ion for putting an end to war with France
in the House of Commons, _30th May, 1794_.

"It was impossible to dissemble that we had a serious dispute with
America, and although we might be confident that the wisest and best man
of his age, who presided in the government of that country, would do
everything that became him to avert a war, it was impossible to foresee
the issue. America had no fleet, no army; but in case of war she would
find various means to harass and annoy us. Against her we could not
strike a blow that would not be as severely felt in London as in
America, so identified were the two countries by commercial intercourse.
_To a contest with such an adversary he looked as the greatest possible
misfortune._ If we commenced another crusade against her, we might
destroy her trade, and check the progress of her agriculture, but we
must also equally injure ourselves. Desperate, therefore, indeed, must
be that war in which each wound inflicted on our enemy would at the same
time inflict one upon ourselves. He hoped to God that such an event as a
war with America would not happen."[90]

All good men on both sides of the ocean must join with Fox, who thus
early deprecated a war between the United States and England, and
portrayed the consequences. Time, which has enlarged and multiplied the
relations between the two countries, makes his words more applicable now
than when he first uttered them.

GEORGE CANNING.--1826.

George Canning was a successor of Fox, in the House of Commons, as
statesman, minister, and orator; he was born 11th April, 1770, and died
8th August, 1827, in the beautiful villa of the Duke of Devonshire, at
Chiswick, where Fox had died before. Unlike Fox in sentiment for our
country, he is nevertheless associated with a leading event of our
history, and is the author of prophetic words.

The Monroe Doctrine, as it is now familiarly called, proceeded from
Canning. He was its inventor, promoter, and champion, at least so far as
it bears against European intervention in American affairs. Earnestly
engaged in counteracting the designs of the Holy Alliance for the
restoration of the Spanish colonies to Spain, he sought to enlist the
United States in the same policy, and when Mr. Rush, who was at the time
our Minister at London, replied that any interference with European
politics was contrary to the traditions of our government, he argued
that, however just such a policy might have been formerly