The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-06

tain republics to the south of us which have already reached such point Of stability order and prosperity that they themselves, though as yet hardly con- sciously are among the guarantors Of thls doctrine. These republics we now meet not only on a basis of entire equality, but in a spirit of frank and respectful friend ship which we hope is mutual. If all Of the republics to the south of us will only grow as those to which l allude have already grown, all need for us to be the especial champions of the doctrine Will disappear, for no stable and growing American republic wishes to see some great non-American military power ac- uuire territory in its neighborhood. All that this country desires is that the other republics on this continent shall be happy and prosperous; and they cannot be happy and prosperous unless they maintain or der< within their boundaries and behave with a just regard for their obligations toward outsiders. It must be understood that under no circumstances will the Uni ted States use the Monroe doctrine as cloak for territorial aggression. We de- sire peace with all the world, but per- hans most of all with the other peoples of the American continent. There are of course limits to the wrongs which any self-respecting nation can endure. It is always possible that wrong actions to- ward this nation, or toward citizens or this nation. in some state unable to keep order among it's own people, unable 10 secure justice from outsiders and unwlll- ing to do justice to those outsiders who treat 1t well, may result in our having to take action to protect our rights; but such action will not be taken win a view to territorial aggression and 1t will De taken at all only with extreme reluctance and when 1t has become evident that nxr1an cf f66
 Moreover, we must make 1t evident that we do not intend to permit the Monroe doctrine to be used by any nation on this continent as a shield to protect 1t from the consequences of it's own nNSdeeds , against foreign nations. If republic to the south of us commits tort against foreign nation. such as an outrage against a citizen of that nation, then the Monroe doctrine does not force us 10 interfere to prevent pun ~,yarnt of the tort save to SC that he pun nsnment does not assume the form of territorial oceu- patton fin any shape. The case IS more difficult when it refers to contractual l obligation. Our own government has al ways refused to enforce such contractual obligations on behalf of It's citizens by | an appeal to arms. 1t is much to be wished that all foreign governments 1 would take the same view. But they do | not; and In consequence we are haple | at any time to be brought face to face | with disagreeable alternatives. On the one hand this country would certainly decline l to go to war to prevent foreign gov | ernment from collecting just debt; on 1 the other hand, 1t is very inadvisable to permit any foreign power to take posses | sion, evens temporarily, of the custom | houses of an American republic In order | to enforce the payment of it's obligations, | for such temporary occupation might turn l into a permanent occupation. The only | escape from these alternatives may at | any time be that we must ourselves un- | dertake to bring about some arrangement | by which so much as possible of a just | obligation shall be paid. It Is far better 1 that this country should put through such ] an arrangement, rather than allow any | foreign country to undertake n. To do ' so insures the defaulting republic from , having to pay debts of an improper char l acter under duress, while 1t also insures 1 honest creditors of the republic from be- Ing passed by In the interest of dis honest or grasping creditors. Moreover, 1 for the United States to take such po- siton offers the only possible way Of in- | surfing us against a clash with some fof- eign power. The position is, therefore, in the interest of peace as well as in the in- terest of justice. It is or benefit to our people; it is of benefit to foreign peoples; and most of all 1t is really of beneht to the people of the country concerned
 This brings me to what should be one of the fundamental objects of the Mon roe doctrine. We must ourselves in good faith try to help upward toward peace and order those of our sister republics which need such felp Just as there has been a gradual growth of the ethical element in the relations of one individual to another. so we are, even though slow ly. more and more coming to recognize the duty of bearing one another's bur dens not only as among individuals, but also as among nations.
 santo Domingo.
 Santo Domingo, in her turn, has now made an appeal to us to help her. and not only everp principle of wisdom but every generous instinct within us re. spends to the appeal. It Is not of the slightest consequence whether we grant the aid needed by Santo Domingo as ar incident to the wise development of the Monroe doctrine. or because we regard the case of Santo Domingo as standing wholly by itself. and to be treated as such, and not on general principles ol with any reference to the Monroe doc
 Urine. The important point Is to give the needed aid. and the case is certainly sufficiently peculiar to deserve to be judged purely on It's own merits. Iht conditions in Santo Domingo have. for g number of years, grown from bad tt worse, until a year ago all society was on the verge of dissolution. Fortunately just at this time ruler sprang up 1T Santo Domingo, who, with his colleagues saw the dangers threatening their coun try and appealed to the friendship oi the only great and powerful neighboi
 who possessed the power and as the, hoped also the will to help them. Ther'
 was imminent danger of foreign interven
 tion. The previous rulers of Santo Do
 mingo had recklessly incurred debts. anc
 owing to her internal disorders she hat
 ceased to be able to provide means O
 paying the debts. The patience of thu
 foreign creditors had become exhausted
 and at least two foreign nations wer'
 on the point of intervention. and wer'
 only prevented from intervening by tn
 unofficial assurance of this governmen
 that it would itself strive to help Sant, ] Domingo in her hour of need. In the cas- 1 of one of these nations, only the actua
 opening of negotiations to this end b.
 our government prevented the seizure 0
 territory in Santo Domingo by a European
 power. Of the debts incurred some wer
 just, while some were not of characte
 which really renders 1t obligatory on
 or proper for, Santo Domingo to pa.
 them in full But she could not pay an. 1 of them unless some stability was as
 sured her government and people.
 Accordingly the executive department o
 our government negotiated a treaty un der which we are to try to help the Do
 minican people to straighten out thei
 finances. This treaty is pending before tn
 Senate. In the meantime a temporary ar | ro pcap,eut has bepp made which will las