The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1905-12-08


cai.seFS g. hillary ana naval guns. a,
'I-' !h'l9''h.lity Of private property at
sea IN times Of war; 90 the bombar1-
heit OIL '12iS. cities and villages by ma
val FORCES. In October, 1904. at the in
stance of the interparliamentary uniop
l ISSUED invitations to all the powers
slgnatory to The Hague convention in
9enu ueieSates to such conference
ana suggested that it be again held Mt
The Hague.
FROM all the powers acceptance was
received, coupled in some cases with
the condition that we should wait until
Tue end Of the war then waging be-
tween Russia and Japan. The emperor
ol IiuSsla, Immediately after the treaty.
vi peace which so happily terminated
llls war, in note presented TO the
president on Sept. 10 took the initiative
IN recommending that the conference
pe now called. The United States gov
erhment IN response expressed its cor
uiaI acquiescence and stated that II
would as Il matter of course take mart
III tne new conference and endeayor 70
further its aims. We assume that all
cIN'ii2ed governments will support the
movement and that the conference Is
now an assured fact. This government
VIII DO everything in its power to Sc
cure tine success of the conference to
me END That substantial progress NAV
be made in the cause of international
| nnnRn instiaO
| Monroe Doctrine.
1here are certain essential points
winch must never be forgotten as re-
J CARDS the Monroe doctrine. In the first
pace, we must as nation make it ev-
ldent that we do not intend to treat it
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 it evident that we
10 not intend to permit the Monroe doc
trlne to be used by any nation on this
continent as 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 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 contractual
obligation. This country would GER
tainly decline to go to war to prevent
Foreign government from collecting
just debt. On the other hand, it is
very inadvisable to permit any foreign
power to take possession, even tempo
rarily, of the custom houses Of an
American republic in order to enforce
the payment Of its obligations, for such
temporary occupation might turn into
permanent occupation. The only es-
cape from these alternatives may at
any time be that we must ourselves
undertake to bring about some arrange
ment by which so much as possible of
just obligation shall be paid
10 do so insures the defaulting 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 graspng cred
ltors. Moreover for the United States
to take such a position offers the only
possible way of insuring us against
| 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 us, and not only every principle
of wisdom, but every generous instinct
within us, bids US respond to the APP
,, peal. The conditions in Santo Domingo
have for 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 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
| lions were on the point of Intervention
and were only prevented by the unofii-
cial assurance of this government that
| it would itself strive to help Santo
Domingo in her hour of need
Accordingly, the executive depart
ment of our 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 45 per cent to the
government for running expenses and
putting the other 50 per cent into a
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 pros
pect that all creditors will get justice,
no more and no less. If the arrange
ment is terminate, ". the failure of
The treaty chaos will rG,low, and sooner
or later this government may be in
volved in serious difficulties with for
oipn Governments over tho island or