George Washington. John
Adams. Thomas Jefferson. James Madison. James…
James…Monroe? Yes, yes…the Monroe Doctrine.
Sure…of course. It was Monroe that led the way
to limiting further colonization in America by
European powers! It was Monroe that proclaimed
the isolation of the Western Hemisphere from the
rest of the world so that the United States
would have time to grow and develop! Where would
we be without the Monroe Doctrine?
While most Americans solely
remember James Monroe for his successful
declaration about detachment from Europe, the
true Monroe Doctrine is not merely a concept
about foreign policy. Rather, the doctrine that
drove James Monroe was one that was based on
honesty, ambitious courage, and modesty. , These
values transcend time, and today, they are James
Monroe's message for the new millennium.
"Monroe is so honest
that if you turned his soul inside out, there
would be no spot upon it." iii Thomas
Jefferson, Monroe's predecessor and mentor,
spoke words that were true about all of James
Monroe's life. Like a resounding echo that
reverberates throughout all of Monroe's days,
Jefferson's words sum up one of Monroe's most
crucial merits: his honesty. In everything he
did, James Monroe tried to express the necessity
of honesty in both the people's government and
in their lives. iii In his first address to the
nation as President, Madison stated that
"[i]t is only when the
people become ignorant and corrupt, when they
degenerate into a populace, that they are
incapable of exercising the sovereignty…The
people themselves become the willing instruments
of their own debasement and ruin. Let us, then,
look to the great cause, and endeavor to
preserve it in full force."
James Monroe thought that the
honor of all people was necessary to create and
maintain a prosperous nation. In order to have
the strongest nation, the people would have to
act as the solid foundation on which it would
stand. Moreover, that foundation would have to
be made of the best material in order to be
stable. During a later part of his First
Inaugural Address, Monroe expressed this idea by
stating that "[n]ational honor is national
property of the highest value. The sentiment in
the mind of every citizen is national strength.
It ought therefore to be cherished."iv
Monroe's message for the American people of
yesteryear is the same proclamation to preserve
the morality for the world today. Just as Monroe
called for the betterment national honor so many
years ago, the Monroe in the new millennium also
calls for such a goal. If we model ourselves
after the great Monroe's honesty, then we will
find ourselves living lives which are brimming
with truth and fairness.
In addition to his honesty,
James Monroe was also incredibly courageous. In
all probability, this boldness stemmed from the
time he spent in the military. Monroe was not
only disciplined and diligent, he was also very
ambitious in his military endeavors. George
Washington, a man who rarely spoke kindly of
those in his army, stated that Monroe "has,
in every instance, maintained the reputation of
a brave, active, and sensible officer."
Monroe met many challenges, and he did not
succeed in all of them. In one instance, Monroe
was assigned as the Virginia military
commissioner, and he met utter failure in his
attempt to recruit soldiers from his home state.
For many, this would have meant the end of a
career, but for Monroe, it was only the
beginning. Lieutenant-colonel Monroe used this
time to study law, and he seized the chance to
become a student of then-Governor Thomas
Jefferson.iii Repeatedly, those around him would
dub him a failure, but Monroe would always
rebound, more determined and confident than
ever. James Monroe never lost his focus; it was
this resiliency and persistence that afforded
Monroe the opportunities which he had later in
life. Truly, our nation's fifth President's
early career reveals his courageous character;
it was this attribute that made him such an
excellent leader. In his First Inaugural
Address, Monroe stated "[f]rom a just
responsibility I will never shrink, calculating
with confidence that in my best efforts to
promote the public welfare my motives will
always be duly appreciated and my conduct be
viewed with that candor and indulgence which I
have experienced in other stations."iv
Throughout his two terms of office, James Monroe
was true to this pledge that he made to the
American people in 1821, and these very same
words speak to us today. To the world of the new
millennium, James Monroe's example of courage
impels us to work hard, maintaining our focus
all the while. By boldly moving into the future,
mankind will accomplish the unimaginable,
finding hope in the audacity which is
exemplified by James Monroe.
While James Monroe was
daring, it is important to note that he was also
very modest. This combination of ambition and
humility made Monroe excel in life; the
intricate balance between the two made Monroe
both an excellent, bold leader and an
ever-mindful servant.. James Monroe never forgot
his humble beginnings as a youth in Virginia,
for his upbringing formed Monroe into the man he
was. Monroe was the son of a planter and the
oldest of five children, young James was dealt
much responsibility very early on in life.
Through helping with the crops or aiding in the
family affairs, Monroe learned to appreciate
both the good and the bad aspects of life.
Monroe's background gave him a unique
perspective on the world, and as he grew older,
he clung to his humble roots for guidance. His
beginnings would serve him well when he entered
into positions of power, as, unlike many of
those who have been called leaders, Monroe
recognized the importance of being a public
servant. In his Second Inaugural Address, Monroe
proclaimed that
"In this great nation
there is but one order, that of the people,
whose power, by a peculiarly happy improvement
of the representative principle, is transferred
from them, without impairing in the slightest
degree their sovereignty, to bodies of their own
creation, and to persons elected by themselves,
in the full extent necessary for all the
purposes of free, enlightened and efficient
government."
Truly, Monroe understood what
it meant to be a great leader. By putting the
will of the people before his own interests,
Monroe realized what many leaders fail to
recognize: one who leads must first know how to
follow. It is this realization that sets Monroe
apart from many U.S. Presidents, and it is the
underlying principle behind this belief which
speaks to society today. Monroe once addressed
the American people with the following creed:
"[t]o promote this harmony in accord with
the principles of our republican Government and
in a manner to give them the most complete
effect, and to advance in all other respects the
best interests of our Union, will be the object
of my constant and zealous exertions."iv
Monroe's vision of benevolence has endured
through the years; today, following Monroe's
example of humility and sacrifice can lead to a
more fulfilling life for each and every one of
us. In the twenty-first century, it is essential
for the entire world to realize the benevolence
of Monroe's message; only through humbleness and
charity will the world thrive in the new
millennium.
In this age of international
business and active involvement in foreign
affairs, the declaration of separation which
Monroe so resolutely delivered to a fledgling
nation has become increasingly less applicable.
However, as the Monroe Doctrine has lost
significance, Monroe's message to all
generations remains undeviating. By striving for
honesty, courage, and modesty in the new
millennium, the world can find true improvement.
In making Monroe's vision for moral success in
his life our vision for success in each and
every one of our lives, the progress of the
world will be accompanied by the true
satisfaction of righteousness. Under the banner
of the values in which Monroe believed so
firmly, a new Era of Good Feelings will be
ushered in, with the expectant people of all
lands having confidence in the future of all of
mankind. Unlike the Monroe Doctrine delivered
more than two-hundred years ago, Monroe's vision
for the twenty-first century will unite citizens
of all nations, proclaiming hope through values,
declaring the message for all millennia. Let us
press forward in the direction of Monroe's
message, and, just as the great Virginian
himself stated, "we can not fail, under the
favor of a gracious Providence, to attain the
high destiny which seems to await us".iv
"James Monroe".
Online. Internet. 5 March 2001.<http://www.americanpresident.org/KoTrain/Courses/JMO/JMO_Foreign_Affairs.htm>.
"James Monroe".
Online. Internet. 5 March 2001. <http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/presidents/jm5.html>.
McConnell, Burt and Jane
McConnell. Presidents of the United States. New
York: Thomas Y. Crowell Company,
1970. "First
Inaugural Address of James Monroe". Online.
Internet. 14 March 2001. <http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/presiden/inaug/monroe1.htm>.
Cooper, John S. "James
Monroe: The Last Revolutionary President".
Online. Internet. 11 March 2001. <http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/presidents_and_first_ladies/42623>.
Hickey, Donald R.
"Monroe, James". Online. Internet. 10
March 2001. <http://www.discoveryschool.com/homeworkhelp/worldbook/atozhistory/m/368600.html>.
"Encyclopedia Americana:
James Monroe". Online. Internet. 10 March
2001. http://gi.grolier.com/presidents/ea/bios/05pmonr.html
Ferris, Robert C., ed. The
Presidents. Washington, D.C.: United States
Department of the Interior, 1977. "Second
Inaugural Address of James Monroe". Online.
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