New-York tribune., 1905-03-03
AVOIDING ANNEXATION.


Secretary Hays statement of policy concern
ing Salto Domingo and Hayti is outspoken and
unmistakabe. 1t is in exact accord with sew
aral former intimations and declarations 1t
will meet with the cordial approval of the Amer
lean people, and Ii certainly should, as we be-
lieve it will, dispel any apprehensions which
may thus far have fingered in Haytian or Do
minican minds. 1t should also-and this is not
the least of its merits-proye potent and con-
viDcing argument in favor of the prompt con-
firmation of the pending convention with the
Dominican government; for it must be clear
that this policy and that convention logically
go together. Each is the complement of the
other. Without such statement of policy the
proposed arrangement might seem to contain
the germs of menace to Dominican and Hay
tian independence. Without such a convention.
1t may as truly be said, this admirable policy
would at least be difficult and probematic OF
maintenance
For it is automatic that independence is to be
maintained by deserving it, 1t is not through
general policy of hands off" that these two
republics are to be secured in their sovereign
estate, but rather through their being raised to
condluon and conduct worthy of that status
NO lesson IN the modern political history of the
world is palmer than that. Bankruptcy dis
order, disregard of international obligations are
sure proYocations to alien intervention 1t is
siihpiy Impossible that State should fall into
ana persist in such courses among the civilized
ana iaW-abidlng States of the world, without
being made the object of external constraint. IT
would be reproach to civilization were such a
nuisance permanently tolerated. We are not. of
course, saying that either of those republcs ha 9
YET Decome an intnlerable nuisance: but II is
certain that some of the most judicious states
men or one of them fear that it will soon ha
IoLle 30 unless the United States comes to its
relef If, unhappiy, through neglect of onnor-
tuhlty and duty, this country should LET one Sf
It's helghbors fall into anarchy there is no oues
tion aS 10 the necessity that would then arise
Ii would be situation in which-to adont the
words which President Cleveland wisely and
braVely applied TO the case of Cuba-our ohIi-
cations to the sovereignty of the island would
De superseded by higher obligations which ,vo
could hardly hesitate TO recognize and dis
charge ~
IL is therefore for the sake Of avoiding nossi
Die necessity for annexation that this convep-
ton with Santo Domingo is urgently destrs hIo
II - LOT the sake OF putting that republic into
" coiiui.!oh III which 1t will be in no danger of
losing IT'S independence. This country saws
Secretary Hay, wishes for its two lesser naiGh.
pors only continued peace prosperity and in.
uepehdence Those three things are insenara
oie' III the nrst two are lost, the third cannot
Oe reAiheo. How largely peace and prosperitv
are lost Is matter of mournful record Now
the dominican Republic appeals to us TO helm
ner restore them lest independence also be lost
| II may not be an easy task. Let us conceda
tnat IL VIII be burden from which we might
wish TO be kept free. Nevertheless il is an
alternative to an incomparably harder task
ana heavier burden. No man in his senses
would wish to see Santo Domingo annexed ia
lhe United States 1t is for the avoidance of
any necessity or pretext for annexation that the
protocol is to be approved