56 KANSAS UNIVERSITV QUARTERLY. 



rather than by passion and prejudice. Recent events seem to 

 present certain dangers to our national peace, which I shall consider 

 in order. They are: 



1st, misconstruction of the Monroe doctrine; 



2d, a rising war spirit among the people; and 



3d, enormous expenditures for war purposes. 



First, the Monroe doctrine. I venture the assertion that the recent 

 unwarranted construction of that doctrine is contrary to the teach- 

 ing of the founders of the republic, a perversion of the true meaning 

 of the original declaration, an encroachment upon the rights of 

 foreign states and a menace to our peace and safety. 



It is contrary to the teaching of the founders which was non- 

 interference with the affairs of foreign nations and peace and 

 friendship with all mankind. Three men may be called pre- 

 eminently the founders of the republic. They were Washington, 

 Madison and Hamilton, to whom more than to any others were 

 due respectively the success of the revolution, the framing of the 

 constitution and the establishment of government. The combined 

 wisdom of these men was embodied in the farewell address issued 

 by Washington upon his retirement from the presidency, a worthy 

 guide to the American people for all time. In that address we find 

 this advice:* 



'' Observe good faith and justice toward all nations. Cultivate 

 peace and harmony with all It will be worthy of a free, enlight- 

 ened and, at no distant period, great nation, to give to mankind 

 the magnanimous and too novel example of a people guided by an 



exalted justice and benevolence The experiment, at least, is 



recommended by every sentiment that ennobles human nature." 



' ' The great rule of conduct for us in regard to foreign nations is to 



have with them as little political connection as possible Europe 



has a set of primary interests which to us have none or a very remote 

 relation. Hence she must be engaged in frequent controversies, 



the causes of which are essentially foreign to our concerns Our 



detached and distant situation invites and enables us to pursue a 



different course Why forego the advantages of so peculiar a 



situation? Why quit one's own to stand on foreign ground? Why 

 entangle our peace and prosperity in the toils of European ambi- 

 tion, rivalry, interest, humor, or caprice?" 



*Sef '■ Statesman's Manual " for (luntat.ions from Presidential messasres and address- 

 es. Kioliardsoii's " .Mrssafjes and I'aiiers of the Presidents," now publisLiins by the 

 Government, will suijcrsede tlie earlier collection. 



+See Wharton's '"Digest of Tnternational Law," Vol. 1, sects. 4."> and ."iT. for opinions 

 cited above. 



