ADDRESSES OF MAJOR LACEY 335 



allied powers is essentially different in this respect from that of 

 America. This difference proceeds from that which exists in 

 their respective governments. And to the defense of our own, 

 which has been achieved by the loss of so much blood and treas- 

 ure and material, by the wisdom of their most enlightened citi- 

 zens, and under which we have enjoyed unexampled felicity, this 

 whole nation is devoted. 



"We owe it, therefore, to candor, and to the amicable relations 

 existing between the United States and those powers, to declare, 

 that we should consider any attempt on their part to extend 

 their system to any portion of this hemisphere as dangerous to 

 our peace and safety. With the existing colonies or depend- 

 encies of any European power we have not interfered, and shall 

 not interfere. But with the governments who have declared 

 their independence and maintained it, and whose independence 

 we have, on great consideration and on just principles, acknowl- 

 edged, we could not view any interposition for the purpose of 

 oppressing them, or controlling in any manner their destiny, by 

 any European power, in any other light than as the manifestation 

 of an unfriendly disposition towards the United States. 



Our policy in regard to Europe, which was adopted at an 

 early stage of the wars which have so long agitated that quarter 

 of the globe, nevertheless remains the same, which is not to in- 

 terfere in the internal concerns of any of its powers ; to consider 

 the government de facto, as the legitimate government for us; 

 to cultivate friendly relations with it, and to preserve those re- 

 lations by a frank, firm, and manly policy; meeting, in all in- 

 stances, the just claims of every power, submitting to injuries 

 from none. But in regard to these continents, circumstances are 

 eminently and conspicuously different. It is impossible that the 

 allied powers should extend their political system to any portion 

 of either continent without endangering our peace and happi- 

 ness; nor can any one believe that our southern (Spanish Amer- 

 ican) brethren, if left to themselves, would adopt it of their own 

 accord. It is equally impossible, therefore, that we should be- 

 hold such interposition, in any form, with indifference. 



It was a grand thing for President Monroe to look the 



