Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1903-01-10
THIS WILL TELL YOU JUST
WHAT THE MONROE DOC
TRlNE IS.


South America have renewed in
terests in the policy of the United
States, known as the Monroe doc
trine. While it is 'often referred to
it has not been seriously discussed
since 1895, when President Cleve-
land threatened England with war
if the Venezuelan boundry was
overstepped. A brief sketch of the
events which led to it's procla-
nation and of the various interpre-
tations which have been put upon
it will not be without interest to
those who are noticing passing
events and who are noting the anx-
iety with which war in which the
United States is not party is be-
ing watched by the State depart
ment at Washington.
Soon after the overthrow OF the
first Napoleon, Russia, Austria,
France and Prussia, not 80 much in
fear of the fallen monarch as of do.
mestic uprisings among a people
impoverished by war, entered into
an agreement for mutual protection
called the Holy Alliance, the pur-
pose being not 80 much to resist
foreign aggression as TO protect
each other against internal insur
rection and thus secure the stabil-
ity of the reigning houses. The
first congress held by representa-
tives of the four monarchs was at
Troppau in 1920. England, although
not in the alliance, participated in
this congress and in the succeed.
ing one held al Laibach also in 1920
called to take action against upris
ings in Piedmont and Nables. But
in 1922 when the third congress was
called at Verona TO organize for the
suppression of the revolution of
Spain against Ferdinand VII, Can
ming, who had become English
prime minister, refused to recog.
nize the convention and disap.
proved of the interference in Span.
ish affairs.
The connection of these events
with the Monroe doctrine is this:
Canning suspected that the real
purpose of the allied powers was
not merely to restore order in Spain,
but to also suppress the independ-
ent states in South America, which
had broken away from Spain, and
whose independence had been rec
ognized by the United States, and
TO re.establish European monarch
les on the American continent. He
accordingly mentioned his suspi-
cions to Benjamin Rush, then
United States minister at London,
and he in turn wrote to John Quin.
cy Adams, Secretary of State. Mr.
Adams did not attach 80 much i'm.
portance to the matter, bot Presi.
dent Monroe took it more seriously,
while John c. Calhoun was very
much impressed with the convic.
tion that the Holy Alliance was
plotting to capture South America.
At that time Russia was making
come claims to the North Pacific
coast. After consultation with
Thomas Jefferson and James Madi-
son it was agreed that some an.
nouncements should be made, dis
approving of any extension of Eu-
ropean influences on the western
continent 1t was in pursuance of
this agreement that President Mon.
roe said in his annual message of
1923:
I'VE owe it to candor and to the
amicable relations existing be-
tween the United States and the al.
lied powers to declare that we
should consider any attempt on
their part to extend their system to
any portion of this hemisphere az
dangerous to our peace and sefety.
With the existing colonies or de.
Tendencies of any European power
we have not interferred and shall
not Interfere, but with governments
which have declared their indie.
pendence and maintain it and
whose independence we have on
great consideration and just prin.
ciples acknowledged, we could not
view an interpositiou for Cypress.
ing them or controlling in any
other manner their destiny by any