The Washington herald., 1908-05-11

contrast with the bloody road over lib
erty of vulgar tyrants and military des-
pots. and adds: Il doubt not that your
excellency will, in due time. render a sat
isfactory explanation to Colombia and
the world, OF the parts OF your public
conduct which have excited my distrust;
and that, preferring the true glory Of our
immortal Washington to the ignoble fame
OF the destroyers Of liberty. you have
formed the patriotic resolution Of uli-
mately placing the freedom OF Colombia
upon firm and sure foundation
The correspondence cited between Boil
var and Clay followed the Panama con-
gress, without notice Of which this paper
would be incomplete.
The Panama congress was conceived by
Bolivar, in 1923, in magnificent Idea OF
second Aehaean league-a military empire
to embrace at least Colombia and the two
Perus. II not all Of Spanish America, and,
TO give color Of plausibility Of the pro
jected congress, the United States was in
vited. but. 1t is said. Bolivar did not ex-
pect. nor care for an acceptance. Clay,
backed by Adams, his great chief, pur-
posed 70 send representatives. Benton
says II was a tottering administration
measure for popularity. Benton possibly
was prejudiced. Clay's whole life is tn
refutation Of such a charge. Europe stiil
clung to the reeonquest Of South Amer
lea. SPANS troops were out but South
American independence had not been rec
ognized. The attitude of the Holy Al
lance for the destruction OF freedom
throughout the world continued. Clay had
a complete knowledge OF the aims Of the
Holy Alliance He said it was so-named
because its avowed purpose was TO
maintain. as a Christian doctrine, the
sovereign rights of legitimacy, that softer
word for despotism.
Clay desired American free institutions
10 prevail against European absolutism'
Adams named our Panama congress rep
resentatives. Clay prepared letter OF
Instructions scanned. no doubt by Adams.
the light OF the enunciation Of the Monroe
doctrine. Congress violently opposed the
mission. called for Clay's instructions
hoping TO find flaws to defeat the OBJECT
and destroy their author. Instead Of de-
stroving him. il immortalzed him. 1t was
found to be an epltome Of foreign policy
appIicable 10 the whole American hemt-
sphere. South, as well as North America,
in its opposition 10 European pohucs-
In part, II was
United States. in North America, 10 Cape
Horn. in South America. on the Atlantic
Ocean. with one or two inc0nsiderable
executions: and from the same cape to
the ffty-first degree OF north latitude, IN
North America, on the Pacific Ocean
without any exception, the whole coasts
and countries belong 70 sovereign resi-
dent American powers. There IS, there
fore. no chasm within the prescribed
limits. in which a new European colony
could be now introduced without violating
the territorial rights Of some American
state An attempt 10 acquire such
colony. and bv its establishment 10 ac-
quire sovereign rights for any European
power, must be regarded as an inadmis-
sible encroachment-'
No American has ever been able TO
find fault with il. It is not ambiguous.
IL Is more 20 the point than the Monroe
doctrine Our greatest statesmen nave
let Il guide their acts and utterances. II
anticipated the whole Oregon question.
It's moral influence on European powers
was inestimable. and its backbone stiffen-
ing of South America was invaluable,
while it received the acclaim Of America.
And so it is shown that Clay, and not
Canning. looked at the Indies and called
a new world into being. and helped TO
put it on a firm foundation. And 20 Clay,
as to no other American, IS due memo
rails and monuments for deeds done for
South American freedom and independ-
ence. and for reciprocal good relations, In
which Clay was not only first but he is
the father Of commercial reciprocity in
American diplomacy.
In the matter Of my Washington Her
aid letters on Clay I acknowledge my
indebtedness to Fosters "A Century OF
American Diplomacy Benton's Thirty
Years in the Senate Niles History of
South America" Memoirs Of j. Q,
Adams" Madisons works. Richardson
messages. Niles Register. Congressional
Record, Larned's Historical References.
ColtOns Clay" sc.