336 MAJOR JOHN F. LACEY 



Holy Alliance of Germany, Austria, and Russia in the 

 face, and say to them, "Hands off." The principles of 

 this doctrine are not complicated, but it is asserted in 

 unmistakable terms that "America is for Americans; 

 that there should be no entangling alliances, by the Unit- 

 ed States, in the politics of Europe. There shall be no 

 colonization in any part of either of the western con- 

 tinents, excepting those that had already been founded." 

 The existing order of things in America was not dis- 

 turbed; it was firmly but clearly announced that whilst 

 the United States would not rule two continents, yet she 

 would protect them. 



The question of indorsing this message by formal reso- 

 lution in Congress came up, but was never acted upon; 

 but there has never been a time since Mr. Monroe sound- 

 ed this note of warning that his views have not been in 

 full accord with the people of the United States, and in 

 my judgment it is time for Congress to endorse this prin- 

 ciple by direct action. The recognition of the Spanish 

 republics by the United States, and the announcement 

 that any interference by any other country would be re- 

 garded as unfriendly to our government, speedily re- 

 sulted in the permanent independence of these republics. 



Great events and their declarations come and pass by, 

 and are forgotten. Other events and other declarations 

 project themselves far into the future. England re- 

 ceived the announcement of Monroe with favor and ap- 

 proval, but today is seeking to establish her dominion in 

 violation of that doctrine, over a large part of the repub- 

 lics of Venezuela. In violation of that doctrine she seized 

 the port of Corinto in Nicaragua, and attempted to hold 

 that little city to collect a self-imposed fine upon the 

 republic, for the alleged ill treatment of Vice Consul 

 Hatch. These breaches of our declared policy have gone 



