It appears from Mr. Rush's despatch of October 10 (received by the State Department November 19) that he was then convinced that the whole effort of Mr. Canning was made in the interests of Great Britain as against France and Russia, and that England had no interest in American independence except so far as it concerned British interests and ambition; and that her government was even in general sympathy with the Holy Alliance in its efforts to suppress popular reforms in Europe. He considers the propositions as abandoned by England, and the discussion as at an end. He awakens to the fact that British policy will be dictated exclusively by British commercial interests, irrespective of colonial or national rights.

Another interview with Mr. Canning on the 24th of November, reported by Mr. Rush under date 26th November, explains the subsequent action of the English Secretary. Coming to no understanding with Mr. Rush, he decided to proceed directly to the French government for an exchange of views on the subject of Spanish America. And in Mr. Rush's despatch of December 27, 1823, he communicates to his government the memorandum of the conference between the French ambassador in London, Prince de Polignac, and Mr. Canning, which was begun October 9 and concluded October 12. On the British side it was declared that the

restoration of the colonies to Spain was hopeless, and further war useless. England would continue neutral, but the union of any foreign power with Spain in the attempt to recover the colonies would present a new question on which England would be free to act. The government disclaimed any desire to appropriate to itself territory or exclusive advantages, and intimated its intention to recognize the new states; and, in presence of any foreign force or menace in the Spanish-American dispute, they would be recognized without delay.

On the part of France it was declared that the claim of Spain was hopeless, that France had no intention or desire to avail itself of the present state of the colonies, or of the relations between France and Spain, to appropriate to herself any part of the Spanish possessions in America, or to obtain exclusive privileges; and that she abjured all intention to act by force of arms against the colonies. France was in favor of a congress of the allies to facilitate reconciliation between Spain and her colonies, and was opposed to any recognition of the new states at present.

Mr. Canning further remarked upon the impropriety of a representative congress discussing Spanish-American affairs "without calling to their counsels a power so eminently interested in the result as the United States of

America." To this the Prince avowed himself without instructions, but, personally, saw no insuperable difficulty in such an association. In point of fact, an invitation to a congress of the powers, to be held at Paris, to consider SpanishAmerican affairs, was issued by the Conde de Ofalia on the part of the Spanish government, under date of 26th December, 1823.

All these despatches of Mr. Rush, up to and including that of October 10, which announced the abandonment of the propositions, were received by Mr. Adams prior to November 20, and, of course, in advance of the message of Mr. Monroe.

But it was neither Mr. Rush's despatches nor Mr. Canning's proposals which first presented the question of principle to the American government. Mr. Adams possessed not only a trained intellect, inspired by ardent love of our republican institutions, but a perfect acquaintance with the spirit, methods, and tendency of European diplomacy. No man could better appreciate the menaces to human liberty everywhere, and to all rights of the people, as threatened by the several congresses of the allied powers, and especially by their circular of December 5, 1822, in which the allied monarchs announced their resolution "to repel the maxim of rebellion, in whatever place, or under whatever form, it might show itself." He knew that

II

THE MONROE DOCTRINE IN LATER YEARS

SUCH was the evolution of the Monroe Declaration. That Declaration was especially applicable to the international conditions then existing. Its formula was more limited than that recommended by some of the chief counsellors of the President. He, acting under the influence of his great responsibility and his characteristic caution, was content to satisfy the immediate demand of his time.

Mr. Quincy Adams and Mr. Jefferson, with far-reaching foresight, would establish the principle in terms broad enough to embrace the probable conditions of the future.

It remains to show the later expansion of the principle, and to affirm the necessity of its application to-day in the broader sense indicated by both Mr. Jefferson and Mr. Adams.

The United States Cabinet of 1823 was alarmed by the despotic announcement of the Powers at Laybach and at Troppau. These furnished a powerful motive of its decision. The imperial coalition had proclaimed at Laybach that they regarded every reform effected by means of an insurrection as null, and con

trary to the public law of Europe; and that they would pursue rebellion everywhere, and under whatever form it should show itself. At Troppau they went so far as to affirm that by divine law European nations had the imprescribable right to put themselves in open hostility against states which, by a change of their institutions or their government, offered a dangerous example. These principles clearly touched the life of every American republic;. and in 1823 they were forcibly applied to the suppression of the parliamentary system of the Spanish monarchy, and then threatened the independence of the Spanish-American colonies. It is quite credible that at that period only the great waste of the Atlantic waters saved the American republics from a conflict for their national life. Even this wide desert boundary did not save Mexico so late as 186465 from the vital struggle between European and American political systems. Napoleon III, believing the United States, then engaged in civil war, to be disabled from a military enforcement of the Monroe Declaration, ventured upon the fatal attempt to impose an European system of empire upon our neighboring republic of Mexico. The imperial disaster which followed will probably serve as a sufficient warning against any similar undertaking in the future.