an avowed policy for thirty years, declaring that no European colonization will be permitted in America.  And what happens?  Whenever there has been no opportunity to enforce the doctrine, because there has been nothing at issue, we have cock-a-doodle-dooed; and whenever a chance has arisen to enforce it we have beaten a retreat, frightened to death by the awful consequences if we do enforce it.  Frightened by our own spokesmen, Senators and others.  Frightened by England in the main; for truly we have no other power to fear.  So when the Clayton-Bulwer treaty came up I fought it as I fought Polk on the Oregon boundary of ’49.  I said then, and I say now, that the time may come when we shall want to possess some portion of Central America.  It has come to the pass that I can’t stand for America as to new territory without having the Abolitionists charge me with favoritism to the South.  But it’s a lie and history will vindicate me.  But if I want Cuba or Central America for slavery I want them also for America.  And what does England want them for?  For freedom, I suppose, for the good of America!  The agreement not to fortify the canal was not reciprocal, because England holds Jamaica, which guards the entrance to the canal.  What rights did England have to the Mosquito Coast?  Well, her title is at least doubtful.

“But what I hate about the canal treaty is the recognition of the right of European powers to intervene in American affairs.  We contracted with England to protect any canal or railroad across the Isthmus; and not only that, we invited other European powers to join with us in that protection.  And that lets in all the kings of Europe, and where’s your Monroe Doctrine?  It vanishes into air.  Study it out; you will see all these Whigs and all these motley groups joining the Whigs, pulling together by a sort of momentum started by the old crowd which sided with England against America in the Revolution.  They are the same crowd that tried to break down the American system when they were banded together as Federalists.  They tried secession at Hartford, when they didn’t like the War of 1812; then they held up their hands in horror when South Carolina threatened to secede over the tariff.  They called on God to avenge the Mexican War; then they grabbed this slavery matter to give them a moral push into power.  They elected a President, but were afraid to formulate a platform.  All the while they had played with England, skulking and running and fawning upon England, when our vital interests were at stake, and siding with England on the canal and on Oregon.  They are better than other men!  They are more holy!  They are pure, just, broad!  They love God!  They are the only Christians!  There is only one evil and that is slavery!  But there are many gods, of which banks and tariffs are not the least; yet I notice that they do not give away Texas and California, those unholy fruits of a wicked war for which you fought, my friend.  They like the gold and the wheat.  And in order to ride into power they put forward old Taylor, and blow hot and cold with him and Millard Fillmore.”