The call of the North. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1923-1924, 1923-12-05

hemisphere. -
! On August 20, 1923, Canning ap-
preached Benjamin Rush, United
States minister at London and sug-
gested that England and the United
States enter into an agreement to
recognize the independence Of the
South American republics and an.
nounce to the world a treaty that
would have embodied the principles
later known under the name Of the
Monroe Doctrine
For some time, American statesmen
had realized that a reapproachment
with England was inevitable. When
the secret treaty of San ndefonso
(1800) between France and Spain
leaked out, Thomas jefferson frankly
declared that the day France took
possession Of New Orleans, the, Unit
ed States must join herself to Great
Britain. "From that moment" he
said, 1--WE must marry ourselves to the
British fleet and nation"
When ,Canning's proposal to Rush
became known, Jefferson in a letter
to President Monroe, said: eng
land "now offers to lead, aid and &C
company US in it. BY acceding to her
proposition, we detach her from the
bands, bring her mighty weight into
the scale of free government and en-
ancipate a continent at one stroke
which might otherwise linger long in
doubt and difficulty. Great Britain
is. the one nation that can do us the
most harm of anyone, or all on
earth; and with her on our side we
need not fear the whole world"
President Monroe preferred to
make the issue purely an American
one. In this desire many American
leaders supported him. John Quincy
Adams declared that he did not care
to see CHS country come in as a
cock-boat in the wake of the British
man-or-war."
Cnallenge 10 AutOCT8cy
This sentiment was communicated
to the British government, and Can
ming stepped aside, giving the lead
ership to President Monroe, who in
his famous address to Congress, De-
cember 2, 1s23,~ asserted the principle
that the American continents, by vir-
tue of the free and independent posi-
ton which they have assumed and
maintained are henceforth not to be
considered as subjects for future col
onization by an European power.
Ostensibly the suave diplomatic
phrases in which the message was
couched merely meant limitation Of
European power and influence in the
western hemisphere. In fact, it was
q ringing restatement of the Declara-
ton of Independence, including not
one nation only, but all the little ma
tions fighting splendidly for freedom
and the right of self-determination.
The FORMULATION Of the new doc
trine threw costernation into the
chancellories Of Europe. It was more
than a proclamation of defence, it
was a bold and audacious challenge
to all existing autocracies in the name
Of republicanism, liberty and popular
rights. Immediately Canning served
notice upon Europe that the power Of
Great Britain was squarely behind
the American president and the new
principles he had enunciated; and
that in an appeal to force the army
and navy Of Britain would be found
fighting with the military and naval
forces Of the young republic.
The legitimist diplomats CRASHED
their teeth and fumed; but they did
not dare challenge the combined
might and power Of the English
speaking democracies; the first spec
tacular example of the compelling
force of Great Britain and America
acting together in defense Of a right
eous cause. -
The alliances born Of the wars Of
Napoleon fell apart like houses Of
sand. New cleavages re-aligned the
nations. It made possible rebirth Of
liberty. ..
The British people gave enthusiast
tic support to their government, and
Canning boosted in Pertinent that he
had Scaled in the New World to re-
dress the balance of the old"
The conflict of the ancient auto
cracies and modern democracies that
lasted for century and came to .
cataclysmic catastrophe in the World
War is matter of history; and that
the Monroe Doctrine and its vigor-
Gus maintenance has been a powerful
factor in the struggle is undisputed.
Two historic incidents, however, are
worthy Of passing notice. -..r
In 1852 the French Emperor, Louis
Napoleon, desiring to rehabilitate
his waning prestige and fortunes cast
longing eyes toward Mexico, hoping
by brilliant diplomatic coup to set
Macmillan, an Austrian prince, upon
the throne and form a league Of La
tin republics, Of which he (Louis)
would be the dominating power. The
purpose of such an alliance, declares
recent historian Robert G. Gle
land, in Zone Hundred Years Of the
Monroe Doctrine'') was to counter
act the growing power of the Anglo
Saxon peoples represented by tho
United States and Great Britain.