The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-01-24
Frank Explanation OF an E1traor-
binary Proceeding.

binary Proceeding.
The Administration has published,
through the Department Of State state
ment Of its reasons for entering Santo
Domingo at the invitation OF the Domini-
can Republic and proceeding TO admin
ister the finances Of the country for the
benefit Of its alleged creditors, both
American and European.
We regard this statement as one OF the
frnnkest and most creditable ever com
ING from headquarters at Washington.
even during the time OF the present fear
lesslv outspoken Chief Magistrate. IL
confirms the view we took Of the BUSH
ness Yesterday There is no humbug
about higher civilization, or manifest
destiny, or aliriistic duty toward the
weaker neighbor, or the white mans
burden. he controlling consideration
ia plainly get forth in the passage here
subjoined, and it is precisely what THE
Sun supposed it to be before the state
ment was issued
Ths ooyernmcn, OF the United States having
been explicitly repeatedly and emphatlcally In
II ought either to Try to evolve some order out OF
IN. financial chaos In the Dominican Republic or
assent to certain European creditors Of that re-
pubilc doing THIS aad 70 The administration OF the
Dominican custom houses by them. supported by
their wsrhps, has deemed It advisable In view
of the unfortunate financial conditions tn San'o
potn.ngo watch for the last ten years have been
rapidly growing worse, to accept the Invitation Of
therefore
sentativcs Of this Government and OF Santo Do
rniugo have signed memorandum Of proposed
agreement looking TO the American control OF the
nsca affairs upon the request and with the consent
OF the Dominican Government. The United States
proposes 10 guarantee the territorial inNtry oil
The Dominican Republic
This is perhaps the most important
declaration Of American policy respect
ing the western continent in its relations
to Europe that has appeared since the
Monroe Doctrine itsoI was first pro-
mulgated
First, because 1t recognizes, at least in
part, the force Of the traditional foreign
POSITION and demand with regard TO the
responsibility OF the United States for
the behavior OF the republics whose
territorial integrity is safeguarded by
the Monroe Doctrine.
Secondly, because the official state
ment indicates that the inconvenience
and cost OF such responsibility. at least
in the case of Santo Domingo, have been
weighed carefully against the dangers Of
great foreign war resulting from
denial of the principle; and thus that the
decision Of the Administration is based
on the philosophy of enlightened selfish
ness and on high considerations Of ma
tional expedency.
Thirdly, because the new programme,
with its implied new Interpretation OF
responsibility under the Monroe Doc
trine, involves n radical departure from
previous practice and constitutes for all
future time precedent the far reaching
importance of which cannot be blinked.
Nevertheless, radical as is the depart
= ure, and far reaching as its consequences
may be, THE Sun heartily acquiesces in
the choice Of evils which Mr.. ROOSEVELT
Administration proposes now to make,
and we believe that patriotic American
sentiment viii support the President in
the same.
Of course the novel and unusual rela-
ton which it is proposed that the United
States shall bear TO neghboring SOW
ereicn republic can be eiIectuated con
stitutionally only in the form Of a treaty
between the two Governments. There
are two things in the Administration
statement which reassure us in this
respect:
l. The protocol signed the other day
by the representatives, OF President
ROOSEVELT and OF President MORALES
IS spoken Of in the official statement from
Washington as a memorandum OF
proposed agreement, not as a COM
pleted contract requiring no ratification
by the Senate OF the United States.
2. There is no mention in the official
statement Of Feb. as the date on which
II is proposed to enter Santo Domingo
and to begin 10 administer her finances.
While the energy Of our Executive might
have succeeded in putting a treaty
through the Senate by Wednesday Of
mex; week, the margin Of time would
have been extremely narrow for law
full compliance with the requirements OF
the second clause Of the second section
OF the second article of the United States
Constitution
The Hepburn IiIll.
Tho ,,iops bus for st,rcoetad for ,b n