The daily morning journal and courier., 1905-12-06

limits to the wrongs which any self respecting nation can endure. It is al- ways possible that wrong actions to- ward this nation, or toward citizens of this nation, in some state unable to Keep order among its own people, un- able to secure justice from outsiders, and unwilling to do justice to those outsiders who treat 1t well, may result Tn our having to take action to protect our rights: but such action will not be taken with a view to territorial aggres- son, and it will be taken at all only with extreme reluctance and when it has become evident that every other re- source has been exhausted.
 Moreover, we must make it evil dent that we do not intend to permit the Monroe doctrine :o be used by any nation on this continent as a shied to protect it from the consequences of it's own misdeeds against foreign nations. If republic to the south of us com- mits a tort against a foreign nation, such as an outrage against a citizen of that nation, then the Monroe doc tflne does not force us to interfere to prevent punishment of the tort, save to See that the punishment does not assume the form of territorial occupa- ton in any shape. The case is more difficult when it refers to a contractuaI obligation. Our own government has always refused to enforce such con- tracutal obligations on behalf of it's citizens by an appeal to arms. It is much to be wished that all foreign gov- ernmentS would take the same view. But they do not; and in consequence we are liable at any time to be brought face to face with disagreeabIe altetrna- tives. On the one hand this country would certainly decline to so to war to prevent q foreign government from collecting just debt; on the other hand, it is very inadvisable to permit any foreign power to take possession, even 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 into permanent occupation. The only escape from these alternatives may at any time be that we must our selves undertake to bring about some arrangement by which 50 much as pos- sible of a just obligation shall be paid. It is far better that this country should put through such an arrangement, rather than allow any foreign country to undertake it. To do 50 insures the defaulting republic from having to pay debts of a nimproper character under duress, while it also insures honest creditors of the republic from being passed by in the interest of dishonest or grasping creditors. Moreover, for the United States to take such a position offers the only possible way of insur- ing us againstN N, clash with some for eign power. ThGsposition is, therefore, in the interest of peace as well as in the interest of justice. It is of benefit to our people; it is of benefit to foreign peoples; and most of all it is really of benefit to the people of the country con- cerned.
 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 re- publics which need such help. 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 slowly, more and more com ing to recognize the duty of bearing one another's burdens, not only as among individuals, but also as among nations. i SantO Domingo.
 ! Santo Domingo, in her turn, has now made an appeal to us to help her, and not only every principle of wisdom but every generous instinct within us bids us respond to the appeal. It is not of the slightest consequence whether we grant the aid needed by Santo Domingo as an 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 ngeneral ! principles or with any reference to the Monroe doctrine The important point 1 is to give the needed aid, and the case is certainly sufficiently peculiar to de- serve to be judged purely on it's own merits. The conditions in Santo Do- ! mingo have for a number of years grown from bad to worse until a year ago all society was on the verge of dis solution. Fortunately, just at this time 8 ruler sprang up in Santo Domingo, who, with his colleagues, saw the dan gers threatening their country and ap- peapled to to the friendship of the only great and powerful neighbor who possessed the power, and as they hoped also the will to help them. There was imminent danger of foreign inter- vention. The previous rulers of Santo Domingo 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 na- tions were on the point of intervention, and were only prevented from interven- ing by the unofficial assurance of this government that it would itself strive to help Santo Domingo in her hour of need. Tn the case of one of these na- tions, only the actual opening of nego- tiations to this end by our government prevented the seizure Of territory in Santo Domingo by European power. /! Of the debts incurred some were just, while some were not of a character which really renders it obligatory on, or proper for, Santo Domingo to pay them in full. But she could not pay any of them unless some stability was