hodder: the duty of the scholar in politics. 63 



principle that the people of this continent alone have the right to 

 decide their own destiny. Should any portion of them, constituting 

 an independent state, propose to unite themselves with our confed- 

 eracy, this will be a question for them and us to determine, without 

 any foreign interposition." 



This is the new version of Monroe's declaration. Monroe had 

 protested against European interference for the purpose of destroy- 

 ing independent states and Polk extended the protest to any 

 interference whatever. 



Within the month the annexation of Texas was completed. But 

 the South was not satisfied. She next coveted the rich soil of 

 California. Again Mexico was asked to sell. Again she refused 

 and Polk precipitated a war to compel her to do so. Mexico 

 was prostrated and compelled to part with California for fifteen 

 million dollars. This was Polk's way of extending the blessings 

 of peace over additional territories and increasing millions. 



Before peace with Mexico had been ratified, a peculiar situation 

 presented itself in Yucatan. The white race in that peninsula were 

 engaged in a protracted struggle with the Indians. As the price of 

 assistance, they simultaneously offered the dominion and sovereign- 

 ty of their country to Great Britain, Spain and the United States. 

 In a special message, advising the occupation of Yucatan, President 

 Polk said: 



"We could not consent to a transfer of this 'dominion and 

 sovereignty ' to either Spain or Great Britain or any other 

 European power. In the language of President Monroe. . . . ' the 

 American continents, by the free and independent condition which 

 they have assumed and maintain, are henceforth not to be consid- 

 ered as subjects for future colonization by any European power.' 

 .. ..The present is deemed a proper occasion to reiterate and re- 

 affirm the principle avowed by Mr. Monroe and to state my 

 cordial concurrence in its wisdom and sound policy." 

 Here we have the new version of the first part of Monroe's 

 declaration. The protest against new European colonies is con- 

 strued to mean that no European power shall acquire territory 

 upon this continent in any way whatever. 



Polk's two statements were glaringly inconsistent. The first 

 declared the right of the United States to acquire territory by the 

 free gift of an independent state, the second denied the right of 

 Europe to acquire territory in the same way. The first denied to 

 Europe the right of interposition; the second asserted it for the 

 United States. The first asserted that the nations of America were 



