Washington sentinel., 1899-08-05
our Imperial Prospects In santO
Domingo.

our Imperial Prospects In santO
Domingo.
The imperialist press is almost
unanimously of the opinion that
the United States is under obliga-
tions to preserve order" in the
Dominican Republic. Many news
papers which cordially approved
the expansion policy OF the Ad-
ministration are in favor Of more
radical steps. We have annexed
Porto Rico and bought the Philip
pines. Why not, they contend,
take possession of Santo Domingo1
1t is near enough TO Porto Rico to
give some color to the contention
that a condition Of anarchy in the
Dominican Republic might have
an injurious effect upon our Porto
Rican possessions. Moreover,
Slnto Domingo, it is alleged, is
practically under the control Of
an American syndicate with head
quarters in New York. This syn
dicate directs its finances and is on
good terms with the Dominican
Government. If there is revolu-
ton in Santo Domingo and some
Of the syndicate's property is des-
troyed, the United States will be
expected to hold the revolutionists
in check and protect American
interests" Two warships have
been oreered to Santo Domingo
and more will be sent II
necessary, according to Washing
ton advices. Moreover, it is said
to be the policy OF the Admins
tration not to permit interference
by European nations which may
have subjects to protect. The
Monroe Doctrine" makes it
necessary for US, it is alleged, to
warn Europe to keep its hands of.
We are the paramount power" in
this part Of the world, and if the
revolutionists of the Dominican
Republic do not behave themselves
the United States alone has the
right to restrain them. 1t is true
the Monroe Doctrine sustained a
very severe shock when the United
States became a world power"
and established itself in the Ear
East" but the imperialists are
blind to such considerations. They
maintain that it is our mission to
grab whatever is desirable in any
part OF the world, but not to recog-
nize the right of Europe to ADOPT
the same principle on this side OF
the world.
With a reasonable pretext for
intervention in Santo Domingo, 1t
i: not unlikely that the annexa-
ton scheme oil President Grants
Administration will be revived.
OF course we should not gain any
thing by annexation except the
addition to our population of many
thousands Of mixed breeds-negro,
Indian and Spaniard. All depends,
however, upon the syndicate which
has been financing the island. If
these gentlemen can exploit Santo
Domingo to advantage as an
American possession, they may
get their imperialist friends in and
out OF Congress to boom an an
nexation project. Syndicates have
been very we'll cared tor by this
Administration and there is no
reason why we should not take in
Santo Domingo, if the seizure Of
the Philippines can be justified.
All territorial syndIcates ought to
look alike to Mr.. Mckinley and
manifest destiny" ought not to
make any discrimination between
It's friends. With 1000, 900
Asiatics in the Philippines, nearly
million Spaniards and blacks IN
Porto Rico and the mixed Indian,
negro, French and Spanish popu-
lation of Santo Domingo, the
United States will soon be able to
go into the "show business" in
competition with the other colonial
powers.
----aaeunW----