New-York tribune., 1899-07-29
TIE DOMINICAN SITUATION.

There are perslstent rumors of political piots
and impending revolutions In Santo Domihso'
though with little apparent ground. At 'he
nresent writing there seems to be no adequate
cause for changing the opinion expressed linihe
diatcly upon announcement OF President heu-
reaux's death that the crime was the wreaking
of n nriyate revenge and had little or no poiltl-
cal significance This opinion was based party
on tho fact that President Heureaux had been
an cminently popular Chief Magistrate, com
mandinp the support Of all parties and credited
by al, with having secured for the country o
stability Of government and n general prosper
,tv never known before. 1t Is strengthened Dy
tho fact that neither before the murder were
tbere onv svmptOms of revolution nor have
there been anv since Dominicans may not be
versed In the highest culture of political revo-
lutionists. but they probably know that revo
lution IS not TO be effected by killing JUST one
man and doing nothing more.
There will doubtless be, as indeed there al
ready is. a flocking to the scene OF all manner OF
discontanted and ambitious men eager 10 pront
from whatever disturbance Of affairs there may
no Some professional revoutionists may try
~ etir I'm trouble It Is even rumored that Cen
crol Gomez. having finished his work In CUBA
will make some effort to secure the Dominican
prosIdencv-a rumOr which it Is difficult TO
credit All such attacks upon the established
order IN Santo Domingo will be deporabe from
every point of view They will especially meet
with the reprobation Of Americans. 1t must be
confessed that in past years individual citizens
Of this country have more than once contributed
to disorder and to revolt in the lands Of tropical
America. They have never done so with the
NJ
Government It is to be hoped none will be so
unworthy as TO Join in such movements now
Certainly they would be deserving of the sever
oct nossible punishment at the hands Of this
Government For the United States-formerly
interested in the order Of those lands in gen.
eral way-is now specially and specifically In
terested therein. 1t has some OF those very
lands under its own control and its task In gov
.rning them will he made the easier by the
maintenance Of peace and the promotion OF
civilization in all the others.
We have hitherto commented upon the I'M
fortunate attitude of holding aloof that this
country once assumed toward Its southern
neighbors. That attitude has been abandoned
and in its place there is decided leaning tow
ard those lands in amity and desire for mutual
welfare That is the attitude now to be main-
tanned toward the Dominican Republic. The
moral influence Of the United States, and not
only of the Government but Of all citizens in so
far as they come into any sort OF contact with
that republic, will tell immeasurably toward the
preservation of law and order and the persist
cnce of the republic in the paths wisely marked
out for 1t by the forceful leader who has just
been slain. This country does not want IN
anarchic State for the next neghbor of Porto
Rico. There will be little fear of its having one
IL 1t plays the true part in the present crisis.