their system to any portion of this hemisphere as dangerous to our peace and safety. With the existing colonies or dependencies of any European power we have not interfered, and shall not interfere; but with the governments which have declared their independence and maintained it, and whose independence we have, on great consideration and just principles, acknowledged, we could not view an interposition for oppressing them, or controlling in any other manner their destiny, by any European power, in any other light than as a manifestation of an unfriendly disposition toward the United States." Also, "the American continents should no longer be subjects for any new European colonial settlement." These expressions embody what is known as the Monroe Doctrine. President Monroe's mention of these subjects was occasioned by the formation in Europe, a few years previously, of what was called the "holy alliance"-an alliance between Russia, France, Austria and Prussia to maintain the monarchical system of government in Europe. It was supposed that they desired to extend their operations to the New World also, especially with reference to the colonies of Spain, some of which had asserted, and obtained from the United States the recognition of, their independence. England sided with our country on this question, and the result was that the allies did not carry out their project. As popularly understood, the Monroe doctrine meant a political protection and a guaranty of freedom from European interference to all states of North and South America. It was not, however, intended to, and by its words it did not, declare that the United States would take up arms against European interference on these continents, nor was its intention to limit or embarrass the policy of our nation in the future. It merely declared that the United States would regard as unfriendly any such acts of European intermeddling with the political affairs of the two Americas, and it left to be determined by the circumstances of each particular case how far the United States would find it wise to go in opposing it.

Monroe, James, was born in Westmoreland County, Virginia, April 29, 1758. He died July 4, 1831. He graduated at William and Mary College, served in the Conti

nental Army and then read law under Jefferson. He was a member of the Virginia Legislature in 1782, and of the Continental Congress in 1783, where he served until 1786. From 1790 to 1794 he was United States Senator, from 1794 to 1796 Minister to France, and Governor of Virginia from 1799 to 1802. He was then, in succession, Minister, again to France to negotiate for the purchase of Louisiana, to Great Britain and to Spain. Once more Governor of Virginia in 1811, he became Secretary of State during Madison's administration and retained that post to the end of the latter's second term. He was then chosen President, 1817, and served two terms. During his incumbency of the office, party feeling died away entirely and the era of good feeling set in. The Monroe Doctrine was his most important official act, and the Missouri Compromise by far the most important measure of his administration. (See those titles.) In 1831 he removed to New York, where he died. He was of the Republican party of his day (see Democratic-Republican Party), and of the more extreme and radical wing.

Montana was originally part of the Louisiana Purchase. (See Annexations I; Territories.) It was organized as a separate Territory in 1854. On November 8, 1889, it was admitted as a State. The population by the census of 1890 was 132,159. It has one seat in the House of Representatives and three electoral votes. The capital is Helena.

Montgomery Charter, The. A charter granted to the City of New York by the captain-general, John Montgomery, dated January 15, 1730; it extended the Dongan Charter.

Moral Leper. A leper is one afflicted with leprosy, a disgusting and loathsome skin disease. By calling a man a moral leper it is intended to indicate that his moral nature is as disgusting as the physical nature of the leper. The phrase was used by some opponents of Grover Cleveland in the Presidential campaign of 1884.

Morey Letter. About two weeks before the Presidential election of 1880, a letter purporting to have been written by James A. Garfield, the Republican candidate, to H. L. Morey, of the Employers' Union, Lynn, Massachusetts, was published. It was a short note relating to the Chinese

question. It asserted the writer's belief that "individuals or companies have the right to buy labor where they can get it the cheapest," that our treaty with the Chinese government should be "religiously kept" until abrogated, and added that he was "not prepared to say that it should be abrogated" just then. The letter appeared in a New York daily paper, and fac-similes were at once published in all the Democratic newspapers and circulated by Democratic campaign committees. It was thought that a large part of the labor vote of the country would be alienated from Garfield. Garfield at once declared the letter a forgery, but several prominent men familiar with his handwriting declared their belief in its authenticity. An employe of the paper that first published it was arrested on the charge of forging it, but the prosecution of the case was subsequently abandoned. In the judicial examination, however, evidence was produced to show that there was no such person as H. L. Morey, of Lynn. A witness that had sworn to the authenticity of the letter was subsequently convicted of perjury and sentenced to eight years' imprisonment.

Morgan, William. (See Anti-Masonic Party; Good Enough Morgan Till After Election.)

Mormons. The Mormons are a religious sect who also take the name "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints." Their founder was Joseph Smith, who claimed to have discovered by divine direction certain golden plates bearing a written revelation. This was in 1827, and near Palmyra, New York. The contents of the plates, being deciphered by Smith, formed what is known as the "Book of Mormon." This was printed in 1830, and it was at once charged by unbelievers to be nothing more than a romance, written some years previously, by one Spaulding, but never published. The same year the church was organized with Smith as president. From time to time the head of the church has announced special revelations on various subjects. One of these, privately announced in 1843, but not publicly made known till nine years later, reversed the teaching of the Book of Mormon and sanctioned polygamy. With the main body of the Mormons, polygamy, though not practised by all, is defended, praised and encouraged. In 1831 the church removed to Ohio, where they became obnoxious