The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-03-23
Spirit of the Press
Democrats SHOW RacIkbone.

Democrats Show Backbone.
Norfolk Landmark.
1t is understood that the failure Of
the Dominican protocol to obtain rati-
fication at the special session of the
Senate which adjourned saturday was
due to the strong front of opposition
presented by the Democratic members
This is a pleasingfact. Had the
Democrats in the Senate shown the
same amount of backbone in resisting
executive pressure in previous cases,
the country would not today be bur
dened with the Philippines and an eX-
travagant colonial policy. and we
should have settled the Isthmian Canal
question in a manner above reproach
An opposition party must take it's
share of criticism. 1t is far better off
when it darcs to stand against the
majority in spite Of clanor than when
it pursues a jelly-fish policy of reluc-
family supporting measures which it
believes to be wrong. In the case of
the Dominican protocol, it is The
Landmarks belief that public senti-
ment is decidedly with the Senators
who prevented the ratification of the
treaty. Without reference to party
politics. the people do not look with
favor on an arrangement which makes
the United States the catspaw for Eu-
ropean money-lenders. They would
not fancy the idea even if Santo Do
mingo were the only other country
concerned but they can see very
clearly that for the United States to
take charge of the foreign -debt-col-
iecting business in one of the Latin
American republics would set pre-
cedent likely to make us responsible
for the debts of the whole assort-
ment
1t was rumored during the latter
part of last week that unless the
treaty with the Morales government
Germany or some other European
power would invade the little repub-
lie Well, what Of it? The Latin
American countries know very well
the risks they incur when they borrow
from Europeans. Though the people
of the United States do not believe
in the use of public force to collect
private debts, they do not sympathize
in the slightest degree with the ten
dency of many of these smaller
American principalities to incur vast
debts and then disregard them. If
Germany wishes to chastise Santo Do
mingo, she will do so with the knowl-
edge that the United States will not
permit the permanent occupation of
one foot of Dominican territory Ger
many knows. too that the United
States can enforce the prohibition in
II
case of necessity.
We think that public feeling is even
more Indifferent to the reported in
tention of France to punish Venezue-
| la. President Castro's government is
an international nuisance. 1t has not
manners. discretion, or gratitude. Con
stantly looking to the United States
| for protection against the European
powers which he habitually insults.
this boor of a dictator is no sooner
helped out of a critical predicament
| by the United States than he proceeds
to heap impudence upon his benefac-
tor. 1t would be an excellent thing
for France or any other European
country 20 give Venezuela the Whip
ping which she richly deserves. It
wouldn't interfere with tho Monroe
Doctrine. The United States would
not permit the permanent occupation
of any Venezuelan territory by the
European assailants. The time has
come for these Latin-American re-
publics to understand that the United
States protects their territorial integ-
rity but not their rascality or folly.
They should not be allowed to slap
foreign nations in the face over oLr
shoulder.