The daily morning journal and courier., 1905-08-12

always refused to enforce such cOntrac- tural obligations on behalf of its citi- Zens by the appeal to arms. It is much to be wished that all foreign govern nlents would take the same view. But at present this country would cer- tainly not be willing to go to war to prevent foreign government from col- lecting a just debt or to back up some one of our sister republics in a refusal to pay just debts; and the alternative may in any case prove to be that we shall ourselves undertake to bring about some arrangement by which so much as is possible of the just obliga- tions shall be paid. Personally l should always prefer to see this country step in and put through such an arrange ment rather than let any foreign coun- try undertake it.
 do not want to see any foreign power take possession permanently or temporarily of the custom-houses of an American republic in order to enforce its obligations, and the alternative may at any time be that we shall be forced to do so ourselves.
 Finally, and what is in my view, really the most important thing of all, it is our duty, so far as we are able, to try to help upward our weaker broth CTS. Just as there has been a gradual growth of the ethical element in the relations of one Individual to another, so that with all the faults of our Chris tian civilization it yet remains true that we are, no matter how slowly, more and more coming to recognize the duty of bearing one another's burdens, similarly I believe that the ethical ele- ment is by degrees entering into. the dealings of one nation with another.
 Under strain of emotion caused by sudden disaster this feeling is very ev- ident. A famine or plague in one country brings much sympathy and some assistance from other countries. Moreover, we are now beginning to re- l cognize that weaker peoples have a claim upon us, even when the appeal is made, not to our emotions by some sudden calamity, but to our consciences l by long continuing dondition of af- fairs.
 I do not mean to say that nations have more than begun to approach the proper relationship one to another, and fully recognize the folly of proceeding | upon the assumption that this ideal condition can now be realized in full 1 for, in order to proceed upon such an assumption, we would first require some method of forcing recalcitrant na- tions to do their duty, as we'll as of sec | ing that they are protected in their rights.
 i In the interest of justice, it is as ne 1 cessary to exercise the police power as to show charity and helpful generosity. But something can even now be done toward the end in view. That some I thing, for instance, this nation has all I ready done as regards Crb1 ""' 's now trying to do as regards Santo Do" | mingo. There are fen tn4n5-, -.- | history in which we should take more l genuine pride that the way in which we liberated Cuba, and then, instead of in- l stantly abandoning it to chaos, stayed in direction of the affairs of the island until we had put it on the right path, and finally gave it freedom and helped it as it started on the life of an inde- pendent republic.
 Santo Domingo has now made an ap- peal to us to help it in turn, and not only every principle of wisdom, but ev- cry generous instinct within us bids us respond to the appeal The conditions in Santo Domingo have for a number of years grown from bad to worse unti recently all society was on the verge ot dissolution. Fortunately just at this time a wise ruler eprang up in SantC Domingo, who, with his colleagues, saw the dangers threatening their beloved country, and appealed to the friendship of their great and powerful neighbor to help them. The immediate threat came to them in the shape of foreign inter vention. The previous rulers of SantC 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 ot her foreign creditors had become ex. hausted, and at least one foreign na. tion was on the point of intervention and was only prevented from interven- ing by the unofficial assurance of this government that it would strive to helr Santo Domingo in her hour of need 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 at all unless some stabil. ity kas assured.
 Accordingly the executive depart ment of our government negotiated z treaty under which we are to try tt help the Dominican people to straight en out their finances. This treaty i: pending before the senate, whose con. sent to it is necessary. In the mean time we have made a temporary ar rangement which will last until tht senate has had time to take actiol upon the treaty. Under this arrange ment we see to the honest administra tion of the custom-houses, collecting the revenues, turning over forty-fivt per cent. to the governfent for running expenses and putting the other fifty
 five per cent. into @ safe deposit fo
 equitable division among the various creditors, whether European or Amer
 ican, accordingly as, after investiga
 ton, their claims seem just.
 The custom-houses offer well-nigl