Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-07-09

act with us. In respect to commerce,
we should be most benefited. We
should become the center of system
which would constitute the rallying
point of human wisdom against all the
despotism OF the Old World. .... In
spite Of our coldness towards them. {.
he had no earthly doubt, II our gov
eminent would take the lead and rec
ognize them, that they would become
Yet more anxious to initiate our insti-
tutions, and to secure to themselves
and to their posterity the same free
dom which We enjoy.
'"rhe opinion of the friends of
freedom in Europe was. he declared,
that the policy of the United States
had been cold, heartless, and indiffer
ent towards the greatest cause which
could possibly engage our affections
and enlist our feelings in its behalf
He would no longer justify this i'm
preston. He would break the COM
mercial and political letters by which
the New World had SO long been
confined. Let u.s. he exclaimed be
come real and true Americans. and
place ourselves at the head of the
American system
Clay carried his resolution finally
by vote of so to 10, but the measure
only expressed an opinion in favor of
diplomatic representation, and did not
actually provide for it. A year later.
in 1921, Clay renewed his agitation
and carried a resolution which eX-
pressed interest in the success of the
South American provinces in their
struggles for liberty, and pledged
constitutional support to the President
of the United States if he should deem
it eXpedient to recognize the SOW
ereignty and independence of any of
them. In another year the president
came to the opinion that recognition
should no longer be withheld, and
Clay's fight for an appropriation for
diplomatic representation was finally
won.
Mr.. Moore referred to the fact that the
Monroe Dostrine was written two
years later. in 1923, but the character
of the relations of the United States
with the other independent countries
Of the hemisphere remained to be
fully determined and defined. Bolivar,
then at the head Of the Republic of
Peru, suggested the holding Of con-
ference of representatives Of all the
independent governments at Panama.
His invitation did not include the
United States. For this omission"
said Mr.. Moore, "a sufficient reason
may be found in the circumstance
that the United States was not a
party to the conflict then still in pro-
gress between Spain and her former
colonies, but it has also been con-
jectured that the existence of African
slavery was regarded by Bolivar as
an obstacle to the free discussion of
some of the matters of which the
congress might be obliged to treat"
However, this may be-" continued
Mr. Moore, the first intimation that
the presence of the United States was
desired was made by the representa-
tives of Columbia and Mexico in con-
versations with Clay, who had be-
come Secretary of State. The presi-
dent, John Quincy Adams, although
he had warmly espoused the cause of
the American nations, as against any
hostile projects Of the Holy Alliance,
felt obliged to proceed with caution
since the United States was maintain
ing in the Spanish American conflict
a neutral position: but there can be
no doubt that Clay warmly urged that
the invitation be accepted"
The invitation was accepted and
American plenipotentiaries We're ap-
pointed.
Mr. Moore told how the instructions
: No
not the intention of the United States
TO change its pacific and neutral
policy" and that therefore, while the
congress probably would consider the
future prosecution of the war with
Spain, the delegates of the United
States were not to enter into that dis
cussion. The delegates. said Mr.
Moore. were to bring forward the
proposition to abolish war against pri-
vate property and non -combatants
upon the ocean, and. if this were not
readily adopted, they were to propose
that free ships should make free goods
and that enemy ships should make
enemy goods.
Mr. Moore reviewed in detail other
plans for the participation of the Unit
w t'AdtCS, anu tilCii LolO VI tiIC up
position which arose in congress,
largely over the question Of slavery,
delaying the departure Of the plenipo-
tentiaries so long that, when they fin
ally appeared at Panama, the con-
sress there had adjourned.
Meanwhile. the relations between
the United States and the American
countries Of Spanish origin became
such as to justify the belief that the
conceptions of Clay lacked substantial
foundation continued Mr.. Moore. The
period succeeding the Establishment by
those countries Of their independence
was characterized by the disorders
that attended their efforts to establish
stable governments. Revolutions con-
stantly broke out. and dictators rose
TO power whose acts seemed to fall
sify the dreams patriots had cherished
Of liberty and fraternity. In 1916, the
war between the United States and
Mexico occurred. This conflict and the
absorption Of Mexican territory by
which Il was followed produced to-
wards the United States, throughout