Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1905-12-08


law, directors should not be permitted
to use stockholders money for such
purposes, and, moreover prohibition
of this kind would be, as far as II
went, an effective method of stopping
the evils aimed at in corrupt practices
acts.
The Hague Conference.
The first conference of nations held
at The Hague in 1899, being unable to
dispose Of all the business before 1t,
recommended the consideration and
settlement Of a number Of important
questions by another conference to be
called subsequently and at an early
date. These questions were the follow
ing: % The rights and duties Of neu'
trails; (2) the limitation OF the armed
forces on land and sea and of military
budgets; 80 the use Of new types and
calibers OF military and naval guns; a.
the inviolability of private property at
sea in times of war; 90 the lombard
ment of ports, cities and villages by ma.
val forces. In October, 1904, at the in
stance Of the interparliamentary union
| issued invitations TO all the powers
slgnatory to The Hague convention to
send delegates to such conference
and suggested that 1t be again held at
The Hague.
From all the powers acceptance was
received, coupled in some cases with
the condition that we should wait until
the end of the war then waglng be-
tween Russia and Japan. The emperor
of Russia, Immediately after the treaty
of peace which so happily terminated
this war, in note presented to the
president on Sept 13 took the Initiative
in recommending that the conference
be now called. The United States gov
ernment in response expressed its cor
dial acqulescence and stated that II
would as matter of course take part
In the new conference and endeavOr to
further its 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 to
the end thar substantial progress may
be made in 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 fir
place, we must as nation make it ey-
ident 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 II evident that we
do not intend to permit the Monroe doc.
trine 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 us to interfere
to prevent the punishment of a port
save to 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 n contractua
obligation. This country would GER
tainly decline to go to war to prevent d
foreign government from collecting d
| just debt. On the other hand, it Is
very inadvisable to permit any foreign
| power to take possession, even tempo
rarily, of the custom houses of al
American republic in order to enforc,
the payment of its obligations, for sucl
temporary occupation might turn into
| permanent occupation. The only es
cape from these alternatives may a
any time be that we must ourselves
undertake to bring about some arrange
ment by which so much as possible Of
just obligation shall be paid.
To do so insures the defaulting re
| public from having to pay debts of al
improper character under duress, Will,
! 1t also inSures honest creditors of thu
republic from being passed by in tn,
interest of dishonest or grasping cred
| itors. Moreover, for the United States
TO take such position offers the onl!
possible way Of insuring us against I
clash with some foreign power Tn,
! position is therefore in the interest o
peace as well as in the interest of jus
ticc.
snnto Domingo.
Santo Domingo has now made an ap
peal TO us, ana not only every principl,
of wisdom, but every generous instinc
within us, bids us respond TO the ap
peal. The conditions in Santo Doming,
have for number of years grow
from bad to worse until year ago al
society was ON the verge of dissolution
Fortunately just at this time a rule
sprang up In Santo Domingo who, will
his colleagues, saw the dangers threat
ening their country aud appealed TO tn,
friendship of the only neighbor VIII,
possessed the power and the will I,
help them. There was imminent dan
ger Of foreign Intervention. The pa
tiencc of foreign creditors had hccom
exhausted and at least two foreign M
tons were ON the point of Intervention
aud We're only prevented 10y the unoili
Cial assurance of this government tha
il would itself strive TO help SAINT
Domingo iu her hour of need
Accordingly. the executive depart
mcut Of our government negotiated
treaty under which we are trying {
help the Dominican people to straight
On out their finances This treaty 1
ppuliur Ipfr-p thp Spuntp In TN