Weekly Arizona journal-miner., 1905-12-13

peoples who on the whole stand for justice, offer not only the best, but the only possible security for a just peace.
 So much it is emphatIcally necessary to say in order both that the position of the United States may not be mis- understood, and that a genuine effort to bring nearer the day of the peace of
 justice among the nations may not be hampered by a folly which, .n striving to achieve theimpossible, would render it hopeless to attempt the achievement of the practical. But while recogniz- ing most clearly all above set forth, it
 remains our clear duty to strive in every practicable way to bring nearer the time when the sword shall not be arbiter among nations.
 If possible, there should be a gen. eral arbitration treaty negotiated amOrg all the nations represented at the conference. Neutral rights and property should be protected at sea as they are protected on land. There should be an international agreement to this purpose and similar agree ment defining contraband of war.
 Monroe Doctrine.
 One of the most effective instru- ments for peace is the Monroe Doctrine as it has been and is being gradually developed by this nation and accepted by other nations. No other policy could have been as efficient in pro- noting peace in the Western Hemis- phere and in giving to each nation thereon the chance to develop along 1inoc Tf hol raf,,gal 4o apply the doctrine to changing eondi- tions it would now be completely out worn, would not meet any of the needs of the present day, and indeed would probably by this time have sunk into complete oblivion. It, is useful at ..ome, and is meeting with recognition abroad because we have adapted our application of it to meet the growing and changing needs of the Hemisphere. When we announce policy, such as the Monroe Doctrine, we thereby com nit ourselves to the consequences of the policy, ana those consequences from time to time alter.
 That our rights and interests are deeply concerned in the maintenance of the doctrine is so clear as hardly to need argument. This is especially true in view of the construction of the Panama canal. As a mere matter of self-defense we must exercise a close watch over the approaches to this canal; and this means that we must be thoroughly alive to our interests in the Caribbean Sea.
 Moreover, we must make it evident thnt do %o %Io Monroe Doctrine to be used by any nation on this continent as a shield to protect 1t from the consequences of its own misdeeds against foreign nations. If a republic to the south of us com mits a tort against a foreign nation, such as an outrage against a citizen of that nation, then the Monroe Doe Urine does not force us to interfere to prevent punishment of the tort, save to see that the punishment does not assume the form of territorial occupa- tion in any shape. The case is more difficult when it refers to a contractual obligation. Our own government has always refused to enforce such con- traetual obligations on behalf of its citizens by an appeal to arms. It is | much to be wished that all foreign | governments would take the same view. | But they do not; and in consequence | we are liable at any time to be brought | face to face with disagreeable alterna- tives. On the one hand, this country | would certainly decline to go to war to prevent foreign government from a just debt; on the other hand, it is very inadvisable to permit any foreign power to take possession, even temporarily, of the custom-houses of an American republic in order to enforce the payment of its obligations; for such temporary occupation might turn into a permanent occupation.
 This brings me to what should be one of the fundamental objects of the Monroe Doctrine. We must ourselves in good faith try to help upward to- ward peace and order those of our sister republics which need such help. Just as there has been a gradual growth of the ethical element in the citations of one individual to another, 70 we are, even though slowly, more md more coming to recognize the duty If bearing one another's burdens, not 'nly as among individuals, but also as Imong nations.
 Santo Domingo.
 Santo Domingo, in her turn, has now made an appeal to us to help her, and lot only every principle of wisdom but very generous instinct within us bids ] IS respond to the appeal. It is not of he slightest consequence whether we rant the aid needed by Santo Do { ningO as an incident to the wise de- l -elopment of the Monroe Doctrine, or { because we regard the case of Santo ( Domingo as standing wholly by itself, I nd to be treated as such, and not on t .eneral principles or with any refer ( nee to the Monroe Doctrine. The I important point is to give the needed f id, and the case is certainly sufficient I y peculiar to deserve to be judged S urelV on it's own merits The condi-