Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1902-01-02
Hats OFF to James Monroe.


James Monroe, fifth President OF the
United States. died in New fork City
on July 4th, 1891, more than siaty years
ago. And yet today his name and tame
are more oonspicuously before the
country than those OF any other OF our
Presidents who are dead and gore
And all because of the famous Monroe
Doctrine, which he enunciated.
just now the Monroe Doctrine Is very
much talked about, although the events
that gave it orlgin-tha activity and
probable purposes of the holy AL
lance" in Europe have long since
beeoue matters OF history. Hut il was
believed at that time that this alliance
OF European governments had in view
the extension OF their empires 10 the
South American Continent, and it
was warning against this extension
that James Monroe voiced IN mo sage
TO Congress, which warning has assed
into history and is known today as the
Monroe Doctrine.
1t was in his message OF December
I'd 1929, that Pres dent Monrue alluding
generally to European Powers and par
ticulary to Spain and Portugal, said ::
We owe it, therefore, to candor, and
10 tho amicable rotations existing he
tween tho United Statos and those
Powers, to declare that we should con.
slider any attempt on their part to
extend their system to any portion Of
this hemisphere as dangerous to our
roace and safety, With the existing
colonies or dependence es of any Euro.
rean Power we have not interfered,
and shall not interfere. But with
government, who have declared theii
Independence and maintained It, and
whose Independence we have, on great
consideration and on Just principles,
acknowledged, we could not view any
Interpolation for the purpose of Cypress
ing them, or controlling in any manner
Their destiny, by any European Power,
in any other light than as the mani
festation of an unfriendly dispos tion
towards the United States"
Such is the Monroe doctrine, which
was he'd 10 be sound POLICY in the days
OF james Monroe, and ia he'd to be
sound policy today. Al resent it is
very interesting topic, by reason of
the probability that Germany may have
to adopt stern measures 10 CONT 81
Venezuela to pay an honest debt. But
it is not attempted to be maintained
that the Monroe Doctrine will inter-
vene to prevent any European Power
collecting an honest debt from any
country on this side OF the Atlantic so
that no friction is anticipated from
German measures 10 conf 81 Venszuela
to pay what she owes but it Is ac-
cepted as good policy that the United
States will not permit any European
Power to extend it's territory or do
minion by the absorption or fcrciple
acquisition of any OF the countries of
Central or South America.
The Monroe Doctrine is not law; it
is not in any senEe national mandate !;
1t is merely the dec aration OF presi-
dent of tho United States, contained in
one of his formal messages to Congress.
Hut it is held to he as inviolable as
law, and any infringement upon it
would be accepted as a hostile
declaration. Thus far it has been prao-
tically urchallenged by any European
Power, and is not likely to be taken in
issue. 1t stands unique and alone in it's
class 10 no other Pres dent is ascribed
. t..1 .aa L
enunciated great and enduring
national policy in one OF his formal
State papers.