PRESIDENT JAMES MONROE--THE MAN OF DOCTRINE

By Edwin Cooney

Today, April 28, 2008, is the two-hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the birth of James Monroe--our fifth president. The only thing most Americans know about him is that he was the president who issued the “Monroe Doctrine” in 1823 that has ever since been the cornerstone of American Foreign policy in the Western Hemisphere.

The dictionary offers several definitions of the word doctrine. The most relevant one is: “A statement of fundamental government principle especially in the area of international affairs”.

The Monroe Doctrine forbids all European powers to engage in future colonization in the Western Hemisphere. Hence, since the public issuance of that doctrine in his annual message to Congress (now called the President’s State of the Union address) in December of 1823, James Monroe’s name has been permanently linked to the United States determination to protect the sovereignty of all nations in both North and South America.

Born to Spence and Elizabeth Jones Monroe of Westmoreland County, Virginia, James Monroe grew up on a Virginia plantation with his older sister Elizabeth and three brothers, Andrew, Spence and Joseph. In March 1776, Monroe left William and Mary College to join a Virginia regiment of George Washington’s Continental Army. Once the regiment was sufficiently trained, it joined the main army in New York where it fought the Battle of White Plains that September.

Temporarily abandoning New York City to the British, Washington retreated inland with his army. Monroe was with General Washington that frigid Christmas night in 1776 when, under the protection of darkness, the Continental Army crossed the Delaware River to attack British forces encamped at Trenton, New Jersey.

The attack, which surprised a combination of British and Hessian forces who were drunk with “Christmas cheer,” was successful, but the charge which young Monroe led on a cannon emplacement nearly cost Monroe his life. Hit in a shoulder by a musket ball, he had to be carried from the battlefield and might have bled to death if it had not been for the services of a Dr. Riker who had just joined the army.

By December 1778, Monroe had decided to return to Virginia to see if he could recruit enough men to fashion a regiment of his own. Although he failed to do that, in 1780 Governor Thomas Jefferson appointed him a Virginia military commissioner with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. By 1782, young Monroe was in the State Assembly and, by age 27 in 1785, was in the national Congress under the Articles of Confederation.

By 1786, the tall, handsome Monroe, a man who stood slightly over six feet with a large frame, broad shoulders, wide blue-gray eyes, a high forehead, a large nose and dimpled chin, had captured the affections of a New York City born statuesque raven-haired beauty by the name of Elizabeth Kortright. He married her that February 16th and they would ultimately have two daughters, Eliza and Maria.

Although he was one of those Virginians who opposed adoption of the newly drafted constitution, Monroe soon came around to wholehearted acceptance of it once it was ratified. In the fall of 1788, he ran for Congress in a friendly contest with one of his neighbors, James Madison, and lost the race to Madison by a mere three hundred votes. Thus, Madison and Monroe are the only two presidents to have run against one another for an office which wasn’t that of President of the United States.

From 1790 to 1794, Monroe, then in his early thirties, represented Virginia in the U.S. Senate. In late 1794, President Washington sent Monroe to Paris to represent our government. We had declared our neutrality in the war that was then being fought between France and Britain. Monroe, like Jefferson and Madison, favored the French to the British. He lavished such praise on the French government during the speech he made presenting his credentials that he was rebuked in a later message from Secretary of State Timothy Pickering.

Young Monroe’s relationship with President Washington wasn’t aided when Thomas Paine, whom Minister Monroe helped get released from a French Revolutionary prison, publicly blasted President Washington once he was free. (You’ll recall that Thomas Paine was the author of that great patriotic book Common Sense, which had so inspired the colonists’ struggle for independence from Great Britain.) Paine, who had been arrested for publicly opposing France’s execution of King Louis XVI, blamed Washington’s neutrality policy for his prolonged imprisonment by the French government. Once President Washington determined that Minister Monroe wasn’t sufficiently defending our neutrality policy with sufficient vigor to the French government, he recalled Minister Monroe. Undoubtedly, President Washington, now retired, realized that Monroe was bitter when he failed to pay a courtesy call to Mount Vernon on his way back to his own plantation Oak Hill. The two men were never again friendly.

His many accomplishments included serving as Governor of Virginia from 1799 to 1803, Envoy to France (where, along with Robert Livingston, he negotiated the Louisiana Purchase from Napoleon early in 1803), Minister to Britain from 1803 to 1807, and, once again, serving as the Governor of Virginia from January until March 1811. These experiences led to his appointment as Secretary of State under President James Madison in April 1811.

Monroe’s tenure as Secretary of State would be dominated by the War of 1812. The war would see British forces invade Washington D.C. and set fire to both the Executive Mansion and the Capitol Building. While Dolley Madison was saving George Washington’s portrait, James Monroe was saving government documents (including the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution) by ordering their removal to a safe place in Virginia. For a time during the war, Monroe served as both Secretary of State and Secretary of War.

By 1816, although there was some pressure to allow someone other than a Virginian to occupy the presidency, there was widespread agreement among Jeffersonian Democratic-Republicans, that James Monroe was the right man to replace the retiring Madison. So, losing only three states to Federalist candidate Rufus King of New York, he was elected President.

James Monroe entered the presidency during what the Boston Sentinel termed “The Era of Good Feelings”. The old Federalist Party had been absorbed by the “National Democratic Party” of which the warm and amiable Monroe was the unchallenged head.

Accomplishments of the Monroe administration during the president’s two terms (1817 -- 1825) include:

--The Settlement of boundary lines between Canada and the United States;
--Victory in the first Seminole War which led to the Adams-Onis Treaty in which Spanish Florida was purchased by the United States;
--Passage of the Missouri Compromise which allowed for the admission of a slave state and a free state during American westward expansion and also banned slavery in the Louisiana territory above 36° 30’ latitude;
--The establishment of Liberia by the American Colonization Society for the population of freed blacks which included a capital called Monrovia to honor President Monroe.

Then, of course, there was Monroe’s nearly unanimous 1820 reelection.

The Monroe Doctrine was, ultimately, the lasting achievement of James Monroe’s administration. Although many are quick to point out that John Quincy Adams was its architect, it should also be noted that presidents, not state secretaries, assume blame or credit for actions of their administrations.

James Monroe was generally regarded as a warm, patient man with a special capacity to put people at ease. Although not brilliant and often charged with being easily manipulated by those of stronger will, he was seen by others as generally wise in the decisions he made once he’d carefully considered all aspects of a problem. President Monroe, however, holds the rather dubious distinction of being the only president to have been physically assaulted by a frustrated cabinet member: Treasury Secretary William H. Crawford. Crawford was politically ambitious, a very capable administrator, and on the verge of a stroke which would end all ambitions. He became frustrated with Monroe’s slowness or unwillingness to approve some of Crawford’s patronage appointments and raised his cane during an Executive Mansion meeting late in President Monroe’s second term. Once the incident was over and Crawford had duly apologized, the two men shook hands.

The Monroe family was unpretentious and private. When James and Elizabeth Monroe’s youngest daughter became the first presidential daughter to be married in the Executive Mansion, only forty-two guests were invited, most of who consisted of family members and close friends.

On March 4, 1825, the Monroe Administration came to an end. However, the Monroe family, with the undoubted hospitality of the newly elected John Quincy Adams, remained at the Executive Mansion for three weeks due to Mrs. Monroe’s delicate health. The nature of Mrs. Monroe’s health problem has never been revealed, but the year following their return to Oak Hill, Virginia, Elizabeth Monroe collapsed into the fireplace sustaining extensive burns. She lived until September of 1830. Upon her passing, the former president moved to New York City to live with daughter Maria and her husband.

On Monday, July 4th, 1831 at about 3 p.m., James Monroe became the third of our first five presidents to die on our national birthday. Just five years previously, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson had died within hours of each other on the fiftieth anniversary of the passage of the Declaration of Independence by the Continental Congress.

James Monroe, like his fellow countrymen, was weaned a British subject and like them he changed. He lived simply and worked conscientiously. His “Doctrine” for protecting the sovereignty of other nations set America’s agenda for generations to come. Who could have done more?

RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED,

EDWIN COONEY

THROUGH THE TEARS OF A CHILD

By Edwin Cooney

It was a little before seven o’clock last Sunday night as I made the left turn from my gateway and began the three block walk to my favorite local watering hole for libation, good food and conversation when there came to me the familiar sound of a child’s crying.

The tone of the cry was both sad and angry -- and as I passed by, I said aloud, “What an unhappy little guy.”

“Oh, he gets that way sometimes,” his mommy responded to me as she settled the little fellow into his car seat.

I continued on my way, but the boy, perhaps motivated by his mommy’s words and my own, pressed on and his cry took on words:

“I don’t want to go home. I don’t want to go to bed!” This expression was immediately followed by more intense sobs. Hence, my mind shifted from the White Sox Tigers game which was playing on my pocket radio to more serious musings. I was sure that this little guy probably needed to go home and to bed whether he realized it or not. I’m sure that as unhappy as he was with mommy—and perhaps even daddy—he was absolutely aware of his love for and his dependence on them. Nevertheless, his anger was genuine born no doubt out of a sense of helplessness. As much as he wanted to stay and play, it was sadly and irrevocably out of his hands. He was going home and to bed.

A child is a mere microcosm of an adult and one adult is a mere microcosm of a nation of adults. Adults -- as well as children -- like to have their way. Adults also expect to have their way, especially angry and disillusioned adult “taxpayers”.

Some months ago, I expressed my enthusiastic endorsement of the candidacy of Barack Obama for the presidency and that endorsement remains both intense and enthusiastic. However, the basis for that endorsement is quite beyond the person of Barack Obama.

The basis of my endorsement of this most insightful and dynamic man’s candidacy is his insistence that we must move beyond the norm of conservative vs. liberal ideological sniping if we’re to successfully come to grips with the economic, social, and international challenges of today and tomorrow. The short words for such a shift in paradigm are “hope” and “change”.

Everyone wants a change from the loss of human life in what seems to be a perpetual “war on terror” as well as from the increasing economic doldrums here at home. Everyone would like to have less expensive medical care, lower taxes, better public education, and an assurance of continuous employment and opportunity. Everyone would like to see “a kinder, gentler America” as proscribed by George Herbert Walker Bush during the 1988 presidential campaign.

Progressives generally give support to Senator Obama’s message of hope as do I. However, the real test will not come during what is left of the Democratic nomination process or even during the upcoming campaign against the Republicans.

The real test will come, especially for liberals, when President Obama asks us to let go of our prefabricated thinking, our fear-laden presumptions and our sense of personal injury.

The election of an African-American as our President will likely bring forth a national sense of euphoria. It will demonstrate that we have overcome our historic racial prejudices which were even written into our Constitution back in 1787. (U.S. Constitution: Article I, Section II.) While this breakthrough may be a powerful one, should Senator Obama be elected, we still will not be able to assume that along with our traditional prejudices we will also have let go of our traditional worries and fears.

Conservatives are genuinely frightened of people with ideas about government that differ from theirs. Liberals are genuinely suspicious of people who have more money and property than they have. Even worse, both liberals and conservatives often feel a sense of angry helplessness in much the same way as that little fellow of last Sunday night. After all, neither they nor he created the world into which they were born.

Back in 1880, the late great Oliver Wendell Homes observed that "the life of the law has not been logic; it has been experience."

Thus both liberals and conservatives are in a perpetual struggle to create laws which will ensure their political and social domination. Simply put, the experience of both is one of unhappiness when their opposites hold power. Senator Obama, on the other hand, insists that we have more in common than we realize.

Hopefully, he’s right, but what do you suppose our reaction will be the first time President Obama tells us that our ideologically based playtime is over and it’s time to put it to bed?.

RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED,

EDWIN COONEY

DO YOU BELIEVE?

By Edwin Cooney

A friend sent me this a couple of weeks ago. It’s called “Through the Eyes of a Child.” What do you think?

A child was told to write a book report on the entire Bible. This is amazing. I wonder how often we take for granted that children understand what we are teaching.

Through the Eyes of a Child: Children's Bible in a Nutshell
In the beginning which occurred near the start, there was nothing but God,
darkness, and some gas. The Bible says, "The Lord thy God is one, but I think He must be a lot older than that. Anyway, God said, "Give me a light!" and someone did. Then God made the world.

He split the Adam and made Eve. Adam and Eve were naked, but they weren't embarrassed because mirrors hadn't been invented yet. Adam and Eve disobeyed God by eating one bad apple, so they were driven from the Garden of Eden. Not sure what they were driven in though, because they didn't have cars.

Adam and Eve had a son, Cain, who hated his brother as long as he was Abel.
Pretty soon all of the early people died off, except Methuselah, who lived to be like a million or something.

One of the next important people was Noah, who was a good guy, but one of his kids was kind of a Ham. Noah built a large boat and put his family and some animals on it. He asked some other people to join him, but they said they would have to take a rain check.
After Noah came Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Jacob was more famous than his brother, Esau, because Esau sold Jacob his birthmark in exchange for some pot roast. Jacob had a son named Joseph who wore a really loud coat.

Another important Bible guy is Moses, whose real name was Charlton Heston. Moses led the Israel Lights out of Egypt and away from the evil Pharaoh after God sent ten plagues on Pharaoh's people. These plagues included frogs, lice, bowels, and no cable. God fed the Israel Lights every day with manicotti. Then he gave them His Top Ten Commandments. These include don't lie, cheat, smoke, dance or covet your neighbor's stuff. Oh, yeah, I just thought of one more: Humor thy father and thy mother.

One of Moses' best helpers was Joshua who was the first Bible guy to use spies. Joshua fought the battle of Geritol and the fence fell over on the town.

After Joshua came Dave. He got to be king by killing a giant with a sling shot. He had a son name Solomon who had about 300 wives and 500 porcupines. My teacher says he was wise, but that doesn't sound very wise to me.

After Solomon there were a bunch of major league prophets. One of these was Jonah, who was swallowed by a big whale and then barfed upon the shore. There were also some minor league prophets, but I guess we don't have to worry about them.

After the Old Testament came the New Testament. Jesus is the star of the New Testament. He was born in Bethlehem in a barn. (I wish I had been born in a barn, too, because my mom is always saying to me, "Close the door! Were you born in a barn?" It would be nice to say, "As a matter of fact, I was.")

During His life, Jesus had many arguments with sinners like the Pharisees and the Republicans. Jesus also had twelve opossums. The worst one was Judas Asparagus. Judas was so evil that they named a terrible vegetable after him.

Jesus was a great man. He healed many leopards and even preached to some Germans on the Mount. But the Republicans and all those guys put Jesus on trial before Pontius the Pilot. Pilot didn't stick up for Jesus. He just washed his hands instead.

Any way's, Jesus died for our sins, then came back to life again. He went up to Heaven but will be back at the end of the Aluminum. His return is foretold in the book of Revolution.

Was that not cute -- and even clever? However, do you think for a moment the above was composed by a child?

What child who can spell Methuselah would make an adverb out of the name of Cain’s brother Abel? What child capable of writing and analyzing would not understand that donkeys, camels and horses were driven before automobiles? What child attending a private Christian school would refer to King David as Dave? Finally, I ask you, what teacher (even a teacher in a private Christian school) would ask a pre-adolescent to write a book report on a two thousand page book—let alone the Bible.

As I see it, someone’s being kidded here—and even though it’s a most pleasant “kid”, it’s misleading and even worse, careless.

If the author of this piece is a serious Christian or is worried about the quality of Biblical instruction, than why put a piece of material out like this thus exposing the public to the poor quality of Christian education? If the author is either an agnostic or an atheist, why worry the public about the quality of teaching in private Christian schools? If the author is genuinely concerned about the quality of instruction in public schools, why pick on religious instructors?

I’m more worried about the reader of the above who would suspend belief enough to even consider the possibility that a child, capable of writing the above, could be so confused.

Believe me, every kid knows the difference between boils and bowels, leopards and leprosy, and, in-so-far as I know, no respectable kid knows anything about geritol.

RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED,

EDWIN COONEY