New-York tribune., 1902-05-23

Ip- 44o OdHDTluBS- JOIN Hllsoh q Goi
John Quincy Adams the most methodical
OF men. and he left rich mine for the Amer
lean historian. which is still far from exhausted.
Mr. Ford and Mr.. Adams have been delving
among the treasures at Quincy with the result
of throwing some valuable additional light on
the genesis OF the two most significant state
papers issued by Presidents OF the United States.
The part taken by John Quincy Adams as an
advance messenger both for the Monroe Doc
trine and the Emancipation Proclamation is
well known; but in his diaries and correspond
many hitherto unpublished references are
found which bring more clearly to view his work
the advocate, if not indeed the original invent
or, Of the ideas at the foundation of these two
triumphs of statecraft. Mr. Ford's citations
show the Monroe Doctrine in the making, and
give evidence that the vital substance and spirit
OF the declaration were almost solely due to
Adams. The policy of avoiding complication in
European affairs had been many times avowed
by American statesmen before him. The notion
that the New World was developing principles
OF government antagonistic TO those of the Old
World had become common. But no one before
him had struck the balance between isolation
and empire, and had enunciated a principle by
which the United States. without acting either
as a guardian a busybody. able to
guarantee the integrity of the American nations,
and 10 stand effectively for the principle of
ubtINS HllnOul lHNlllnS duIaBOnlSIn OF piSuBinB
itself to quixotic schemes.
The credit for the Monroe Doctrine has some
times been given TO George Canning, but his
suggestion of a declaration against the Holy
Alliance was only one Of the occasions which
Adams stood ready TO take advantage of. and
his proposals differed in essential particu-
lars from the principles which Monroe's Secre-
tary OF State was developing. Some months
before Mr.. Canning's suggestion was received
Adams, on July Il. 1923, told Baron Tuyl. the
Russian Minister, that should contest the
rights of Russia to any territorial establish
ment on this continent, and that should
assume distinctly the principle that the Ameri-
can continents are no longer subjects for any
new European colonial establishments" AL
most simultaneously with the arrival of the dis
patches from Minister Rush. in London, telling
of his conferences with Mr.. Canning. Baron
Tuyl announced that his government would in
nc case whatsoever receive agents from the
South American republics. and Adams declared
that Il would be more dignifed 10 avow our
principles explicitly Russia and France. than
TO in a cockboat in the wake of the
British man-of-war" In a conversation with
Baron Tuyl Adamss record Of which is now
published for the first time, he announced that
long Europe remained neutral toward the
contest between Spain and her former colonies
1.-The United States would not depart from the
neutrality so declared by them. But that if one
of the European powers should deIart
from their neutrality that change of circum-
stances would necessarily become subject of
further deliberation in this government
That far the Secretary of State
could go on his own responsibility the Presi-
dent being absent but il was far enough TO
reveal already formulated that phase of the
Monroe Doctrine which forbade European ag-
gression in the Western Hemisphere. The other
essential features of it were absolute indepen-
ydence of action the part of the United States
and avoidance OF participation in the internal
affairs of Europe. Adherence TO both of these
principles is due TO Adams. Acceptance of Mr..
Canning's plan would have involved a certain
sort of alliance with Great Britain. or at least
sla commitment of ourselves to her aims. which
might not long be our own. Monroe. in spite of
his traditions Of isolation and prejudice against
England inclined this alliance Imme-
diately the receipt of the dispatches from
Mr. Rush he sent copies off to jefferson. with
a letter indicating his view. Jefferson was en-
thusiastic in the same opinion, and wrote back
rejoicing that England now offers to lead. aid
and accompany us" in support of free Amer
tea Man of peace that he was. he neverthe-
less declared
Great Britain is the nation which can do us
the most harm Of any one. or all on earth; and
with her side need not fear the whole
world. With her, then We should most sedu-
lously cherish a cordial friendship. and nothing
would tend knit affections than
10 be fighting once more side by side, in the
same cause.
Adams while he would have been glad 10 go
side by side with England in a really common
cause, so carried away by enthusiasm
that he wished a European partner in the set
tlement Of American affairs He felt that Mr.
Canning was more concerned to preserve the
EUrOpean balance Of mower than tn nreServa
South American freedom. and found in Eng
lands refusal at once to recognize the indepen-
dence OF the new States a reason for declining
Mr.. Canning's advances. while expressing cordial
agreement with his views far they wen-
He must have been greatly irritated over the
ruthless editing OF his dispatches in the Cabi-
net but in spite of his complaint that his state
ment OF principle had been turned into the
tamest Of all state papers," he managed to pre-
serve the substance Of the principle and main
tain the doctrine that the disposition of South
America was not a matter for European con-
cern, and that the United States would not join
even England TO check aggression, except on
the agreement that the former colonies were
entirely and irrevocaby free.
The poor President equally failed to grasp the
feature of the Monroe Doctrine which required
the United States TO leave the affairs of
Europe alone. When he first drafted the mes
sage embodying the famous doctrine he tried to
force his republican views on Europe speaking
in terms OF the most pointed reprobation of the
late invasion Of Spain by France and of the
principles upon which ii was undertaken by the
open avowal of the King of France" He also
made "a broad acknowledgment of the Greeks
as independent nation" Adams protested
that this call against Europe for
objects of policy exclusively European. He de-