Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1905-12-15
ment between other nations and our
selves.
Need an Elastic currenev.

selves.
Need an Elastic Currency.
Every consideration or prudence de-
mands the addition OF the element OF
elasticity TO our currency system The
evil does not consist in an inadequate
volume OF money, but in the rightly OF
this volume, which does not respond as
it should TO the varying needs of COM
munities and OF seasons. Initiation must
be avoided: but some provision should
be made that will insure a larger volume
of money during the fall and winter
months han in the less active seasons
or the year: so that the currency VIII
expand for the needs Of legitimate bus
ness. At present the treasury depart
ment is at i~rregularly recurring inter-
vas obliged, in the interest of the bus
mess world-that is, in the interests of
the American public--to try to avert
financial crises by providing a remedy
which should be provided by congress
Scrutinize Campaign Gifts.
I desire to repeat this recommendation:
In political campaigns IN a country as
large and populous as ours II is newt
Of an entirely legitimate kind, This. of
course, meanu that man. contributions,
and some of them Of large size. must
be made, and, as matter of fact, in any
big political contest such contributions
are always made to both sides. 1t is
entirely proper both to give and receive
them, unless there is an improper motive
connected with either gift or reception.
If they are extorted by any kind Of pres
sure or promise, express or implied, d.
immunity, then the giving or receiving
becomes not only improper but criminal.
1t will undoubtedly be difficult as a
matter of practical detail to shape an
act which shall guard with reasoDaDic
certainty against such misconduct but
If 1t is possible to secure by law tho full
the sums coQtIbu ted TO and expended
by the candidates or committees of any
political parties, the result can not but
be wholesome.
Stop Insurance Campaign Funds.
All contributions by corporations to any
political committee or for any political
purpose sheuld be forbidden by law; d.
recfors should not be permitted to use
and, A moreoSer ni a pEo6 afE iSSoo Of P fSEs Rind
would be, as far as it went, an effective
method of stopping the evils aimed at in
both the national and the several state
legislatures forbid any officer of a corpo-
ration from using the money of the
corporation in or about any election. but
they should also forbid such use. of
money in connection with any legislation
save by the employment Of counsel in
public manner for distinctly legal sery-
Ices.
Takes Up Peace Question.
More and more war is coming to be
looked upon as in Itself a lamentable and
evil thing. A wanton or useless war, or
- 'IA - ~ 900 a ally
war begun or carried on In q conscience
less spirit, Is to be condemned as a pecu-
liarly atrocious crime against all hu-
manity. 1T Is possible for a
nation or an individual to work for real
peace, assuredly 1t is failure of duty not
so to strive; but If war Is necessary and
righteous then either the man or the
nation shrinking from It forfeits all title
to self respect. We have scant sympathy
with the sentlmentalist who breads OPP
preston less than physical suffering, who
would prefer a shameful peace to the
pain and toll sometimes lamentably nee
essary in order to secure a righteous
peace.
international Arbitration.
Very much can be done through another
Hague conference In this direction, and 1
most earnestly urge that this nation do all
In IT'S power to try to further the move
ment and to make the result OF the de-
cisiops Of The Hague conference effective.
| earnestly hope that the conference may
be able to devise some way to make arbi-
tration between nations the customary
way Of settling international disputes in
all save a few classes of cases, which
should themselves be as sharply defined
and rig.dly limited as the present gov
ernmental AND social development of the
world will permit. If possible there should
be a general arbitration treaty negotiated
among all the nations represented at the
conference.
The Monroe Doctrine.
One Of the most effective instruments for
peace is the Monroe doctrine as It has
been and is being gradually developed by
THIS nation and accepted by other ma
tons. No other policy could lave been as
efficient in promoting peace in the western
hemisphere and In giving to each nation
thereon the chance TO develop along its
own lines. If we had refused to apply
the doctrine to changing conditions II
would now be completely outworn, would
not meet any of the needs of the present
day, and indeed would probably by this
time have sunk into complete oblivion.
. That Our rights md lnfnpagF9 - dam
Iy concerned In the maintenance Of the
doctrine Is so clear as hardly to need
argument. This is especially true in view
or the construction of the Panama canal.
AS a mere matter OF self-defense we must
exercise q close watch over the approaches
to th4s canal; and his means that we must
be thoroughly alive 10 our interests in the
Caribbean sea.
Not a Means of Aggression.
There are certain essential points which
must never be forgotten as regards the
Monroe doctrine. In the first place we
must as a nation make it evident that we
do not intend TO treat ii in any shape or
as an excuse for ACKNOWLEDGEMENT on
our part at the expense Of the republics
TO the south. We must recognize the fact
that in some South American countries
there has been much suspicion lest we
should interpret the Monroe doctrine as in
some way ininical 10 their interests, and
we must try TO convince all the other na-
tons of this continent once and for all
that no just and orderly government has
anything to fear from US.
Can't Use 1t as a Shield.
Moreover, we must make 1t evident that
We dc not intend TO permit the Monroe
doctrine to be used by any nation on this
continent as a shield to protect ii from
the consequence of its own misdeeds
against foreign nations. If a republic to
the south OF us commit a tort against
a foreign nation, such as an outrage
against a citizen of that nation, then the
Monroe doctrine docs not force Us TO in
terfere to prevent punishment of the tort,
save TO see that the punishment does not
assume the form of territorial occupation
in any shape. On the one hand, this
country would certainly decline to go TO
war TO prevent a foreign government
from collecting a just debt; on the other
any foreign power to take possession,
even temporarily, Of the custom houses
Of an American republic III order TO en-
force the payment Of its obligations; for
into a permanent occupation. The only
escape from these alternatives may at
any time be that we must ourselves un-
dertake 70 bring about some arrangement
by which so much as possible of a just
shall be paid. If is far bet-
ter that this country should put through
such an arrangement, rather than allow
any foreign country to undertake Il.
The Santo Domingo Question.
Santo Domingo, in her turn. has now
made an appeal to US TO help her, and
not only every principe or wisdom but
every generous inStincs within US bids US
respond 10 the appeal. Ii is not OF the
consequence whether we grant
the ala needed by Santo DOMINGO as am
10 the wise development OF the
Monroe doctrine, or because we regard
the case of Santo Domingo as tanding
wholly by Itself, and to be treated as
SUCH, and not ca general principles or
with any reference TO the Monroe dee
II1lle. Inc conditions in Sanro Domingo