The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-03-12
TEXT OF THE DOCTRINE.

A correspondent wants to know what
the exact wording of the Monroe doc
trine is in reference to International
policy.
1t is a short question, but requires a
long answer. Perhaps the best inter-
probation of the policy is found in the
message itself. It is as follows:
OF events in that quarter of the globe
with which we have so much inter-
course and from which we derive our
origin, we have always been anxious
and interested spectators. The citizens
of the United States cherish sentiments
the most friendly in favor of the liberty
and happiness of their fellow men on
that side of the Atlantic. In the wars
of the European powers, in matters re-
lating to themselves, we have never
taken any part, nor does it comport
with our policy to do so. 1t is only
when rights are invaded or seriously
menaced that we resent injuries or
make preparation for our defense. With
the movements in this hemisphere we
are of necessity more Intimately con-
nected, and by causes which must be
obvious to all enlightened and impartial
observers. The political system of the
allied powers is essentially different in
this respect from that of America. This
difference proceeds from that which ex-
lists in their respective governments.
And TO the defense of our own, which
has been achieved by the loss of so
much blood and treasure and matured
by the wisdom of their most enlight-
ened citizens. and under which we have
enjoyed uneXampled felicity, this whole
nation is devoted. We owe it, there
fore, to candor and to the amicable
relations existing between the United
States and those powers to declare that
we should consider any attempt on their
part to extend their system to any por-
ton of this hemisphere as dangerous to
our peace and safety. With the existing
colonies or dependencies OF any Euro
pean power we have not interfered, and
shall not interfere; but with the gov
ernments who have declared their in
dependence and maintained it, and
whose independence we have on great
consideration and on just principles
acknowledged, we could not view any
interposition for the purpose of oppres-
sing them or controlling in any other
manner their destiny by any European
power in any other light than as the
manifestation of an unfriendly dispo-
sition toward the United States.
Our policy in regard to Europe, which
was adopted at an early stage of. the
wars which have so long aSltated that
quarter of the globe. nevertheless, re-
mains the same, which is not to inter
fere in the internal concerns of any of
its powers; to consider the government
de facto as the legitimate government
for US; to cultivate friendly relations
with it, and to observe those relations
by a frank, firm and manly policy,
meeting. in all instances, the just
claims Of every power, submitting to in
juries from none. But in regard to
these continents (American). circum-
stances are eminently and conspicuous
ly different. 1t is impossible that the
allied powers should extend their po-
litical system to any portion of either
continent without endangering our
peace and happiness; nor can any one
believe that our southern brethren, if
left to themselves, would adopt it of
their own accord.