Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1905-02-23
Roosevelt Declares His Reasons for the
San Domingo Agreement
Assumption Of Temporary Possession
Compelled by Monroe Doctrine
Notable Special Executive Message Sub
mitted to the Outraged Senate

/ attended with 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 ,
bring order out of chaos" The prest
dent then refers to the fact that loans
of various kinds made to the Domlui,
can government have became the
neuclus of the various revolutions
there, and continues;
"The ordinary resources of diplo,
macy and international arbitration
are absolutely impotent to deal wisely
and effectively with the situation in
the Dominican republic, which can
only be met by organizing its finances
on sound basis and by placing tho
custom house beyond the temptation
of insurgent chieftains. Either we
must abandon our duty under our trl>
ditional policy toward the Dominican
! people, who aspire to a republican
form of government while they are
actually drifting into a condition OF
| permanent anarchy, in which case we
must permit some other government
to adopt its own measures in order TO
safeguard its own interests, or else we
must ourselves take seasonable and
appropriate action"
1t is suggested by the president IL a
plan could be adopted in regard to
San Domingo similar to that In the
Plat amendment for the government
of Cuba, 1t would be practicable and a
solution OF the problem. The mes
sage concludes as follows:
Simply Did His DUTY,
I'VE on our part are simply perform
ing in peaceful manner. not on'y
with the cordial acquiescence, but In
accordance with the earnest request
of the government concerned, part OF
that international. duty which is neces
sarily involved in the assertion Of the
Monroe doctrine. We are bound to
show that We perform this duty in
gCo0 faith and without any intent OF
aggrandizing ourselves at the expense
VI Jul NIuhSl Va VI Noh
Quoting ourselves otherwise than SO
as to benefit both these weaker neigh
bors and those European powers
which may be brought into contact
with them. 1t is in the highest 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 will be per
formed by us within our own sphere
in the interest not merely of ourselves
but of all other nations and with strict
justice toward all. IL this Is done a
general acceptance of the Monroe doc
time will In the end surely follow,
and this will mean increase of the
sphere in which peaceful measures
for the settlement of international dit
ficaltles gradually displace those oil
warlike character.
Il call attention to the urgent need
of prompt action on this matter. We
now have a great opportunity to secure
peace and stability in the island
without friction or bloodshed, by act.
ing in accordance with cordial invita-
tion of the governmental authorities
themselves. 1t will be unfortunate
from every standpoint il we fail to
grasp this opportunity, for such failure
will probably mean increasing revolu
tionary violence in San Domingo and
very possibly embarrassing foreign
complications in addition. This proto.
col affords a practical test OF the eff.
cheney of the United States govern,
ment in maintaining the Munroe doc.
| trine"
Conference on Statehood Bill.
The house committee on rules will
today present to the house rule send.
ing the statehood bill to conference.
Lincoln Centennial.
Representative Barthoidt of M
souri, introduced a concurrent reso !.
| ton providing for a joint commission
Of five senators and five representa-.
| tiyes to prepare plan for the celebra.
ton Of the Tooth anniversary of en-.
birth of Abraham Lincoln. February
| u, 1909 The commission Is to report
| to the next congress before December
20, 1905.
House Enters Protest.
The naval appropriation bill further
occupied the attention Of the house
for the major portion OF the session.
Before taking up the naval bill, the
house entered emphatic protest
against the action OF the senate in
amending he agricultural bin as to
interpret the drawback feature Of the
Dingley tariff act, affecting wheat BY
vote Of 261 to the bill was sent
back to the senate with the statement