Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1905-12-05
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE
CONTINUED from page 81

AZ per cent to the government for run
ming expenses and putting the other IS
per cent into safe depositary for
equitable division in case the treaty
shall be 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 Santo Do
mingo, and the different revolutions
usually have as their aim the obtain
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
to Domingo which it has not had be-
fore. This has completely discouraged
all revolutionary movement, while it
has already produced such an increase
In the revenues that the government is
actually getting more from the As per
cent that the American collectors turn
over to it than it got formerly when it
took the entire revenue. It is enabling
the poor harassed people of Santo Do
mingo once more to turn their attention
to industry and to be 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
1t in return gives to. Santo Domingo the
only opportunity Of defense against
claims which it ought not to pay, for
now If it 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 to believe that some Of the creditors
who do not dare expose their claims to
honest scrutiny are endeavoring to stir
up sedition in the island and opposition
to the treaty. In the meantime, 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. If the arrange
mens is terminated by the failure Of
the treaty, chaos will follow, and if
chaos follows, sooner 6r later this gov
eminent may be involved in serious
difficulties with foreign governments
over the island or else may be forced
itself to 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 by the Intervention Of foreign
powers vanishes and the interference
OF our government is minimized so that
we shall only act In conjunction with
the Santo Domingo authorities to 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-
mands for unjust debts. The proposed
method will give the people Of Santo
Domingo the same chance to move on
ward and upward which we have al
ready given to the people of Cuba. It
will be doubly to our discredit as ma
uon If we fail to take advantage of
this chance. for it will be Of damage
to ourselves and it will be Of incalcu-
liable damage to Santo Domingo. Ev-
cry consideration Of wise policy and,
above all, every consideration Of large
generosity bids us meet the request of
Santo Domingo as we are now trying
to meet it.
The Army and Navy.
We cannot consider the question of
our foreign policy without at the same
time treating of the army and navy.
We now have very small army-in-
iced. one well nigh infinitesimal when
compared with the army Of any Other
large nation. OF course the army we
do have should be as nearly perfect of
ITS kind and for its size as is possible.
do not believe that any army in the
world has better average of enlisted
man or better type Of junior officer,
but the army should be trained to act
effectively in mass. Provision should
be made by sufficient appropriations
Tor maneuvers of practical kind so
that the troops may learn how to take
care Of themselves under actual service
conditions, every march, for instance,
being made with the soldier loaded ex-
actly as he would be in an active cam
paign. The generals and colonies
would thereby have opportunity of
handling regiments, brigades and di-
visions, and the commissary and med
1cal departments would. be tested in
the field. Provision should be made for
the exercise at least Of brigade and
by preference OF division in march
ing and embarking at some point on
our coast and disembarking at some
other point and continuing its march.