338 AMERICAN DIPLOMATIC QUESTIONS 



(#) Circumstances being radically different on these con- 

 tinents, it is impossible that the allied powers should extend 

 their political systems into either of them without endanger- 

 ing our peace and happiness ; therefore it is impossible that 

 we should behold such interposition with indifference. 



Barring the first statement in regard to colonization, which 

 expressly lays down a principle for future guidance, the 

 declaration was a defensive measure, directed against the 

 threatened interference of the Europeart powers constituting 

 the Holy Alliance. There has since been endless discussion 

 as to whether the President intended by these words to 

 establish a principle that should ever afterward be followed 

 by the people of the United States. Whether the President 

 intended this or not, the principles enunciated at that time 

 have frequently been appealed to since, and the " doctrine " 

 itself has been accepted as the corner-stone of America's 

 foreign policy. There can be little doubt, however, that 

 President Monroe had no intention of proclaiming to the 

 world an inviolable principle for all time to come. Being 

 confronted by a definite threat, he met it by a definite state- 

 ment. He mentions in his message the particular reasons 

 for his opposition to the " Allied Powers," and refers in par- 

 ticular to " these powers " constituting the Holy Alliance, as 

 the object of his attack, because they represent, and seek to 

 perpetuate, a system of government from the evil influences' 

 of which we had escaped and the revival of which we regarded 

 with abhorence. 



Monroe's biographer, Daniel C. Oilman, says : 



It appears to me probable that Monroe had but little conception 

 of the lasting effect which his words would produce. ... It was 

 because he pronounced not only the opinion then prevalent, but 

 a tradition of other days, which had been gradually expanded, 

 that his words carried with them the sanction of public law. 



The message was received in the United States with feel- 

 ings of deepest satisfaction. . The danger had been squarely 

 met, and the people were relieved in the knowledge that the 

 President could be depended upon to act properly should the 

 anticipated crisis occur. The spirit of the doctrine had been 



