Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1905-12-15

ference to be called subsequently and at an
early date. In October, 1904, ut the In
stance Of the Interpariiamentary Union, l
issued Invitations to all the powers sigma
tory to The Hague convention 10 send dele
gates to such n conference and suggested
that 1t be again held ut Tho Hague. From
all the powers acceptance was received,
coupled in some cases with the condition
that we should walt until the end of the
war then waging between Russia and ia
pan. The Emperor of Russia, immediately
after the treaty of peace which so happily
to the President on Sept. 10. through Am
bassador Rosen, took the initiative in rec
ommending that the conference be now
response expressed its cordial acqu!es-
cence. We assume that all civilized govern
ments will support the movement. and
that the conference is now an assured fact.
This renders 1t proper at this time TO say
something as to the general attitude OF this
government toward peace. a wanton or
useless war. or n war Of mere aggression
in short, any war begun or carried on in a
constituencies spirit, is to be condemned
as n peculiarly atrocious crime against all
humanity. We can, however, do nothing
Of permanent value for peace unless we
keep ever clearly in mind the ethical Gle
ment which lies at the root of the prob
lem. Our aim Is righteousness. Peace Is
normally the handmnidcn of righteousness;
but when peace and righteousness conflict
then n great and upright people can never
which leads toward righteousness, even
though that path also leads to war. There
can be no worse foe of mankind in gen
eral, and of his own country in particular.
than the demagogue OF war, the man who
in mere folly or TO serve his own selilsh
ends continually rails at and abuses other
nations, who seek, seeks to excite oa MS n,c, snun TRY.
texts, who eNcites and infamcs Il perTerse
and aggressive national vanity, and who
may on occasions wantonly bring on con
t1ict~ between his nation and some other ma
ton. Blu there are demagogucs of peace
just as there are dcmagogues of war,
and In any such movement as TINS
sential not to be mislcd by one set
of extremists any more than by the other.
No object is better worthy the attention
Of enlightened craftsmanship than the cS-
Enlistment of n surer method than now
exists of securing justice as between ma
lions, both for the protection of the little
nations and for the prevention of war be-
tween the big nations. To this aim we
should endeavor not only to avert blood
shed, but, above all, effectively to strength,
should be. and as the world grows In
morality it will be, the guiding rule of con
duet among nations as among individuals;
though the golden rule must not be con-
strued, in fantastic manner, as forbidding
the exercise Of the police power. This
mighty and free republic should ever deal
with all other States, great or small. OH q
basis OF high honor, respecting their rights
as tealously as it safeguards its own.
Expounds the Monroe Doctrine.
One Of the most effective Instruments 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
promoting peace in the western hemisphere
and In giving to each nation thereon the
chance to develop along its own lines. If
changing conditions it would now he com
pletely 0utworn, would not meet any of the
needs of the present day, and indeed would
probably by this time have sunk into COM
plete Oblivion. 1t is useful at home, and
is meeting with recognition abroad because
we have adapted our application of 1t to
meet the growing and changing needs Of
the hemisphere. That our rights and inter
ests 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.
There are certain essential points which
must never be forgotten as regards the
Monroe doctrine: 1t must be understood
that under no circumstances will the Uni
ted States use the Monroe doctrine as n
cloak for territorial aggression. We desire
of all with the other peoples Of the Ameri-
can continent. Moreover, we must make 1t
evident that we do not intend to permit the
Monroe doctrine &c be used b: any nation
on this continent as n shield to protect 1t
from the consequences of its own mlsdeeds
against foreign nations. If a republic to
the south of us commits a tort against n
foreign nation, such as an outrage against
a citizen of that nation. then the Monroe
doctrine does not force US to Interfere to
prevent punishment Of the tort, savo~to see
that the punishment does not assume the
form of territorial occupation In any shape.
Urges SnntO Domingo Action.
Santo Domingo. in her turn, has made
an appeal to US to help her, and not only
every principle Of wisdom but every gen
erous instinct within us bids us, respond
to the appeal. The conditions In santo
Domingo have for a number OF years
grown from bad to worse until a year
ago all society was on the verge of dis
a ruler sprang, up in santo Domingo, who.
with his colleagues, saw the dangers
threatening their country and appealed to
ful neighbor who possessed the power, and
as they hoped also the will to help them.
There was imminent danger of foreign in
PREVENTION. The previous rulers Of Santo
Domingo had reckiessiy incurred debts, anu
owing to her ~!nterna! disorders size had
ceased to be able to provide means of pay
ing the debts. The patience OF her foreign
creditors had become exhausted, and at
least two foreign nations We're on the point
Of Intervention, and were only. prevented
Of this government that it would itself
strive to help Santo Domingo in her hour
Of need. In the case Of one of these
tIons to this end by our government pre-
vented the seizure Of territory in Santo
Domingo by a European power. OF the
were not Of a character which really rem
ders 1t obligatory on. or proper for, Santo
Domingo to pay them In full. But she
could not pay any of them unless some
stability was assured her government and
people. ..l
Accordingly the executive department of
our government negotiated n treaty under
which we are to try to help the Dominican
people to straightcn out their finances.
This treaty Is pending before the Senate.
In the meantime a temporary arrangement
has been made which will last until the
Senate has had time to take action upon the
treaty. Under this arrangement the Do
minican government has appointed Ameri-
cans to all the important positions In the
customs service, and they are seeing to the
honest collection of the revenues. turning
over As per cent to the government for run
ming expenses and putting the other 30 per
cent into u safe depositnry for equitable
division. In case the treaty shall be ratiied,
among the various creditors, whether Euro
pean or American.
This has completely discouraged all revo-
lutionary movement, while 1t has already
produced such an Increase in the revenues
that the government Is actually getting
more from the AZ per cent that the Ameri-
can collectors turn over to 1t than 1t got
formerly when 1t took the entire revenue.
order and all the benefits Of peace are at
last coming to Santo Domingo, danger Of
foreign intervention has Eec; suspended,
and there Is at last n prospect that all
creditors will get Justice, no more and no
Tess. If the arrangement Is terminated by
and IL chaos follows, sooner or later this
government may be involved in serious diff
fculties with foreign governments over the
island, or else may be forced itself to in
tervene In the island in some unpleasant
fashion.
Army and Navy Affairs.
We cannot consider the question of our
treating of the army and the navy. We
now have n very small army-iudeed ono