309 —

Der Hauptpunkt in dieser Botschaft war, einen Unterschied
 zwischen dem europäischen Kontinent und Amerika zu
statuieren. Dieser Unterschied war leicht in augenfälliger
Weise festzustellen, indem man als Grundlage die geographische
 Entiernung zwischen den beiden Teilen der Erde
nahm, die in jenen Zeiten des langsamen und kostspieligen
Verkehrs und beim Fehlen der telegraphischen Verbindungen
in weit höherem Maße bestand als später. Aber diese tatsächliche
 räumliche Entfernung hätte nicht genügt, um eine besondere
 Solidarität zwischen Ländern zu proklamieren, deren
äußerste Punkte unter sich weiter voneinander entfernt waren
als die Kulturzentren Europas von Amerika. Deshalb besteht
die Botschaft Monroes in anderen Ursachen als denen, die er
„einleuchtend“ nennt. Trotz dieser Eigenschaft hält Monroe
es für notwendig, sie aufzuzählen, und leitet sie her von dem
Unterschied, welcher nach seiner Meinung zwischen dem
politischen System der alliierten Mächte und dem Amerikas
bestand, der seinerseits herrührt von dem, der zwischen

our defence, With the movements in this hemisphere we are, of
necessity, more immediately connected, and by causes which must
be obvious to all enlightened and impartial observers. The political
system of the allied powers is essentially different in this respect
from that of America. This difference proceeds from that which
exists in their respective Governments, And to the defence of our
own, which has been achieved by the loss of so much blood and
treasure, and matured by the wisdom of their most enlightened
citizens, and under which we have enjoyed unexampled felicity, this
whole nation is devoted. We owe it, therefore, to candor, and to the
amicable relations existing between the United States and those
powers, to declare that we should consider any attempt on their
part to extend their system to any portion of this hemisphere as
dangerous to our peace and safety. With the existing colonies or
dependencies of any European power we have not interfered, and
shall not interfere. But with the governments who have declared
their independence, and maintained it, and whose independence we
have, on great consideration and on just principles, acknowledged,
we could not view any interposition for the purpose of oppressing
them, or controlling in any other manner their destiny, by any
European power, in any other light than as the manifestation of an
unfriendly disposition toward the United States. In the war between
these new governments and Spain we declared our neutrality at the
time of their recognition, and to this we have adhered and shall
continue to adhere, provided no change shall occur which, in the
jJudgment of the competent authorities of this Government, shall
make a corresponding change on the part of the United States
Indispensable to their security.