390 AMERICAN DIPLOMATIC QUESTIONS 



unquestioned application as in that of the French invasion 

 of Mexico. The circumstances in this case were in many 

 respects strikingly similar to those that called forth the 

 doctrine in 1828. In this instance, the threat from abroad 

 was consummated by an actual landing of European forces 

 upon North American soil for purposes of dominion. The 

 object of this invasion was for the very purpose of establish- 

 ing monarchial institutions upon the Western Hemisphere, 

 and the territory so invaded, bordering upon the United 

 States, brought the movement well within the threatened line 

 of danger to American interests. All the conditions neces- 

 sary for an American protest existed. Indeed, the situation 

 in Mexico, brought about by French intrigue, fully justified 

 the action of the Tnitcd States on primary principles which 

 autlnn !/.< the use of force in self-defence. The excuse of a 

 national policy to be followed or maintained, could have car- 

 ried no argument for intcrvc-ntion half so potent. While 

 the Monroe Doctrine, properly considered, is fundamentally 

 a plea for self-protection, there is a magic influence in its 

 ] ih last's which casts a spell upon the American people when 

 tln-y are repeated, a spell that has at times blinded the 

 eyes to right or wrong in the excess of patriotism it seems 

 to have inspired. In the French invasion of Mexico, the 

 threatened danger to the United States was so real and 

 apparent that no juggling with magical words was necessary 

 to satisfy the national conscience that interposition was neces- 

 sarv; and it will be noted that in nil the official despatches 

 relating to this international episode, no mention whatever 

 is made of the Monroe Doctrine, no statement refers to a 

 " well established policy," no precedent is exhibited, and no 

 offerings are made upon the altar of a "manifest destiny." 



With the establishment of the republic in 1821, Mexico 

 entered upon an era of political convulsion that is probably 

 unparalleled in the annals of any other nation, if the example 

 of turbulent Haiti be excepted. In the course of forty years 

 the fires of as many revolutions were lighted ; seventy-two 

 rulers, either monarchial or republican, were seated and de- 

 posed. The primary cause of the chronic condition of civil 



