fieldston american reader volume i – fall 2007 - Ethical Culture ...

or dependencies of any European power we have not interferedand shall not interfere. But with the Governments who havedeclared their independence and maintained it, and whoseindependence we have, on great consideration and on justprinciples, acknowledged, we could not view any interpositionfor the purpose of oppressing them, or controlling in any othermanner their destiny, by any European power in any otherlight than as the manifestation of an unfriendly dispositiontoward the United States. In the war between those newGovernments and Spain we declared our neutrality at the timeof their recognition, and to this we have adhered, and shallcontinue to adhere, provided no change shall occur which, inthe judgment of the competent authorities of this Government,shall make a corresponding change on the part of the UnitedStates indispensable to their security.The late events in Spain and Portugal shew that Europe isstill unsettled. Of this important fact no stronger proof canbe adduced than that the allied powers should have thoughtit proper, any principle satisfactory to themselves, to haveinterposed by force in the internal concerns of Spain. Towhat extent such interposition may be carried, on the sameprinciple is a question in which all independent powers whosegovernments differ from theirs are interested, even those mostremote, and surely none more so than the United States. Ourpolicy in regard to Europe which was adopted at an early stageof the wars which have so long agitated that quarter of theglobe, never the less remains the same, which is, not to interferein the internal concerns of any of its powers; to consider thegovernment de facto as the legitimate government for us;to cultivate friendly relations with it, and to preserve thoserelations by a frank, firm, and manly policy, meeting in allinstances the just claims of every power, submitting to injuriesfrom none. But in regard to these continents circumstancesare eminently and conspicuously different. It is impossible thatthe allied powers should extend their political system to anyportion of either continent without endangering our peace andhappiness; nor can anyone believe that our southern brethren,if left to themselves, would adopt it of their own accord. Itis equally impossible, therefore, that we should behold suchinterposition in any form with indifference. If we look to thecomparative strength and resources of Spain and those newGovernments, and their distance from each other, it must beobvious that she can never subdue them. It is still the truepolicy of the United States to leave the parties to themselves,in the hope that other powers will pursue the same course.212 fieldston american reader volume i – fall 2007