THE MONROE DOCTRINE 447 



can mind, and whenever a threat, real or fancied, has come 

 in the shape of aggression in the Western Hemisphere, the 

 United States Government has asserted its right to inter- 

 pose the right of self-protection, but called instead the 

 Monroe Doctrine. The phrase "Monroe Doctrine" has 

 T>een preferred, and in the course of three-quarters of a 

 century it has wrought a weird and enchanting influence on 

 the American intellect. The mind becomes imbued with a 

 vague sense of past traditions resulting in a confusion of 

 sentimental ideas which impair the powers of discrimina- 

 tion, and thus the original purpose of the Monroe Doctrine 

 and the defen^ve principles which it represents are often 

 lost sight of. Indee3^ the circumstances under which the 

 Doctrine was originally enunciated, as well as the condition 

 of American political life previous to 1823, were of a nature 

 to give Mr. Monroe's declaration a peculiar significance. 

 Fear of European aggression in the Americas was the par- 

 ticular danger that gave the " doctrine " birth. The United 

 States was comparatively a weak nation, its system of gov- 

 ernment was experimental, and it was in conflict with the 

 monarchical principles of Europe ; and jealous Europe was 

 feared. The Spanish possessions were in revolt, and offered 

 a tempting field for the exploitation of European arms. The 

 American people were impressed with the danger that lurked 

 in every European advance ; the Monroe Doctrne voiced the 

 apprehension in a manner that satisfied every American 

 citizen. 



The American nation is no longer weak ; its system of 

 government is no experiment. Absolutism in Europe has 

 almost disappeared, and liberal constitutional monarchies 

 and republics have taken its place. There is no holy alli- 

 ance, there is no scheme to subvert republican forms of gov- 

 ernment, but the people of the United States have not yet 

 outlived the inherited fears of their grandfathers, and they 

 still cherish the apprehensions they bequeathed. They cling 

 to the words that proclaimed their fears, the words which 

 Mr. Monroe announced. Thus to-day the same cry of alarm 

 of three generations ago is still uttered ; the Monroe Doctrine 



