Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1905-08-11


mediate threat came to them in the
shape Of foreign Intervention. The
previous rulers had reeklessly incurred
debts, and owing to her internal disor-
ders She had ceased TO be able TO pro-
vide means Of paying the debts. The
patience Of her foreign creditors had
become exhausted, and at least one
foreign nation was on the point Of
Intervention and was only prevented
from intervening by the unofficial a
suranee Of this government that it
would itself strive to help Santo Do
mingo in her hour Of need. OF the
debts incurred some were just, while
some were not Of n character which
really renders IL obligatory on, or
proper for, Santo Domingo to pay them
in full. But she could not pay any of
them at all unless some stability was
assured.
Accordingly the executive depart
ment Of our government negotiated a
treaty under which we are to try to
help the Dominican people to straight
out their finances. This treaty is
pending before the senate, whose CON
sent is necessary. In the meantime we
have made a temporary arrangement
which will last until the senate has
had time TO take action upon the treaty
this arrangement we see to the
honest administration Of the custom
houses. collecting the revenues, turn
.ng over forty-fve per cent to the gov
for running expenses and put
ing the othe Hfty-ive per cent into a
Iafe deposit for equitable division
Imong the various creditors, whether
European or American, accordingly as,
.fter investigation, their claims seem
ust.
TIE custom houses offer well-nigh
he only sources of revenue in Santo
Domingo, and the different revolutions
have as their real aim the OBJ
aiming possession Of these custom
ouses. The mere fact that we are
rotecting the custom-houses and cv4
the revenue with efficiency and
onesty has completely discouraged all
evolutionary movement, while IL has
produced such an Increase in
10 revenues that the government Is !
getting more from the 45 per I
that we turn over to Il than IL
1t formerly whom IL took the entire q
This is enabling the poor {
lrrassed people of Santo Domingo 4
ice more to turn their attention to I
and to be free from the curse '
interminable revolutionary disturb. '
ice. IL offers TO all bona fde credi- I
RS, American and European, the only 8
good chance to obtain that to I
hich they are justly entitled, while Q
in return gives TO Santo Domingo
% only opportunity Of defense against I
aims which II ought not to pay c
T now IL II meets the views Of the I
we shall ourselves thoroughly (
all these claims, whether
merican or foreign, aud see that none I
at are improper are paid. Indeed, I
@ only effective opposition TO the d
eaty win probably come from dis. 3
NEST creditors, foreign and Ameri- |
N, and from the professional revo.
Of the island itself. We have 8
ready good reason to believe that \
me of the creditors who do not dare v
pose their claims TO honest scrutiny G
e endeavoring to stir up sedition in h
e island, and are also e%ndeavoring 20 L
ir up opposition 10 the treaty both (
Santo Domingo and here, trusting 5
at in n place or the other IL may
possible 10 secure either the re- .
elton Of the treaty or else its 9
nendment in such fashion as to be =
ntamount 10 rejection. q
Under TIE course taken, stability e
d order and all the benefits Of peace &
at last coming TO Santo Domingo,
danger Of foreign Intervention has o
asod, aud there is at last a pros 4
ct that all creditors will get justice, 4
more and no less. If the arrange L
int Is terminated, chaos viii follows a
"a II chaos follows, Ooner or later n
Is government may be involved in d
difficulties with foreign gov h