The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1903-01-30
Closer Fan-Amcrican Relations.

affair which has been but little touched
upon, and that is its probable effect
upon The relations of ali the Americas,
commercial as well us political. 1t
seems quite evident that ultimately the
hostile demonstrations Of the allied
European powers against Venezuela
will have the effect Of uiiifyiHg the in
terests of all the republics on this hem,
isphere, north and south, into some-
thing like a federation for SELF protec-
ton. Such a federation already eX.
lists in an uncrystlllized state, but its
development has been checked by the
instability of southern governments,
due to internecine strife and the jeal-
ousies existing among the smaller pow
ers. The fact that nearly all of the
South American republics, either di.
rectly or by implication, offered aid to
the Nenezuelans is significant of a
common desire among them to recog.
niZe in fact their community Of in
terests."
Underlying revolutionary conditions
in South and Central America there
seems a general hope for organized,
stable government, of republican form
in the various countries and a univer.
sal desire for a thorough understanding
among the powers there and with the
United States. No doubt the leaders
in the different countries realize tho
benefits of the Monroe doctrine and ap
preciate the value Of having so power.
full a friend as the United States.
While an actual alliance is perhaps
neither desirable nor possible, the att
tude toward Venezuela of the Euro
pean allies will doubtless promote the
proposed protective union and bring
about better relations among all south
ern governments. AIeSico and the Unit.
ed States, thus stimulating ali all Amer,
lean organization for defense against
outside nations and for the preserva'
tion of peace on this continent.
From such Il close relation the United
States should greatly benefit commer
cially. The demonstrations against
Venezuela can hardly fail to create
something Of hatred and distrust OF
Europcan powers. which VIII hell
American commerce in the South and
Central American states, now begin
ming to realize where their true inter
ests lie.
Clerical Boycott Against Divorces
Al new phase of the a~ntidirorce cru
SADIE has made it's appearance i'll Wash
ington, tl9e Protestant ministers in ths
Capital City having joinedi in a combine
otherwise called a boycott. against oil
yorced persons who are bent on another
venture in matrimony. AS the Roman
Catholic clergy are bound by theil
church laws not to administer the sac
rament of marriage to divorced per
sons, it is obvious that the boycott viii
be a very effective one Sc far as The
washington clergy are concerned. The
enforcement of the boycott is also ia
vored by the new law, which provides
that marriage licenses shall be issued
direct to the officiating clergyman.
While it is true that divorces Witt
are anxious to remarry will have re
course to justices Of the peace and Other
civil f~unctionaries or may seek the ben.
eft Of clergy outside the District Of
Columbia, the action Of the clergy
amounts to a ban of both Protestant
and Catholic churches upon the remar
riage Of Divorces In Washington. ant
its influence upon the rest Of the coun
try will doubtless be farreaching.
This, however, hardly strikes at thu
root OF an apparently growing evil II
this country. What is needed is q uni
form code Of marriage and divorce
laws applying to all the states Of the
Union, followed by the rigid enforce
ment of such laws.