THE MONROE DOCTRINE by W. N. Glenn

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Feb 13, 1896

THE MONROE DOCTRINE.

By W. N. Glenn

BY W. N. GLENN.

James Monroe was President of the United States from 1817 to 1825. In 1822 he officially recognized the independence of Mexico, and of the South American provinces of Spain. Soon afterward it was proposed that an alliance of European sovereigns be formed, called the “Holy Alliance,” for the purpose of aiding Spain to recover her revolted American colonies. But the scheme was balked by Great Britain’s refusal to join the alliance. Then President Monroe, in his annual message of 1823, inserted a passage declaring that any such attempt of the European powers would be deemed an act unfriendly to the United States; that any attempt of the powers of the Old World to extend their system to any portion of this hemisphere would be dangerous to the peace and safety of the United States, and would therefore be opposed. The prospects of a transatlantic expedition, which would have to meet the forces of all the Spanish American provinces on this continent, together with those of the United States, and the probability of complications with the British navy, were rather discouraging, and the project was abandoned. This was the first instance in which the pronounced attitude of the United States against the general interests of a combination of European powers received respectful recognition. And this “Monroe Doctrine” has ever since been deemed the settled policy of the United States. It has recently been emphasized by President Cleveland against the interests of Great Britain in a controversy regarding the boundary line between the South American republic of Venezuela and British Guiana,

Altho the United States Government in a measure owes her ability to primarily establish the doctrine to Great Britain’s attitude toward the proposed European alliance, yet on various occasions it has proved to be decidedly averse to British interests. But there is no doubt that the mysterious hand of Providence was instrumental in Great Britain’s holding aloof from an alliance whose purpose was to fasten the grip of Roman Catholic Spain on her struggling provinces in the Western Hemisphere.

The only direct attempt of any foreign power to ignore the Monroe Doctrine was when France undertook to establish an imperial government in Mexico, with an Austrian archduke, Maximilian, on the throne. This was during the Civil War in the United States, when this government had its hands so full at home that it was not in a position to protest. Otherwise it is probable that the French Government would not have made the attempt. However, Mexico proved herself able to maintain a Monroe Doctrine of her own, as far as her own territory was concerned. And the overruling hand of Providence was also in the final victory of the Mexican republic. The religious liberty since proclaimed by that government, making it possible for the everlasting Gospel to be preached to that people in its purity, could not have secured its present prestige under Roman Catholic imperialism.