During the presidency of Monroe the systematic isolation of the United States in respect to Europe was developed, so far as the two Americas were concerned, into a more positive doctrine.

It was proclaimed that abstention on the part of the United States from European affairs should be accompanied by a corresponding abstention by the European Powers from aggressive action in the two Americas.

What our government proposed to do was to divide sharply the democratic political system of the Americas from the monarchical and aristocratic political system of Europe.

The European system, based as it was upon royalist legitimacy and privileges, and denying as it did popular political rights, was declared to be inimical in spirit and in effect to the American democratic state.
The Monroe Doctrine has been accepted in this form ever since as an indisputable corollary of the Farewell Address.

The American people and politicians cherish it as a priceless political heirloom.