The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1905-12-07

WI Ac1>0 Al OCtoDcxp 3OS7 az AN al
stance OF the interparnamentary union,
I issued Invitations to all the powers
signatory to The Hague convention to
send delegates to such a conference
and suggested that 1t be again held at
Tie Hague.
From all the powers acceptance was
received. coupled In some cases with
the condition that we should walt until
the end OF the war then waging be-
tween Russia and Japan. The emperor
OF Russia. Immediately after the treaty
OF peace which 90 happily terminated
this war, In a note presented to the
president on Sept Is took the initiative
In recommending that the conference
be now called. The United States gov
eminent In response expressed Its cor
dial acquiescence and stated that II
would as a matter OF course AXE part
In the new conference and endeavor to
further It's aims. We assume that ali
civilized governments Will support the
movement and that the conference Is
now an assured fact. This government
will do everything In its power to Sc
cure the success Of the conference to
the end mat substantial progress may
be made in the cause Of international
peace, justice and good will.
MOnroe Doctrine.
There are certain essential points
which must never be forgotten as re-
CARDS the Monroe doctrine. In the first
place. we must as a nation make 1T ev-
ident that We do not intend to treat 1t
in any shape or way as an excuse for
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT on our part at the ex-
pense of the republics to the south.
But we must make il evident that we
do not intend TO permit the Monroe doc
trine to be used by any nation on this
continent as a shield to protect it from
the consequences of its own misdeeds
against foreign nations. The Monroe
doctrine does not force us TO interfere
to prevent the punishment of a port
save to see that the punishment does
not assume the form of territorial Occu-
patton in any shape. The case is more
difficult when it refers to a contractual
obligation. This country would Ger
tainly decline to go to war to prevent a
foreign government from collecting q
just debt. On the other hand, it is
very inadvisable to permit any foreign
power to take possession, even tempo
rarily. OF he custom houses OF an
American republic in order TO enforce
the payment Of its obligations. for such
fornn0rorr noonnoffN, Ynforh$ %,,r-, fn&o
a permanent occupation. The only es-
cape from these alternatives mily at
any time be that we must ourselves
undertake to bring about some arrange
ment by which SO much as possible OF
a just obligation shall be paid.
To do SO insures the defaultlng re-
public from having to pay debts Of an
improper character under duress. while
it also insures honest creditors Of the
republic from being passed by In the
interest Of dishonest or grasping cred
ltors. Moreover. for the United States
to take such a position offers the only
possible way Of insuring us against a
clash with some foreign power. The
position Is therefore in the interest Of
peace as well as In the interest of JUS
tice.
Santo Domingo.
Santo Domingo has now made an ap-
peal TO u.s., and not only every principle
of wisdom. but every generous instinct
within US, bids US respond to the ap-
peal. The conditions In Santo Domingo
have for a number OF years grown
from bad to worse until a year ago all
society was on the verge Of dissolution.
Fortunately just at this time a ruler
sprang up in Santo Domingo who, with
his colleagues. saw the dangers threat
ening their country and appealed to the
friendship of the only neighbor who
possessed the power and the will to
help them. There was imminent dan
ger Of foreign Intervention. The pa
thence of foreign creditors had become
exhausted, and at least two foreign ma
tons were on the point of Intervention
and were only prevented by TIE unoH-
cial assurance of this government that
1t would itself strive to help Santo
Dordngo in her hour of need.
Accordingly. the executive depart
menl of bur government negotiated a
treaty under which we are trying to
help the Dominican people to straight
en- out their finances. This treaty Is
pending before the senate. In the
meantime a temporary arrangement
has been made under which the Domin-
lean government has appointed Amer
leans to all the important positions In
the customs service, and they are see
ing TO the honest collection of the rev.
enues. turning over 10 per cent to the
government for running expenses and
putting the other % per cent into q
safe depository for equitable division
in case the treaty shall be ratified
among the various creditors, whether
European or American.
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 a pros
pect that ali creditors will get justice.
no more and no less. II the arrange
ment Is terminated by the failure of
tie treaty chaos will follow, and sooner
or later this government may be in
volved in serious difficulties with for
eign governments over the island or
else may be forced itself to intervene
In the island in some unpleasant fash
ion.
Army and Navy.