Evening star., 1939-02-19
Alliances and the Monroe Doctrine u ~
Famous American Policy shoped Result Of Understanding
By James Waldo Faucet.

pendent Latin American colonies
and they protested against the resto-
ration Of Spanish sovereignty, which
meant a renewal of Spain's former
trade monopoly. Moreover, divine
right doctrines had been laid to rest
In England and the representative
principle thoroughly established.
Already there were signs Of the
coming democratic flood which was
soon to carry the first reform bill
of 1882, extending the suffrage, and
sweep on to even greater achieve
ments. British statesmen, there
fore, had to be cautious. In such
circumstances, instead of Cooper
ating with the autocrats of Russia.
Austria and Prussia, they turned to
the Minister of the United States
IN London Orchard Rush, $780,
1889. The British Prime Minister.
Canning. proposed that the two
countries join in declaring their
unwillingness to see the Spanish
colonies transferred to any other
power.
"The proposal was rejected; but
President Monroe took up the sug-
gestion with Madison and jefferson,
as well as with his Secretary of
State, John Quincy Adams. They
favored the plan. jefferson said:
One nation, most of all, could dis
turb us in this pursuit (of freedom) !;
she now offers to lead, aid and ac-
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 emancipate continent at one
stroke. = With her on our side
we need not fear the whole world.
With her then we should most sedu-
lousy cherish a cordial friendship. >
Acting on the advice of trusted
friends, President Monroe embodied
in his message to Congress, on De-
cember 2. 1923, a statement of the
principles now famous throughout
the world as the Monroe Doctrine.
To the autocrats of Europe he an
nounced that he would regard any
attempt on their part to extend their
system to any portion of this hemi-
sphere as dangerous to our peace
and safety The effect of this dec
laration was immediate and pro-
found. Men whose political horizon
had been limited to community or
State were led to consider their Ma
ton as a great power among the
sovereignties of the earth, taking its
part in shaping their international
relations.
More Serious Problems.
Roscoe Lewis Ashley's American
History supports the Boards. Soon
after the settlement of the Florida
difficulty" the author says. "the
United States was confronted by
very much more serious problem
growing out of the inability of Spain
to control her American colonies and
the attempt on the part of an al
lance of four European powers
Russia, Austria, Prussia and France
to reconquer for Spain her colonies
that had revolted This alliance had
been formed originally in 1915 by the
Emperors of Russia and Austria and
the King of Prussia, under the name
of the Holy Alliance, for the real
purpose of upholding the rights of
monarchy against the democratic
movements which had broken out
in different parts of Europe, espe-
cially during the disorders of the
Napoleonic wars. All attempts to
gain a greater degree of self-gov-
ernment within their dominions were
suppressed by force. In 1920 the
people of Spain and some other
countries revolted against the ar
bitrary rule of their monarchs, revo-
lutionary governments being estab-
lished. The alliance directed France
to suppress the Spanish revolution.
The Holy Alliance then announced
that the Spanish states
were to be conquered for Spain. AS
England desired the trade of these
republics, her prime minister, Can
ming, Immediately suggested that the
United States should join her in a
protest against this reactionary step.
President Monroe sought the advice
of Jefferson, Madison and his cab
met. All agreed that the threatened
attack of the alliance must be
averted, but through the influence
Of Secretary of State Adams, Great
Britain and the United States de-
clced to make separate protests
against the establishment of
Spanish rule over the states that
had declared their independence. In
his regular message to Congress in
December, 1923, Monroe announced
the famous doctrine since known by
his name. He declared that we had
never interfered in distinctively
European affairs and had no inten-
ton of doing so. We could not per-
init the alliance to reduce these