Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-12-05

time a ruler Sprang UP in Santo DOmin-
go who, with his collea sues. saw II g
dangers threatening their country and
appealed TO the friendship of the only
great and powerful neighbOr who pos
sessed the power and, as they hoped.
also the will to help them. There was
imminent danger of foreign interven-
ton. The previous rulers of Santo Do
mineo had recklessly incurred debts.
and owing TO her internal disorders she
had ceased to be able to provide means
OF paying the debts The patience of
her foreign creditors had become ex-
hausted and at least two foreign ma
tions were on the point of Intervention
and We're only prevented from inter
vening by the unofficial assurance Of
this government that it would itself
strive 10 help Santo Domingo in her
hour of need. In the case of one of
these nations only the actual opening
of negotiations 10 this end by our gov
eminent prevented the seizure of ter
ritOry in Santo Domingo by a European
power. OF the debts incurred some
were just, while some were not of
character which really renders it OBJ
ligatory on or proper for Santo DoInin-
70 TO pay them in full. But she could
not pay any of them unless some sta
bility was assured her government and
people.
Accordingly. the executive depart
ment of our government negotiated
treaty under which we are able TO try
10 help the Dominican people TO
straighten out their finances. This
treaty is pending before the senate. In
the meantime temporary arrange
ment has been made which will last
until the senate has had time to take
action upon the treaty. Under this ar
ranSement the Dominican government
has appointed Americans to all the i'm
pOrtant positions in the customs serv-
Ice. and they are seeing TO the honest
collection of the revenues, turning over
10 per cent TO the goverpInent for run
ming expenses and putting the other %
per cent into a safe depos,tary for
equitable division in case the treaty
shall he ratified among the various
creditors, whether European or Ameri-
can.
Custom Houses and Revolutions.
The custom houses offer well nigh the
only sources of revenue in Sauto Do
mingo and the different revolutions
4
ing possession of these custom houses. |
The mere fact that the collectors of |
customs are Americans, that they are |
performing their duties with efficiency |
and honesty and that the treaty is |
pending in the senate gives "a certain |
moral power to the government OF San
10 Domingo which ii has not had be-
fore. This has completely discouraged |
all revolutionary movement. while il |
has already produced such an increase
in the revenues that the government is
actually getting more from the 40 per
cent that the American collectors turn
over 10 ii than IL got formerly when it
took the entire revenue. Ii is enabling
the poor harasscd people of Santo Do
mingO once more TO turn their attention
10 industry ana to he free from the
curse of interminable revolutionary
disturbance. 1t offers to all bona fde
creditors. American and European. the
only really good chance to obtain that
to which they are justly entitled, while
il in return gives To Santo Domingo the
only opportunity of defense against
claims which il ought not TO pay. for
now il il meets the views Of the senate
we shall ourselves thoroughly examine
all these claims. whether American or
foreign. and see that none that are i'm
proper are paid. There is of course.
opposition to the treaty from dishonest
creditors, foreign and American, and
from the professional revolutionists of
the island itself We have already rea-
son 10 believe that some Of the creditors
who do not dare expose their claims TO
honest scrutiny are endeavoring TO stir
uD scdition in the island and opposition
To- the treaty. In the meantime. l have
exercised the authority vested in me by
the joint resolution of the congress To-
prevent the introduction OF arms into |
the island for revolutionary purposes.
Under the course taken. stability and
order and all the benefits of peace are
at last coming to Santo Domingo, dan
ger of foreign Intervention has been |
suspended. and there is at last pros
pect that all creditors will get justice,
no more and no less IL the arrange
ment is terminated by the failure OF
the treaty. chaos will follow. and il
chaos follows. sooner or later this gov
eminent may be involved I'm serious
difficulties with foreign governments
over the island or else may be forced
itself 10 intervene in the island in
some unpleasant fashion. Under the
proposed treaty the independence OF
the island is scrupulously respected.
the danger Of violation Of the Monroe
doctrine 10y the intervention Of foreign
powers vauishes and the interference
II our government is minimiZed so that
we shall only act in conjunction with
the Sauto Domingo authorities 10 Sc
cure the proper administration OF the
customs and therefore to secure the
payment of just debts and TO secure ;
the Dominican government against de I
mandS for unjust debts. The proposed {
method viii give the people OF Santo
Domingo the same chance To move on a
ward and upward which we have al Z
ready given To the people of Cuba. IL /