The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-02-24
the SENATE AND SANTO no.
HINGO.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 29.-The most satis-
| factory feature in the Santo Domingo
matter lies In the fact that there Is every
reason 10 believe that the treaty will not
be railroaded through. Thus far very few
members Of tho Senate have given tho
question even casual attention. Their
time and thought have been fully occupied
with other matters. The Santo Domingo
treaty will undoubtedly go over to the
special session TO be called Immediately
after March T.
The conditions OF the special session will
furnish every opportunity for a considero
ton Of this important matter in it's broad
eat light. 1t is the most serious and far
reaching issue which has come before the
American people since those stirring days
seven years ago. out of which there grew
the Spanish-Amerioan War and all which
that event has entailed 1t opens a broad
issue in which Santo Domingo and our re-
lations with her are little more than petty
incidents. In comparison with that which
lies behind it and beyond IL the Santo Do
mingo matter ia almost trivial. Few fore
saw the wide reaching consequences of the
Spanish-American War. The lesson OF the
time should not be forgotten Happily
far different situation exists now. Public
sentiment at that time was mixture Of
excited enthusiasm indignant sentiment
and an intense but unreasoning animosity.
Sympathy for the suffering and struggling
Cubans was blended with anger toward
Spain for the brutality Of Weyler and
the blowing up OF an American battle
ship. But the question OF adopting policy
which may involve the United States
actively and directly, in the affairs Of half
OF the republics In the Western Hemisphere
can be approached in n spirit OF canness
which augurs well for its sound determine
ton.
There are issues relating to the inme-
date question of Santo Domingo TO which |
members Of the Senate arc in no way in
different. There are clauses phrases and |
provisions in the submitted treaty which |
will be scanned with care. But the basic
question, which promises to make the
strongest appeal to thoughtful Senatorial
rests In the issue of an os-
iablshed precedent, practically an an
lounced national policy, which would force
the United States into the position OF an
guarantor of law, order and
financial honesty in every nation on this
side of the Atlantic.
The latest available statistics Of the in
lebtedness Of the republics of the Western
Hemisphere show a total financial obliga-
ion of approxima tely lao, OOO. 900 This
Includes funded and floating debt. domes-
10 and foreign Any changes which may
ave occurred since the preparation OF the
ables used in this computation will not
AFFECT the gross amount. In
ther words, this entire area, with a total
population Of about three-quarters OF Tint
+ the United States owes to its various
reditors about 50 per cent more than we
we to ours.
Some of these countries arc entirely
olvent. and others are fairly so, while still
theirs are hopelessly bankrupt, This is
erhnps best indicated by the per capita
although the matter IA in
ONE cases strongly influenced by other
particularly that Of admins
ration Tho statement of per capita and
ltal indebtedness is given ss follows.