away. a complete annihiIaton
Of the state government and the organization
of a general government over the whole. he
declared would meet every objection that he
had thought Of And will be free to own That
if il were in reality practicable thing. there is
no object which my mind has ever contem-
plated. the attainment Of which would give it
such high qualification. should consider
the abolition of the State Legislatures as a
most fortunate event for America, and con-
graduate my country on the commencement of
a new era in her affairs from whence to date
the dawn of better hopes and happier days
But since this contamination so devoutly wished
cannot be attained. Monroe doubts the least
biliiy of any partial attempt He rightly held
the local state governments 10 be indispensable
in a country 30 large where The infinite variety
OF soil and climate demanded the greatest po-
Htical ncxibuity and minute adaptations 10 cir
cumstanCcs. How to preserve this local liberty
ard yet 10 create "a strong, Efficient and ener-
sot.c" centrdl government was to Kim apparent