The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-12-08

ton. and we're only prevented from
intervening by the unofficial assurance
OF this Government that IL would ITSELF
strive to heip Santo Dominxo In her
hour OF need In the case Of one OF
these nations. ouiv the actual opeplu ing
of negotiations to thi. end by our Gov
eminent prevented the seizure OF e.
1ors In Santo Domingo by a European
power. OF tho debts incurred some
were lust. while somewere not g. n
character which really renders 10 e Iii
gatory on. or proper for. Santo NO.
mtfigo to pas them In full. Bu; she
could not nav any OF hen unless Some
stability was assured her Government
inc people.
Accordingly the Executive Depart
rtcnt of our Government negotiated n
treaty unde which We are TO trY To
helm the Dominican people to etraish-
ten out their finances This treatv IL
pending before the Senate. In the
meantime n temporary arrangement
has been made which will last until the
senate has had time to TAX action
upon the treaty. Unde this arrange
ment h Dominican Government has
appointed Americans TO all h mpor
TAM positions in the customs service.
and they are seeing to the honest col
lection OF the turning over
45 per cent to h Government for run
ming expenses and putting the other
% Der cent into n safe depositary for
EQUITABLE division In case the reaty
shall he ratified. among the various
creditors. whether European or Amer
lean.
The custom houses offer wal-night
the nly sources OF revenue In Santo
Domingo. and the different revolutions
usually have IA their real aim the oh
tanning possession Of these custom
houses. The mere fact that the collec-
ore 30 49,
they are performing their duties with
efficiency and honesty. and that the
treaty is pending In the senate. gives n
certain moral owe to the Govern
ment Of Santo Domingo which IL has
not had before. This has completely
discouraged all revolutionary move
ment. while Ii has already produced
such an increase in the revenues hat
the Government is actually getting
more from the as per cent tina the
American collectors turn over To IL
than IL got formerly when IL took the
entire revenue. 1t L. enabling the poor
harassed people OF Santo Domingo
once more to turn their attention to
industry and to be free from the curse
of interminabie revolutionary disturb
ance. 1t offers to all bona fide credi-
tors. American and European. the only
really good nance to obtain that to
which thev are Justly entitled while IL
In return gives TO Santo Domingo the
only opportunity of defense against
claims which Ii ought not to a for
now If It meets the views of the Senate
we shall ourselves thoroughly examine
all these claims. whether American or
foreign. and seethat none that are i'm
proper are aid There Is. OF course,
opposition to the treaty from dishonest
creditors. foreign and American. and
from the professional r~evolutionists OF
fhn t11n ~ sAn41E W.
son to believe that some OF the credi-
tors who do not dare xpose their
CLAIMS TO honest scrutiny are endeavor-
ing to stir uD sedition i'm the island and
opposition to the treaty. In the mean-
time ! ave exercised tho authority
vested in me bv the Joint resolution OF
the Congress TO prevent the introduc-
ton of arms into the island for revo-
lut'onarv purposes.
Under the course taken. stability
and order and all the benefits of peace
are at last coming to Santo Domingo.
danger of foreipn intervention has
been suspended. and there is at last a
prospec that all creditors will get
Justice. no more and no less. II the
arrangement is terminated by the fail
ure OF the treaty chaos will follow:
and If chaos follows. sooner or later
this Government may be involved in
serious difficulties with foreign gov
nment over the island. or else may
be forced itself to intervene in the is
land in some unpleasant fashion. Un-
der the treatry the indepen-
dcnce Of the island Is scrupulously re-
spected. the danger OF violation of the
Monroe Doctrine by the intervention
of foreign powers vanishes. and the in
reference of our Government is MINI
miZed. so that we shall only act In con-
junction with the santo Domingo au-
thorities to secure the proper admins
tration of the customs. and therefore
to secure the payment Of lust debts and
to secure the Domoinican Government
against demands for unjust debts. The
proposed method Will give the people
Of Santo Domingo the same chance to
move onward and upward which We
have already given TO the people Of
Cuba. 1t viii be doublv TO our discred-
1t as a nation If we fail to take i'd
vantage of this chance: for II will be
of damage to ouselves. n IL Will he
Of incalculable amaze to Santo Do
mingo. Every consideration of wise
Motley. and above all every consider
alton of arg generosity. bids US meet
the request of Santo Domingo as We
are now trying to meet Ii.
Army n Navy.
We cannot consider the question Of
our foreign policy without at the same
time treating OF the Army and the
Navy. We now have a very mail
army-indeed. one well-nigh infinitesi-
NAL when compared with the army of
any other large nation. OF course the
Army we do nave should be as nearly
perfect Of its kind and for its size as
Is possible. / do not believe hat any
army In the world has a better average
Of enlisted man or a better type OF
junior officer: but the Army should be
trained to act effectively I'm a mass.
Provision should be made bv sufficient
appropriations for maneuvers of q
practical kin SO that the troops NAY
learn o to take care OF themselves
under actual service conditions: every
march. for instance. being made with
h soldier loaded exactly as he would
be In an active campaign. The gen.
erals and colonies would thereby have
opportunity OF handling regiments.
brigades. and divisions. and the COM
missary and medical Departments
.--I