Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-07-05

JAMES MONROE.
From an Original Portrait.
French people, and that he did not
hesitate to express his admiration for
the Gallo revolutionary struggle to-
ward freedom. Soon after his arrival
he was received by the National Con-
utterance to sentiments which brought
down upon him the criticism of less lib
eral colleagues. In 1895 he was re-
called.
The one great practical result Of
Monroes stay in Paris was that he
effectively aided in the successful en-
deavor to prevent war between France
and the United States. He was in
tensely popular with the French peo-
ple-an advantage by no means insig-
nifieant in the circumstances.
It is worth noting that for many
months he had as q guest in his Paris
house the unparalleled pamphleteer.
Thomas Paine. Indeed. 1t was Monroe
who had secured Paine's release from
prison. Later this was cited against
him by his political critics; today it
is almost universally considered q no.
BILE and generous action for which Mon
roe is justly entitled to credit.
Sent Abroad Again.
Back in America, Monroe again plan
ned to retire to private practice. But
instead he was called to serve three
terms as Governor of Virginia Q7e9-
1902. On January IL, 1903. he was
commissioned Minister to France and
to Spain on April Is of the same year
he was accredited to Great Britain as
we'll.
His friend Jefferson was President.
Jefferson particularly wished Monroe to
60 abroad to bring to completion the
dilatory negotiations for the purchase
of Louisiana.
The story of the proceedings in which
Napoleon Bonaparte, Prince Talleyrand.
Barbe MarboiS, Robert r. Livingston
and James Monroe played the leading
parts and which resulted in the greatest
real esta tie transaction in modern his
tory has often been told 1t Is ORA
matte in the extreme. It's Importance
to the United States cannot be exag-
gerated. But it is o narrative too
lengthy to be repeated at this time.
Sufice 1t to say that an agreement was
reached at last whereby the United
States paid France 80,000o00 francs
a total from which substantial deduc-
ton was made by Bonaparte in settle
ment of various private American
claims against his country.
to negotiate with the British govern
ment with regard to the impressment
OF seamen on American ships and re-
lated matters. But England was in po-
litical chaos at the time, and Monree's
efforts failed-a fact which had much
to dc with bringing about the War OF
1912. Returning to Paris, the Minister
entered into discussion with the dlplo-
matte representatives of Spain with re-
yord n the American ni1Trh0CA Of
Florida, but this endeavor also came
to nothing-for the time being. Monroe
went hack to London, where in 1906 he
concluded o treaty with Great Britain.
but this also proved a failure, for JEFF
ferson refused to accept It. Monroe
returned home late in 1907. His second
mission abroad had been much more
successful than his first, but he was
not satisfied. Once again he consid-
cred retirement to private life. But it
was not to be. He was sent to the Vtr-
ginia Assembly in 1910. and was elected
Governor Of Virginia In 1911.
Lead War Department.
Meanwhile James Madison had be-
come President Q609). Madison de-
sired Monroes presence In his cabinet.
Finally Monroe accepted the post Of
Secretary of State Q8lD. He remained
III OIuCC 1OI pulO VI Viz thHiU
serving as head of the Treasury and
war Department as we'll.
These years were feplete with ma
tional trouble. The struggle with Great
Britain wes indifferently managed in
the beginning; later when it was bet
ter ordered q heavy price had to be
paid for earlier mistakes. The Capt.
tai which Monroe had aided in found
ing Q784), was burned august 24-26,
- al
days.; defeat seemed inevitable. At
the crisis Madison turned over to Mon
roe the business of recognizing the
War Department. It was a task to
frighten the StOutest heart, but Monroe
did his duty. "Vigor was at once in
fused into all the military operations.
washington was defended Baltimore
was rescued, and the national banner
continued to wave over Fort McHenry.
Monroe appears at this time in his best
aspect"
succeeded to the presidency. Four
years later he was reelected, receiving
every electoral vote except one (which
was cast for John Quincy Adams. mo
one but Washington was ever reelected
to The highest offiee In the land with so
near an approach to unanimity"
There can be no question about Mon
roe's popularity with the people. All
his political life he was conspicuous for
his democratic passion for liberty. He
believed in peoples government. 1t
was on this issue that he had differed
with George Washington, or rather
with the first Presidents conservative
policy and aristocratic friends.
Monroe was always q poor man:
he could feel as the poor feel, think as
they think; he was a man of simple
habits, he had an instructive distaste
for pageantry and show; he believed in
the United States as he knew 1t to he
young country, an undeveloped coun-
trT. country of simple, unpretentiolIs.
plain people. It is amazing to find how
sensitive he was to the psychology of
the masses. He may not have been a
great political manager, but he was one
or the keenest and most sympathetic
political observers who ever lived.
Doctrine Great Event.
The great event of his life in the
White House was the en,Inciation of the
Monroe Doctrine. Simple as the man
himself, plain as the people whose
tneugnt 1t represents, this cardinal
abatement OF American democracy has
neen Tor more than q century q stand
ing warning to the Old Warld to refrain
from interfering in the New. 1t
Is unquestionably the most importan Mt,
contribution ever made by America to
world diplomacy In effect, it is a part
OF the unwritten constitutions of every
republic OF the Western Hemisphere. It
has been debated by generation after