of Mr. Madison in April, 1824, in the following

terms:

"I never had a doubt that your message, proclaiming the just and lofty sentiments of ten millions, soon to become twenty, enjoying in tranquil freedom the rich fruits of successful revolution, would be received in the present crisis of Europe with exulting sympathies by all such men as Lafayette, and with envenomed alarm by the partisans of despotism. The example of the United States is the true antidote to the doctrines and devices of the Holy Allies; and if continued, as we trust it will be, must regenerate the Old World, if its regeneration be possible."

Its effect upon the then pending negotiations with Russia was so favorable that the convention of 1824 was concluded, in the spring of that year, by the withdrawal on the part of the emperor of his pretensions to exclusive trade and navigation on the northwest coast, and by fixing the parallel of 54° 40' as the line between the permissible establishments of the respective countries. Between no two governments of the civilized world was the contrast so divergent in all their political principles, traced from their foundation through all their development, as between the United States and Russia. Yet between the American Republic and no other country has there

been a longer continued or more unbroken friendship. The American diplomatist in Europe is often asked for an explanation of this fact. Perhaps the answer may be found in a remark of the late Czar to a former minister of the United States. Said he: "Your government and mine are the only logical governments in the world. Either the whole people, or one man, is entitled to rule." In 1823 the Holy Alliance took the despotic view, and maintained it in Europe. The government of our country took the popular view, and declared through the President their resolution to maintain it on this hemisphere. Each respected the sense of right which animated the other, and each has limited itself to its own sphere; and more recently Russia has wholly withdrawn from this continent, with assignment of all her rights to this republic.

NOTE. In the dispute which arose in 1895 respecting the forcible extension of the British boundary into Venezuela, the British government made an important statement respecting the Monroe Declaration, in its correspondence with the Washington government, which is worthy of record in this history. It is as follows:

"In declaring that the United States would resist any such interference if it was contemplated, President Monroe adopted a policy which secured the entire sympathy of the English government of that date. . . . They [her majesty's government in 1895] fully concur with the view which President Monroe apparently entertained that any disturbance of the existing territorial distribution in that hemisphere by any fresh acquisitions on the part of any European state would be a highly inexpedi ent change."

been a longer continued or more unbroken friendship. The American diplomatist in Europe is often asked for an explanation of this fact. Perhaps the answer may be found in a remark of the late Czar to a former minister of the United States. Said he: "Your government and mine are the only logical governments in the world. Either the whole people, or one man, is entitled to rule." In 1823 the Holy Alliance took the despotic view, and maintained it in Europe. The government of our country took the popular view, and declared through the President their resolution to maintain it on this hemisphere. Each respected the sense of right which animated the other, and each has limited itself to its own sphere; and more recently Russia has wholly withdrawn from this continent, with assignment of all her rights to this republic.

NOTE. — In the dispute which arose in 1895 respecting the forcible extension of the British boundary into Venezuela, the British government made an important statement respecting the Monroe Declaration, in its correspondence with the Washington government, which is worthy of record in this history. It is as follows:

“In declaring that the United States would resist any such interference if it was contemplated, President Monroe adopted a policy which secured the entire sympathy of the English government of that date. . . . They [her majesty's government in 1805] fully concur with the view which President Monroe apparently entertained that any disturbance of the existing territorial distribution in that hemisphere by any fresh acquisitions on the part of any European state would be a highly inexpedient change."