The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1905-04-06
AIDING sANTo DOMINGO,

AIDING SANTo DOMINGO.
The Presidents latest application o.
his consistent and logical policy to-
ward Santo Domingo does not escape
criticism or even denunciation. In
that nobody will be surprised. 1t might
be interesting to speculate upon tn,
origin and animus of the adverse COM
ments, and TO discover, If possible
which arise simply from partisan on
factional opposition TO the administra-
ton and which from misinformation
or Misrepresentation. We are inclined
to think that if all arising from such
sources were eliminated there would
be little left. For what is about to be
done Is no new departure, of doubtful
propriety and possible involving dan
gers. but is merely a continuation Of
principles ana practices common for
uncounted years in this and other
countries.
Note. in the first place. that all this
talk about about ''protectorate" is
unwarranted. No such thing is pro-
posed or contemplated. The United
States is not pressing itself. nor even
its good Offices. upon the Dominican
Republic. 1t is simply answering that
republics urgent call for aid, and II Is
doing so without incurring the slight
est responsibility and without seeking
to exercise the slightest authority
The Dominican government. distrust-
ing the capacity of its own agents for
the administration of the customs scr.
vice, asks that American experts NAV
go down there and do the work. and IL
very naturally and properly requests
the President to suggest some men Of
suitable ability whom 1t may thus em-
pioy' The President is not going to
appoint them or commission them. or
anything Of that sort. He is simn,v
gong to tell President Morales that
such and such men are, in his opinion
suitable for that work. whereunop N-
noraies' II he wishes to do so. Will in
Vlte them to undertake it. President
Roosevelt will not go upon their bopds
nor VIII the American people. Neither
VIII our army and navy be sent thither
70 support them in their work. II is
a common enough proceeding. Innu-
merable American, British, German
French. and other army and navy off,
GERS have at times been lent to Japan
and China, to aid them in the arts NJ
war. Is 1t not equally as fitting h
lend some civilians to santo DOMINGO
to aid that country in the arts NJ
peace?
But the Santo Domingo customs 70.
ceipts are to be deposited in a New
york bank. Yes; why not? We know
OF no constitutional prohibition against
the depositing of foreign funds in
american banks. Really there seems
TO be no reason why we should dis
criminate against Santo Domingo and
say that 1t alone Of all foreign couu-
tries should be debarred from Our
banks. But, once again, there is an
American vessel at Monte Cristi, with
marines aboard, and a landing NAV
De made. Once again why not? II
is no new thing for us to have a war;
snip In Dominican waters, nor would
II De an amazing novelty for us to land
marines for the protection of American
interests. That has been done again
and again, in more lands than on.
moreover, so far as that particular
port Is cocerned, we have a special
right TO take such action whenever It
is needed. entirely without regard To
this latest development Of affairs
For many months we have had speciai
rights there under the terms Of an ar
oltral award, the validity of which. we
fancy, not even the critics Of the Pres
idents policy will question. A pretty
figure We should cut, indeed, If we sent
men down there to fulfil the terms Of
an arbitral award and then failed TO
support and protect them In their
work.
We cannot believe that the Senate
will seriously regard this response Of
the President to santo Domingo's ap-
peal as in any way infringing upon its
prerogatlves. II is most emphatically
not an attempt practically to execute
the treaty which the Senate still has
under advisement The facts that that
treaty has been negotiated, that It is
under favorable consideration by the
Senate and that the Senate Is likely
to ratify it at an early date in the fall