The St. Louis Republic., 1902-07-20
ORIGIN OF PRESIDENT
MONROE'S FAMOUS DOCTRINE
To ths EaItor q II, 60,

TO the Editor Of The Republic
J St Louis. July l9-It Is matter
| Of surprise that gentleman so in
i telngent Us cne would suppose Pro-
lessor Hart OF Harvard University TO
De should at this late date declare that
John Quincy Adams was the author OF the
/ Monroe Doctrine. II Is also surprising that
any iEiellisent persOa should express L
/ doubt regarding tn wisdom Or Justice Of 4
policy which is founded on the prlncipl.s =
3 0t common s-use and has Received The
! hearty support OF every administration
/ since that u Monroe. John Quincy Adams
Relieved in this policy Us earnestly as any
" our other PT, sid,uts. and Suppor.el AZ
f; with ability during Ills administration: but
ne Was no more the author uf IL than he
Was Of the Declaration Of Independence.
The Monroe Doctrine j.. N fact. the doc
trine or Thomas Jefferson who wls also
the author OF large part ug everything
else that Is good and admirable IN our
theory and system. OF government. il was
the great apostle OF Democracy who frss
gave utterance TO The sentiment that re-
publican principles should dominate the
, Western wOTlL JetfersOn's idea had al
ways beeu TO hold alUof from the qudrrrls
and tealOus!es u Europe. and stee- Gear 4
everything IN the nature OF eutauglins
alliances with its Governments: In short, TO
leave Europe alone with her dgsPOtic pOli-
or freedom This Idea not Only permeated
his state papers while in office. but u rdn
through all his correspondence after the
date OF the Revolution: and finally IN a
letter 10 President Monroe, dated 49, Mon
t!celo, June II, Isl. he distinctly outlined
the Monroe Doctrine. Monroe had long en-
tertained similar opinions himself, and Jef-
ferSon's letter weS In reply to one from
him, asking II. IN his opinion, the United
States might take a bolder stand than
formerly Ia favor OF liberty. JeneTson's
answer possesses a peculiar interest for
every person WHO believes In the doctrine
OF popular government as distinguished
from the exploded theory OF divine right
EUROPEAN POLITICAL INTERESTS
DISTINCT FROM OURS.
Il have ever deemed 1t fundamental for
the United States" he said. never 10 take
active part IL the quarTe.s Of Europe. Their
political interests are entirely distinct from
ours. The mutual JcalOuSies. tueir balance
Of power their complicated alliances. their
forms and principles Cf government. are all
foreign &c US. They are nations OF eternal
war All their energies are expended in the
destruction OF the labor. properly and live
OF their people. On our part, never had
people so favorable chance OF trying the
opposite system Of peace and fraternity with
mankind. and the direction OT alI our means
ana faculties To the pusp.sSs OF improve
We have few occasions OF collision. and
these. with a Lutte prudence and tOroesf-
ance may be generally accommodated Ot
the brethren o. our own hemisphere. none
are Yet. or for al sSe 10 come Wall De. In a
shape or disposition 10 war against Us And
the foothOlG wnicn the nations Of Europe
had N either America - slipping from un-rr
them, 80 tn4t We sLlll sOOn DC rId VI G.e-r
ne!ghbOrhOCc.'
Accepting this as happy expression OF
his o@n senuunenIs. PTes.4elI AIOnsOe pTO-
Ceedcd TO formulate his declaration Ct the
AIUH4Ue DOCIrIHs Tor MS ncAI aa.nuAl MES
sage. and having done 50. ne sent Jefferson
ID copy Of what ne had written. with q re-
quest that he would criticize IL. Jefferson'S
reply was dated At MOnucel!O, on the -sth
or October. lssJ. and was in part. As FOL
lows:
The question presented py the letters you
have sent me is the most momentous which
has ever been offered " my contemplation
since that OF Independence That made Us q
nation; this sets our compass and points the
course which We are 10 steer through the
ocean o. time opening on Us. And never
could We embark on IL under circumstances
more auspicious. our first and fundamental
maxim should be. never TO entaEgle our
selves in the broils OF Europe: OuE seeon1.