The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1905-12-08
FARMvILLE, VA. FRIDAY, DECEMBER s. 1905

m me new conference ana endeavOr 10
further It's aims. We assume that all
civilized governments will support the
movement and that the conference is
now an assured fact. This government
will do everything IN its power TO Sc
cure the success Of the conference 20
the end that substantial progress may
be made I'm the cause Of international
peace, justice and good will
MONROE DOCTRINE
There are certain essential points
which must never be forgotten as re-
CARDS the Monroe doctrine In the first
place, we must as a nation make it ey-
idcnt that we do not intend to treat II
in any shape or way as an excuse for
aggrandizement on our part at the ex-
pense Of the republics to the south.
But we must make it evident that we
do not intend to permit the Monroe doc
trinc to be used by any nation on this
continent as a shield to protect it from
the consequences OF its own misdeeds
against foreign nations. The Monroe
doctrine does not force MS TO interfere
to prevent the punishment of port
save 10 see that the punishment does
not assume the form Of territorial occu-
patton in any shape. The case Is more
difficult when it refers TO a contractual
obligation. This country would GER
tainly decline 10 90 10 war TO prevent
foreign government from collecting
Just debt. On the other hand, 1t is
very inadvisable TO permit any foreign
power TO take possession, even tempo
rarily. of the custom houses Of an
American republic i'm order 20 enforce
the payment of its obligations. for such
temporary occupation might turn into
permanent occupation. The only es-
cape from these alternatives may at
any time be that we must ourselves
undertake TO bring about some arrange
mcnt by which so much as possible Of
a just obligation shall be paid.
To do so insures the defaulting re-
public from having TO pay debts Of an
improper character under durcss. while
It also insues honest creditors Of the
republic from being passed by in the
interest Of dishonest or grasping cred
itors. Moreover. for the United States
10 take such a position offers the only
possible way of insuring us against a
clash with some foreign power. The
position is therefore IN the interest Of
peace MS well as in the interest Of JUS
tice
SANTO DOMINGO.
Santo Domingo has now made an APP
peal 10 us. and not only every principle
Of wisdom, but every generous instinct
within MS, bids us respond 10 the APP
peal The conditions in Santo Domingo
have for a number Of years grown
from bad TO worse until year ago all
society was on the verge Of dissolution.
Fortunately just at this time a ruler
sprang up i'm Santo Domingo who, with
his colleagues. saw the dangers threat
enlng their country and appealed to the
friendship Of the only neighbor who
! possessed the power and the will TO
help them. There was imminent dan
ger Of foreign Intervention. The pa
tience Of foreign creditors had become
| exhausted. and at least two foreign ma
tions were on the point Of Intervention
and were only prevented by the unohi-
cial assurance Of this government that
il would itself strive TO help SantO
| Domingo i'm her hour Of need.
Accordingly, the executive depart
ment Of our government negotiated a
treaty under which we are trying to
help the Dominican people 10 straight
en- out their finances. This treaty is
pending before the senate. In the
meantime a temporary arrangement
has been made under which the Domin-
lean government has appointed Amer
leans 10 all the important positions in
the customs service. and they are see
ing TO the honest collection Of the rev.
enues. turning over 45 per cent to the
government for running expenses and
putting the other 55 per cent into a
safe deposltary for equitable division
in case the treaty shall be ratified
among the various creditors, whether
European or American.
Under the course taken stability and
order and all the benefits Of peace are
at last coming to Santo Doningo, dan
ger Of foreign Intervention has been
suspended. and there Is at last a pros
pect that All creditors will get Justice
no more and no less. II the arrange
ment is terminated by the failure o.
the treaty chaos will follow. and sooner
or later this government may be in
volved in serious difficulties with for
eign governments over the island or else
may be forced itself 10 intervene I'm the
island I'm some unpleasant fashion.
ARMY AND NAVY.
l do not believe that any army in the
world has a better average Of enlisted
man or a better type Of junior officer.
but the army should be trained TO act
effectively in a mass. Provision should
be made by sufficient appropriations
for maneuvers Of a practical kind.
Provision should be made for the pro-
motion Of exceptionally meritorlous
men over the heads Of their comrades
and for the retirement Of all men who
have reached a given age without get
ting beyond a given rank.
There should be an increase in the
coast artillery force so that our coast
Notifications can be I'm some degree
adequately manned. There Is special
need for an increase and reorganization
Of the medical department Of the army.
In both the army and navy there must
be the same thorough training for duty
In the stan corps as in the fighting line.
The importance Of this was shown con-
clusively in the Spanish-American and
the Russo-Japanese wars. The work
of the medical departments in the Jap
! onoeo army and navy is especially