The Monroe Doctrine 249 



an American colony from one European State to 

 another is to be permitted, if, in the judgment of 

 the United States, such transfer would be hostile to 

 its own interests. 



John Quincy Adams, who, during the Presidency 

 of Monroe, first clearly enunciated the doctrine 

 which bears his chief's name, asserted it as against 

 both Spain and Russia. In the clearest and most 

 emphatic terms he stated that the United States 

 could not acquiesce in the acquisition of new terri- 

 tory within the limits of any independent Ameri- 

 can State, whether in the Northern or Southern 

 Hemisphere, by any European power. He took 

 this position against Russia when Russia threatened 

 to take possession of what is now Oregon. He took 

 this position as against Spain when, backed by 

 other powers of Continental Europe, she threat- 

 ened to reconquer certain of the Spanish-American 

 States. 



This is precisely and exactly the position the 

 United States has now taken in reference to Eng- 

 land and Venezuela. It is idle to contend that there 

 is any serious difference in the application of the doc- 

 trine to the two sets of questions. An American 

 may, of course, announce his opposition to the Mon- 

 roe Doctrine, although by so doing he forfeits all 

 title to far-seeing and patriotic devotion to the in- 

 terests of his country. But he can not argue that 

 the Monroe Doctrine does not apply to the present 

 case, unless he argues that the Monroe Doctrine 

 has no existence whatsoever. In fact, such argu- 



