MONROVIA 284 MONTAGU whose independence we have on great consideration and just principles, ac- knowledged, we could not view an inter- position for oppressing them, or control- ling in any other manner their destiny, by any European power, in any other light than as a manifestation of an un- friendly disposition toward the United States." Also, "The American continents should no longer be subjects for any new European colonial settlement." Presi- dent Monroe's mention of these subjects was occasioned by the formation in Eu- rope, a few years previously, of what was called the "holy alliance" between Russia, France, Austria, and Prussia to maintain the monarchical system of gov- ernment in Europe. It was supposed that they desired to extend their opera- tions to the New World also, especially with reference to the colonies of Spain. The Monroe Doctrine was an issue in the discussion of the League of Nations Covenant, and the reservations to the Treaty passed in the Senate in 1919 specifically provided that the Doctrine should not be abrogated. MONROVIA, the capital of Liberia It is situated on the mouth of the St. Paul river. It contains two colleges and is the seat of Protestant Episcopal bishoi and of an American and a Roman Catho- lic mission. Its chief exports are palm oil, coffee, cocoa, dyewoods, and rubber. Prior to the World War a large por- tion of trade was done with Germany. Pop. about 6,000. MONS (mongs) (Bergen), the capital of the Belgian province of Hainault, on the Trouille, 38 miles S. S. W. of Brussels, formerly encircled by a line of fortifica- tions. The Canal de Conde connects Mons with the Scheldt. The church of St. Waddru (1450-1589) is a masterpiece of Gothic; and there are a town hall (1458), a belfry (1662) 275 feet high, a good library, etc. The manufactures in- clude woolen and cotton goods, cutlery, end sugar; while the vicinity forms an extensive coal field. Mons, occupying the site of one of Caesar's camps, was made the capital of Hainault by Charlemagne in 804. Pop. about 28,000. Occupied by Germans during invasion of Belgium in 1914. Scene of first encounter betweet German armies and Anglo-French forces on Aug. 14, which led to the retreat of the Allies to the Marne. MONSIEUR (mo-syuh') (abbreviated M.; plural Messieurs, abbreviated MM.) used without any addition, formerly in France designated the king's eldest brother. In common use it answers both to the English sir and Mr. MONSIGNORE (mon-sen-yo're) , a title of honor given to prelates of the Roman Catholic Church. MONSON, SIR EDMUND JOHN, British diplomat, bom at Charter Lodge, Kent, 1834. Educated at Eton and Bal- liol, Oxford. Connected with British legations at Paris, Florence, Washington, Hanover, and Brussels, until he resigned in 1865. Re-entered diplomatic service and was appointed consul at the Azores, 1869. Consul-general Hungary, 1871, Special agent in Dalmatia and Monte- negro during Turkish War, 1876-1877. Afterward Minister to Urug-uay, Argen- tine, Paraguay, Denmark, Greece, Bel- gium, and ambassador to Austria 1893- 1896. To France 1896-1904. Made a baronet in 1905. Died 1909. MONSOONS (-sonz'), a modification of the trade winds, operative from the Tropic of Cancer to lat. 7° S., and from the coast of Africa through the Indian Ocean and the Bay of Bengal to Japan and the western Pacific. There are two monsoons, the southwestern and the northeastern. The latter prevails from October to April, and the former from April to October. The bursting of the monsoon commences the rainy season in India, the southwestern bringing that of Bombay and central India, and the northeastern that of Madras and other parts of the coast of the country. The monsoons are caused by the unequal heating of the land and water and of the several land masses themselves in the regions which they affect. They bring rain to countries which would degenerate into deserts. Also any similar wind blowing half the year in one direction and half in the other. MONTAGNARDS (mowgr-ta-nyar') , or simply MONTAGNE (moncr-ta-nyuh') ("the Moimtain"), the name given to the extreme democratic politicians in the first French Revolution, because they seated themselves on the highest benches of the hall in which the National Convention met. The body included both Jacobins and Cordeliers; its principal members were Danton, Marat, Robespierre, St. Just and Collot d'Herbois, the men of "the Reign of Terror." The antag- onistic party were "the Plain," the Girondist (q. v.), who sat on the lowest benches, on the floor of the house. MONTAGU, an illustrious English family which sprang from Drogo de MoNTACUTE, who came from Normandy with the conqueror. Sir Edward Mon- tagu, Speaker of the House of Commons and afterward Lord Chief-Justice, died in 1557. The third son of Baron Edward
