336 AMERICAN DIPLOMATIC QUESTIONS 



can any one believe that our southern brethren, if left to 

 themselves, would adopt it of their own accord. It is equally 

 impossible, therefore, that we should behold such interposi- 

 tion in any form with indifference. If we look to the com- 

 parative strength and resources of Spain and those new 

 Governments, and their distance from each other, it must be 

 obvious that she can never subdue them. It is still the true 

 policy of the United States to leave the parties to them- 

 selves, in the hope that other powers will pursue the same 

 course." 1 



Reviewing the course of events that culminated in the dec- 

 larations of President Monroe in his annual message to Con- 

 gress of 1823, several facts are to be noted : 



1. The United States by adopting a republican form of 

 government brought upon itself the enmity of absolutism. 



2. Physical weakness obliged it to follow a policy of polit- 

 ical isolation. Intermeddling in the affairs of others was 

 likely to invite troubles, and the young republic could not 

 endure the strain of useless wars. By frequent expressions 

 of its statesmen the nation substantially pledged itself to 

 abstain from interference with the concerns of Europe. 



3. With this determination to hold aloof from the politi- 

 cal affairs of the old world, a dominant feeling prevailed,' 

 that the old world should not interfere in the affairs of 

 the new. 



4. It became apparent in the summer of 1823 that certain 

 powers of Europe, allied together for the purpose of suppress- 

 ing rebellion 'and perpetuating the theories of divine right of 

 kings, were about to extend the scope of their operations 

 to South America, by aiding Spain in crushing rebellion in 

 her colonies. 



5. George Canning, the English Minister for Foreign 

 Affairs, was embarrassed as to the proper course to pursue in 

 relation to the South American colonies of Spain. British 

 commercial interests demanded the recognition of the new 



1 Italics not in message. 



