New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-12-11
THE MUL4TTO REPUBLIC.
United States May StrMghten Ont
Santo Domingo affairs.

There is mulatto baby Just about sixty years
old but exceedingly small for it's age, which
may make its home. for time at least in the
Capitol at Washington. Here it hopes to find
health. Ever since its birth it has suffered
from certain internal disorders that have
wasted it's strength and stunted its growth. Its
Doctor bills now amount to s3O,OOoOOO.
Because of the weakness and Indulgence of the
West Indian republic of Santo Domingo, it's
constantly increasing debts to foreign coun-
ti:,s and the deep rooted corruption among its
CT. als, the United States may soon step in
a. take charge of that government Nothing
sh It of the actual management OF the republic
by americans is regarded as adequate. Even
TIE most intelligent Dominicans themselves
now recommend intervention. saying that 1t
alcne will save them from utter ruin. AS one
prominent Dominican said
We have census; no surveys; no roads;
no good ports; instruction. 50 per cent of
our population being illiterates; farmers;
no Sailors no professional men; trained SOL
dars but hundreds Of colonies; no surplus. but
an Indebtedness of $3OOOO.OOO: and all our reve-
MUGS are spent in graft and war.
we need civil government, instead Of
military dictatorship. and the United States
can give It to US"
Since last July the United States has been
experimenting with a plan by which the mu-
latto republic, as it is sometimes called. might
Yay off her debts to this country herself The
,ln has not worked In July an arbitration
3card fixed the debt to American capitalists at
1850 900, and arranged that II should be paid
u instalments out of the customs duties of the
four north shore ports. The very first payment
was defauted, and the American fiscal agent
Who was put in charge of the custom house at
Porto Plata, according to the arbitration agree
hirJ Of
the revenues had been going to line the pockets
Of officials
The treaty empowers the United States to
put men In charge of the other three ports;
but such action. 1t is believed in Wash
ington, would not go far enough 1t might pay
a few instruments more but it would not check
the high handed political robbery which is
sapping the republic at its very centre What
is needed Is a complete purging of the govern
ment, from the President to the smallest peon.
and the ousting of the horde of parasites who
pose officers. Such publication also meets
the approval Of the Belgian. French, German
and Holland bondholders to whom Santo Do
mingo owes S7.250.000. and who trying to
get their money back through the customs
duties of the two chief southern ports
Should the United States step in and take hold
of Santo Domingo. such control would be only
temporary. AS one State Department official
pressed it: I'VE would do there what we did
In Cuba-simply straighten things out and leave
them straight The United States will not pur-
chase. annex accept the republic u
gift
The first glance of the American traveller on
landing on Dominican soil is enough to explain
that governments hopeless bankruptcy. He will
groups of lazy loiterers about the pier, whom
he first believes to be bcggars, but who all prove
to be colonies of the army. Although the reve-
nue. of the country amounts TO only 81 100000
year. it maintains military establishment
" hich costs S4.S0O.O00. In order that there may
be many coonelcies possible to distribute
among his supporters. each President cuts up
the army into ever smaller divisions. AS there
have been four Presidents in the last five years