enerally speaking, the person who coined the slogan "America for Americans" was Monroe. Of course, in reality, Monroe himself was not the first to propose the concept of "America for Americans," but he formally declared it as a manifesto of the United States and the Federal Government, causing a huge reaction in all aspects, and thus he was considered the initiator of this phrase.
Slightly different from Charles' current situation, when Monroe shouted this slogan, the United States' strength had grown significantly, while Europe, turbulent after the French Revolution, had relatively declined in strength. Most people in America at that time, or rather, most of the powerful figures, supported his slogan from the beginning. However, Charles' premature utterance of this phrase has caused great controversy.
When powerful Europe had not yet weakened, when Spain and Portugal's colonial rule in America had not loosened in the slightest, when the United States had just mended the wounds of the war of Independence and was still very fearful of war, the Republican Party proposed such a clearly provocative slogan to the old European colonial powers. Many politicians believed this would bring an unbearable disaster to the nascent United States. However, many truly passionate and radical politicians highly praised this statement, believing it truly expressed the aspirations of the American people and the people of America.
At the same time, there was also great controversy at the grassroots level.
Most of the nascent American capitalists greatly approved of Charles' slogan. After tasting the sweetness of opening capital markets in the South, they had fallen in love with this model of convenient raw material supply and vast sales markets, and they coveted the vast spaces of South America and Latin America.
And the usual practice was that as long as the capitalists agreed, most plantation owners would choose to oppose. This time it was the same; Northern industrialists and merchants basically responded enthusiastically to this slogan, while conservative forces in the South strongly criticized it out of consideration for protecting their own plantation industries.
The three major political parties, forming the upper echelon of American politics, once again took different stances on this issue.
The Republican Party and the Federalist Party stood on the side supporting the slogan "America for Americans." The Democratic Party and some moderate factions, however, stood in opposition.
Fortunately, this was, after all, just a slogan, and it was hard to say whether their support or opposition was right or wrong. Although there were constant debates, they did not fight endlessly as before, as it did not directly involve personal interests.
In fact, most politicians had ambitions for places like South America and Latin America; now, the only controversy was when to act on South America and Latin America. Opponents believed that the Republican Party's statement was too early and too absolute, which would bring trouble to the nascent United States. In reality, those politicians of the Democratic Party did not truly believe that for the sake of justice, they should not act on those Colonies. Those plantation owners were only worried that their own interests would be harmed, while the moderates were concerned that the interests of the United States would be harmed.
But there is no doubt that this statement, full of national pride and ethnic self-esteem, was very influential among ordinary Americans. Basically, if you walked into a tavern or a brothel, you could hear ordinary people supporting this statement. Especially in the North, if anyone dared to oppose this statement, they would definitely incur public wrath and be collectively driven out of the tavern.
People are sometimes very blind and easily agitated. Under this slogan, which supposedly considers the honor of the nation and the people, people often do not face their own strength. Even if they know in their hearts that the United States is not yet qualified to say this, they simply feel that this statement is correct and meets their psychological needs, and they will stand up and loudly declare their support.
These people just don't know that when they are loudly expressing support for this statement, they have actually partially influenced the subsequent development under this statement.
Under the unanimous popular inclination to support the slogan "America for Americans," even if Jefferson and the Democratic Party explicitly opposed it, they had to make appropriate adjustments in foreign policy selectively for the sake of "following public opinion." They frequently and repeatedly claimed to negotiate with old European colonial powers for the overall interests of America.
The most typical example was on the Florida issue. Jefferson and the U.S. State Department, reversing their previous passive acceptance of Spanish protests, instead explicitly proposed to the Spanish Ambassador to the United States that they should not engage in overly inhumane acts in Florida, to avoid large-scale humanitarian disaster events that would arouse the resentment of all American people.
He said it and did it, but Jefferson still couldn't help but feel resentful. Just as he and Charles had restored their old friendship, he naturally complained to him upon seeing him, saying that the trouble was caused by him, the Republican Party leader, but he, the Secretary of State, had to clean up the mess, which was truly an act utterly lacking in political ethics.
Charles, as the instigator, merely smiled apologetically upon hearing Jefferson's complaints:
"Thomas, although it might be inappropriate to say some things now, I can tell you clearly that the statement 'America is for Americans' was actually only proposed for election needs, and I had no real intention of having the Federal Government cooperate on this matter!"
Now that this statement has been put forward, the election situation has completely tilted towards the Republican Party, especially in the North. Even the Federalist Party, which chose to stand on the same side as the Republican Party, is completely unable to compare with the Republican Party, the party that put forward the slogan "winning the hearts of all Americans." The only downside is that there are more opponents in the South, and with the Democratic Party's complete loss in the North, its supporters in the South have become even more steadfast.
"Alas..." Jefferson smiled bitterly, helplessly. "How could I not know your intentions? It's just that you're not in my position, so you don't know how much pressure I'm under. Our Democratic Party's plantation owner supporters in Virginia are demanding that I clarify my stance on this matter, while ordinary citizens are constantly writing to the Department of State, demanding that we ensure the interests of Americans throughout America. I'm caught between a rock and a hard place now; I really wish I could just resign sometime and be my full-time Party chairman!"
"Uh..." Charles was stunned. "Thomas, you can't just resign over such a small matter!"
"Haha! Although I don't have such a plan right now, if things continue to develop, it doesn't rule out that possibility, because I guess diplomatic envoys from various European countries will soon come to protest. At that time, under the accusation from three sides, I think I will only have the option of resigning!" Jefferson said with a squeezed smile.
Of course, he wouldn't really resign over this matter. For him, resigning because he couldn't handle the pressure would essentially be an admission of his incompetence. However, with the general election approaching, Jefferson, to prevent the Republican Party from abusing administrative power to add leverage to his campaign, had indeed considered using resignation to urge the Republican Party not to interfere with the election through administrative means.
Saying this now, it was ostensibly an expression of dissatisfaction with Charles' tactics in the election. In reality, it also contained the intention of probing his attitude towards administrative operations.
Charles indeed did not realize this point and immediately cooperated by saying:
"Actually, my statement that America is for Americans can also be understood as America is for the people of America. If you encounter diplomatic difficulties, you can use this phrase to deflect. This slogan is our Republican Party's Presidential campaign slogan. No matter what, we cannot allow external forces to interfere in our fair Presidential election!"
Charles was very worried that Jefferson would use foreign powers to attack the Republican Party's election prospects.
"External forces? Would that include administrative power?" Jefferson immediately pressed him.
The underlying intention was that if you don't allow administrative power to interfere with the election, then I won't be prepared to use the protests of European powers to interfere with our election.
"Administrative power?" Charles laughed. "Of course. I believe that neither the President, nor the Vice President, nor you, the Secretary of State, should arbitrarily use administrative power to aid your own campaigns!"
Currently, administrative power is actually partly controlled by all three parties, and Charles had never thought of using them.
Moreover, there are actually relevant legal provisions in this regard; using administrative power is unconstitutional. Charles advocated a civilized, "fair" election. Using administrative power to aid one's campaign, if exposed, would not only be unfair but also uncivilized and immoral behavior, and it is very possible for the responsible parties to be permanently removed from politics for it.
"That's good. Diplomatic envoys who want to interfere in our Presidential election will first have to get past me." Jefferson no longer pressed the issue and immediately changed the topic. "Charles, I heard you recently adopted a daughter? Why would you suddenly think of adopting a daughter for no reason? It wouldn't be..."
Jefferson questioned Charles with a look that all men would understand.
Charles was quite sensitive about this matter. Hearing Jefferson bring it up, his heart immediately tensed up considerably.
"Thomas, don't say anything carelessly. Don't meddle in this matter, or we won't be friends anymore!"
But as soon as this sentence left his lips, Jefferson immediately had a look of sudden realization, while Charles was filled with regret. Originally, Jefferson was only suspicious, but now, being so nervous, wasn't he just giving himself away?
"Haha! Alright, I understand. Charles, don't worry, I won't say anything more about this. But can I see your daughter? You once said that for your next child, you'd ask me to be the godfather. I think being a girl's godfather would be very suitable. If this child is pretty, I can just be her godfather directly!" Jefferson's face was full of playful expressions between friends.
As a relatively ethical politician, and genuinely a friend of Charles, he never thought of using this matter to attack Charles. In fact, the people he most needed to attack right now were not Charles, but the actual candidates.
"Haha! I'm almost regretting my decision back then, to ask someone with such a despicable character as you to be my child's godfather!" Charles said with a laughing curse.
But he immediately turned around and instructed the servant to bring Little Lottie for Jefferson to see.
Soon, Diana personally carried Little Lottie into the living room. Seeing Jefferson there, she quickly greeted him with a smile:
"Thomas, why are you also interested in our Little Lottie? Let me declare first, this is my daughter, and no outsider is allowed to take her away!"
"Haha! Diana, you can rest assured. I've long heard that you cherish your newly adopted daughter greatly, and I never thought of taking her from you. I just want to see your precious daughter, as per our agreement, and then prepare to be her godfather!" Jefferson, under Charles' watchful gaze, indeed did not mention anything about Little Lottie's background.
Diana also readily agreed to Jefferson becoming Little Lottie's godfather and immediately handed the child to Jefferson with a smile.
This Little Lottie truly lived up to being a third-generation mixed-blood, belonging to the most beautiful generation. At just over a month old, she could already be described as beautiful. Her rosy cheeks were already plump and round, like a several-month-old infant, without any of the wrinkles of a newborn. She wasn't afraid of strangers upon seeing Jefferson and professionally blew bubbles.
Seeing such a mischievous and adorable little angel, even the worldly Jefferson couldn't help but exclaim in admiration.
"Such a lovely angel, truly a treasure bestowed upon your family by God!"
"Of course, whose daughter do you think she is!" Charles said with a smug look.
Diana, standing nearby, was a bit displeased with Charles' pride. She gave him a slight glare, which scared Charles, who thought he had misspoken, into a cold sweat, fearing that Diana had found out his secret.
"Haha..." Jefferson looked at the expressions of Charles and his wife and burst into knowing laughter.
"Good! For such a lovely girl, it's truly an honor for me to be her godfather. So, when shall we go to a church together for the baptism?"
"Okay, we've actually already found a church; we've just been waiting for you, the prospective godfather!" Diana replied with a smile.
As Little Lottie's "mother," she actually believed she had more say than Charles in matters concerning Little Lottie, which is a common characteristic of most adoptive mothers.