The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-08-02
posed, on account Of this outrage. tha

posed, on account of this outrage. that
no armed vessel SHOULD be permitted to
enter the harbors and waterways under
the jurisdiction of the United States" ex-
cept when in distress or on official bust
ness. But others earnestly supported
these measures as we'll as he, and this
does not make him the father of the
Monroe Doctrine. Was Monroe a man suf-
fciently strong and sincere and deter
mied to state clearly what he believed to-
be for the good of his coutry? Could he
put into clear logical form the great idea
Of American Republicanism, of complete
autonomy for the nations in this heml-
sphere, germs Of which were in the minds
and hearts of the great thinking men OF
his time. or did he wait for the Secretary
of State to formulate for him verbatim
litera tim ct punctuatum'' an opinion which
he was to give to the people as his own?
Whoever reads a life Of Monroe will be
Impressed both with the deep sincerity Of
the man Carlisle says all great men have
been sncere) and with his desire 1t all
times to further the best interests of the
Republic. and also win his earnest inter-
est therein and knowledge thereof.
When twenty-eight years old he was ap-
pointed one of the judges to decide tne
controversy between New York and Mas
sachusetts. with reference to their bound
aries. Is it to be conjectured that MI.
Adams, then a. lad of twenty, advised
him how to act with discretion, as he did
at that time. True. he was recalled by
Washington after he had been sent as
minister to France but he fully justified
his action and general department While
abroad in his 400-page pamphlet published
on his return. Perhaps he consulted Mr..
Adams before he wrote this and received
valuable hints! Or perhaps Mr.. Adams
wrote this for him.
One historian says Of Monroe and John
Adams. that though of different parties.
two more honest men or purer patriots
never breathed." The unsetish patriot
:sCl. as we'll as the strong independence
Of Monroe are proven by the fact that
when New Orleans was besieged by an
English fleet, he, with virtue unsur-
passed in Greek or Roman history.
stepped forward and pledged his own in
dividual credit as subsidiary to that of
the nation. and thus succeeded in placing
New Orleans in such a posture of de-
fe-ec that it was able successfully tc re-
pei the invader" Again: His energy in
his double capacity OF Secretary of State
and War pervaded all the departments Of
the country With the most singular I'M
sclEshness he advocated every measure
which in his judgment would aid In Sc
curing the triumph of his country In
ether words the Monroe Doctrine is not
tie only jewel in his crown, nor Is he the
poor man with the one eve lamb, but
he must go down in history as man
whose honesty. truthfulneSs and determl-
nation were potent factors in the uprear-
ing of the structure of our government.
It was not a strange thing. but the very
outcome, the complement, the blossc1ning
Of his nature. that he collected the mug
gets of wisdom of his contemporaries and
predecessors Clay Jefferson. Washing
ton and, il you please, Adams and others,
and condensed and consolidated their
opinions into that form best calculated
to give them weight. in message which.
because he wrote it, has always been as
ISOLATED with his name and will always
be sscribed to his brain, as justly as the
Declaration of independence is to Jeffer-
sons. or Washington's farewell address
is to Washiagton's.
We do not propose to so INTO dls-
cussion OF the intentions of the Holy AL
liansce to prevent the establishment OF
Republican liberty in South America,
which was the occasion of the specific
utterances of the doctrine. We only note
that Monroe wrote to Jefferson Tor ms
opinion, and receiving the reply that
1t should be our .'object to establish the
American system of governmnt, keeping
out of our land all foreign powers, and
never permitting those of Europe to inter
NEEDLE with the affairs of our nation
a few weeks later sent his message to
Congress, that contains the doctrine. and
ever since. the primacy in the adoption
of that policy by President has been
and by all sane. unbiased students of
facts ever will be. ascribed to Monroe
Another instance of Monroe's judgment
and forethought occurred when he was
commissioned by jefferson to negotiate
the purchase of New Orleans and the ter
ritory embracing the mouth of the Missis-
sipi River: lin the absence Of instruc-
TONS" he, with the other commissioners
negotiated the purchase. not only of New
Orleans. but of the whole territory Of
Louisiana. IAN event that is hardly Sc
cond in the history OF the country" In
this matter. too. Monroe went straight
ahead not hesitating or wasting time in
dilatory auestioningS, but self-confldent.
and competent to transact the business
in the most expeditions manner. He
was not man to get others to perform
his duties for him. When he advanced
the opinion in his presidential message
in 1928 that our duty as a country was
that OF neither entanglng ourselves In
the brols of Europe. nor suffering the
powers of the Old World to Interfere
In the affairs of the new" it was not
CLAY or Thomas Jefferson thought this
was right Though they ali did), but be-
cause he Monroe. selft-re1iant man,
and no vacillating wealsling. believed
that this was right. and just and expe-
dent But possibly the words of the
polished John Quincy Adams himself will
be more forcible in giving Monroe his
mede of honor AS his successor in the
Presidents chair. Adams wrote of Non
roe: He strengthened his country for
defense. sustained her RIGHTS. her dig
nity and honor abroad. soothing her dis
sens:ons, and conciiilating her acerbities
at home-controlling by a firm, peaceful
policy the hostile spirit OF European al
lance against Republican South Amer
ica.'. etc. ending by saying that Mon
roe was comparable to the DIVINE
Augustus. who had found the Imperial
City of brick and left it Of marble
To say OF such words that they were
but the courteous and tactful expression
of appreciation by a suave and eloquent
statesman of the obedience of a prede-
cessor in Office to his suggestions is to