The sun., 1895-03-12
IN SAN DOMINGO.
4 QUESTION IN WHIoH THE UNITED
STATES ARE NOT INDIFFERENT

tnpoFNNhN HFo~teathkN ON Nhe r hEN ~ Na~
French Government whieh Concern Us
Growth OF Azoricsn Intercsts In That
leland. and Their Need OF Protection.
Three French gunboats cruise of the shores OF
Santo Domingo while the Partisan diplomats on
shore whisper mysteriously about an ultimatum,
possible bombardment OF the city of Columbus
aud the seizure of the Dominican Custom House
receipts. Representatives Of leading New York
fnanclers. to whom the Dominican customs
revenues are hypothecated. urge the authorities
st Washington to protect their interests. The
Frenchmen, always strong in mclodramatic
effects, repeat stories of barbarous treatment at
the hands of the Dominican Government.
President Heureaux had forcibly entered the
French bank at the Dominican capital. He had
broken the seals OF the French Consulate, which
had been placed over tho doors and windows.
A French citizen had been murdered at Samana,
and the French Consulate had satisfactory
proof that tho Government had been party to
the crime. Surely the United States would not
Interfere with SO friendly a power as France
when seeking reparation for so pnlpa BILE wrongs7
Tho controversy would scarcely merit ex-
tended consideration II 1t were not for the fact
that questions OF foreign policy are involved,
questions which are fundamental whether wo
regard the islands of the Pacific or the nearer
Latin American Governments.
In each of these countries the national Ad-
ministration leans for moral support on ono
foreign power. Commercial considerations gen.
orally determine which Of those powers shall be
nearest the Government. and. In turn, the legn-
ton in overy proper way cooporates with COM
mercial and financial enterprises emanating
from its own country There Is great rivalry
among the European nations for the place Of
commanding influence. Recently our growing
commerce has made the United States some
thing of competitor.
This competition involves q question which
must assume the Importance OF principle In
our international relations. 1t is: When rival
European nations threaten one OF these weak
Governments because of its manifestations OF
fricndliness toward Americans and American
enterprise. shall our policy at Washington be
strong enough TO protect the friendly Latin
American Administration?
Thcn. of course. Is suggested this questions
shall American citizen engaged abroad In
private enterprise. extending the comm erce and
credit OF the people Of the United States. know
that neither partisan nor personal considera-
lions ut Washington shall prevent tho proper
protection OF his interest by all proper means?
These comprise the touch-stone of our dplo-
macy. BY that test 1t is imp mportant to examine
the present Franco Dominican cont roversy and
70 note how merely incidental are the m alters
OF the French bank and the murder of the
Frunchman-both Of which have such sensa-
tianal parts TO play In the diplomatic representa-
tons from Paris.
MIR. Blaine was Secretary of State. steadily
and firmly pressing his reciprocity policy under
was at the head Of the Navy Department. Gen.
john w. Foster was Special Plenipotentiary. in
sructed to look after the details OF the reciprocity
rranSements-not reciprocity treaties. Such
combination for the purpose of making and en-
could stand any test. @ and when Il seemed that ali
Europe was combined to prevent the making Of
the reciprocity arrangements, Santo Domingo
Rpemad forcing
European Interpretation OF the most favored
This was the beginning of the present Franco:
Dominican controversy. The French Consul
took the lead at the beginning; He threatened
Siih the United states. Then several 1 m European
note of protest twas moment Of great per-
plexity Tor President Heureaux Threats Of re-
not appear to have been used in the official cor
respondence. Ugly revolutionary rumors were
.setins annexation. il looked - though the
pressure would Le too great and that President |
his frsndliness toward the tnitsd States sp'' Ss.
tional lines became very tense. It was the |
reaux trust himself TO lean on the United states7
Here was the touchstone. The Dominican Gov |
hs fR GSsa Of .as H2s The
United states protect 1t from European retail
to- the MI WHITE hs HOUSE he ssa;
the President would regard any unfriendly act
sGainst s1nto Domingo because 3 s, Gf friendly
shH srans asrusSe f Gssa for
ment with santo Domingo the United STATES
would be willing to take every circumstance
into consideration and make easy terms. Still. |
another edge Of the touchstone had TO be ap- |
piled: What IL the French Consul should carry |
out his threat 70 cable for a .cunboat? Such an |
incident would be most unfortunate for Presi- |
Heht heureaux. for it would threaten the do |
Tracy CDnaulted.
the situation thoroughly. but he went oyer the |
E,n"lnSd with all his skill as an eminent lawyer
cause Of his friendship for the United States.
e"pRSse III HspsSR French send mna,a ySa
American vessel in its wake" 1t was suggested.
o. ne can have one ne in n every port If necessary
telegram went TO the Dominican capital that
day, and Santo Domingo's most eminent lawyer
a reciprocity arrangement This ends the first
chapter in the Franco Dominican controversy.
Eow York is responsible for the next chapter OF
dominican outrages on French interests. This
tional loan formerly held in Holland. hypothe-
eating the Custom House receipts as security. |
imE Sun OF March 9. This Intrusion 'ed' Of Amer n
can capital was resented particularly by the |
In the New York nsnesrs PrSpl so sse
The advent OF the Americans meant many |
changes 10 meant war on the wholesale SNUG |
glhg, under which the Government was barely |
existing. IL meant a new railroad. 1t meant |
tho ultimate establishment OF the American |
ploney standard and the doing away with gam
bling In Mexican exchange. ltmeant still closer |
financial and commercial relations with the
nited states. All of these things meant war |
on usury. The American is rarely mere money |
lender in neighboring countries. In Santo Do
mingo American money is in the cane and ma
Shlnery Of sugar plantations II Is in the only |
line OF steamships which has contributed to the
peace and prosperity OF the country by making |
Trips IN al seasons and by carrying Government
troops and prisoners in time OF war. Americans
pui their money In the soil or into steamships
M
planters have TRANSFORMED San Pedro de Macoris
from from mere fishing hamlet OF a few huts TO
thrlNlng town OF hve or six thousand inhAbi-
tan's This kind OF enterprise casts its lot with
the NE country and takes chances with 1t. II shares
tle national prosperity and suffers from ma
H2hal disaster. Usury thrives only on distress.
,,ne ne French hank was not cheered by the report
LA under American supervision, the customs
receipts had been nearly doubled.
men came the trouble between Gen. Heureaux
shu me bank. According To tho Dominican
story IL was over a transaction involving the |
PNy lhent OF personAl note. Tho bank relnRnl |