The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-02-17
Why We Became the
Purse Bearer.
Continued from Page one.)

Dominican government owes TO for
eign governments about $22,OOO,000
and that $1S.000,000 Of this amount
cugses at length the negotiations that
have taken place looking to the coll
lection Of these debts and says that as
the foreign governments were put off
from time TO time they became inn
Fortunate in pressing their unsatisfied
demands. Continuing the President
says:
"As the result OF chronic disor-
ders attended with 4 constant increase
of debt, the state of things in Santo
Domingo has become hopeless, unless
the United States or some other strong
government shall interpose to bring
order out Of the chaos. The custom
houses with the exception of the two
in the possession OF the financial agent
appointed ny the United States, have,
become unproductiVe for the dis
charge OF Indebtedness except as to
persons making emergency loans to
the government or to its enemies for
the purpose of carrying on political
contests by force. They have in fact,
become the nucleus of the various
revolutions.
THE ordinary resources of diplo-
macy and international arbitration are
absolutely mpotent u deal wisely and
effectively with the situation in the
Dominican republic, which can on
be met by organizing it's finances on a
sound basis ana yplacing the Gus
tom houses beyond the temptation of
insurgent chieltains. Either we must
abandon our duty under our traai-
tional policy toward the Dominican
people who aspire to a Republican
form OF government while they are
actually drifting into q condition of
permanent anarchy. il which case We
must permit some other government
TO adopt its own measures in order TO
safeguard its own inte4e is or else we
mast ourselves take seasonabie and
appropriate action"
1t is suggested by the President that
il plan could be adopted in regard
to San Oomingo similar to that in the
Plat amendment for the government
of Cuba it would be practicable and q
solution to the problem. The message
concludes as follows:
I'VE on our part are simply per-
forming in a peaceful manner not
only with the cordial acquiescence.
but in accordance with the earnest
request of the government concerned.
part Of that international duty which
is necessarily involved in the asser-
ton of the Monroe Doctrine. We are
Z bound to show that we perform this
duty in good faith and without any
Intention Of aggrandiZing ourselves al
the expense of our weaker neigh oors
or of conducting ourselves otherwise
than so as to benefit both these weak
er neighbors and those European
powers which may be brought into
contact with them. 1t is in the hign-
est degree necessary that we should
prove by our action that the world
may trust in our good faith and may
understand that this international
! duty viii be performed by us within
our own sphere, in the interest not
merely of ourselves but of all other
nations and with strict justice toward.
all. If this is done a general accept
ance of the Monroe Doctrine will in
the end surely follow and this will
mean an increase OF the sphere IN
which peaceful measures for the SCI
Element of international difficulties
gradually displace those Of a warlilke
character.
II call attention to the Urgent need
of prompt action on this matter. We
now have a great opportunity to Sc
cure peace and stability in the island
without friction or bloodshed by act
ing in accordance with the cordial in
yitation of the governmental authori-
ties themselves. Tt Will be unfortun-
ate from every standpoint If we fail
to grasp this opportunity for such
failure will probably mean increasing
revolutionary violence in San Domingo
and very possibly embarrassing for
eign complications in addition. This
protocol affords q practical test of
the efficiency of the United States gov
eminent nj maintaining the Monroe
Doctrine.