The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-02-21

the part OF the United states.
There are governments which ~
sometimes take energetic action for ..le
!sake OF their subjects in the enforce
'ment Of merely ~contractual claims, and
~,thereupon American concessionaries sup
PORTED by powerful influences first
make loud appeal to the United States
government in similar cases for similar
action. They complain that In tne az
ltural posture OF affairs their
properties are practically c~onfiscated,
THAT American enterprise Is paralyzed
land that unless they are fully protec--
led, even by the enforcement of Eaeir
lmereiy contractural rights, 1t maans
the abandonment to the subjects Of
tother governments of the interests OF
american trade and through
the sacrifice of their investments ty
axcessive taxes imposed in violation
of contract. and by other devices and
the sacrifice OF the output of tncir
mfnes and other industries and even OF
their railway and ships interests. hich
they have established in connection
gith the exploitation of their conccs-
,s;ona.
The attempted solution Of the co,u-
Iplex problem by the ordinary methods
tof diplomacy reacts iniuriously rDo7
the United States government itself,
and In q measure p~aralyzes the act1'n
lof the executive in the direction ~ 4
sound and consistent policy.
Under the accepted law OF nati1as.
foreign governments are within tloir
right Il they choose to exercise IT.
when they actively intervene in sur
IpoTt of the contractual claims Of their
subjects They sometimes exercise
this power and on o of CONNER
icial rivalries there is a growing ten
Idency ON the part Of other govern
Iments. more and more to aid Tor
Ically in tho enforcement of the claims
Iof their subjects. In view of the dlleiu-
ma in which the government of te
limited States is thu placed it mus
jeither adhere to it's usual attitude OF
jnon-intervention in such caSes-an at
ltitude proper under normal conditions,
but one which in this particular kired
lof case results to the disadvantage OF
Its citizens, in comparison with those
Iof other states-or else it must, in ORDER
TO be consistent in it's policy. actively
Intervene to protect the contracts and
concessions of it's citizens a III
agriculture. commerce and Transports
Ition in competition with the subjects
land citizens of other states"
incorporated in the message is q
financial statement showing that the
dominican government owes to foreign
governments about $22,0 600, 900 and that
1878, 900, 600 of this amount is recognized.
The President discusses at lengta the
negotiations that have taken place
looking to the collection Of these debts
lend says that as the foreign govern
ments were put off from time to time
they became importunate in pressing
itheir unsatisfied demands. Continuing
1.-THE President say
CAS- the result OF chronic disorders
IattenGed with I con tant increase OF
ldebt, tine state OF things in Santo Do
|mingo has become hopeless, miles
limited states Or SOME other strong gov
Iernment shall interpOse to bring. 1t OUT
Iof the chaos. The custom houses Win
1.-The exception of the wo i'm the posses
lsion of the financial agent appointed by
I1he United States, have become unpro-
lGuctive for the discharge of indebted
mess. except as to persons makln
emergency loans to the government. OR
Ito it's enemies ;ur the purpose OF cair-
|rying ON political contests by force.
lThey have in fact. become the nuc.el
Iof the various re%volutdons.
The ordinary resources of diploma
Icy and en- bitration were absolutely i'm
potent to Zeal Wisely n effectively
with the situation in the Dominican
lrepuo,lc, which can Only be met by or
lsarizing it's finances III a sound BASS
and by placing the custom houses he
lvoni the. temptation Ct inSurganI
lchieftans. EitE1er we must
Iour duty under our traditional policy
toward the Dominican people. who
Iaspire to q, republican form of govern
ImenJ while they are actually drifting
Unto a condition Of permanent ANARCHY,
lin which case we must permit some
lother government to adopt it's own
measures in order to safeguard its w
Interests, or else We must ourselves
take seasonable and appropriate lc-
Itlon.''
It is suggested by the President that
If a plan could be adopted in regard to
lSan Domingo similar ito that in n
Plat amendment for the government
Iof Cuba it would be practicable and
"a solution to the problem The Ines
sage concludes as follows:
w On our part are simply PERFORM
ling in al peaceful manner. mo- only
with the cordial a~cQuieScenoe, but in
accordance with the earnest reques. OF
1.-THE government concerned. part of that
international duty which is necessarily
LII " " IL t4AS -o1 eRo0A "a G3IS ~ASAA ~
doctrine. We are bound to show that
I'VE perform this duty in good faith and
without amy intention Of aggrandizjng
ourselves at the expense of our weaker
.lneighbors or of conducting ourselves
otherwise than so as to benefit both
these weaker neighboTS and those Eu-
Irooean powers which may be brought
Into contact with them. 1t is il the
highest degree necessary that we
should prove by our action hat the
world may trust in u good faith and
may understand that this international
duty will be performed by us within
lour own sphere, in the interest not
merely of ourselves, but of all other
nations and with strict justice toward
all. If this is done a general accep-
ftance Of the Monroe doctrine will in the
END surely follow and this will mean
ian increase in the spherein which peace
lful measures for the settlement OF in
G@~r,,k-io~~J IsAe:1,.Aso1 ~-.1l.-~J1~ a.