Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-12-05

some way inimicaI TO their interests,
and we must try TO convince all the
other nations OF this continent once
and for all that no just and orderly
government has anything To fear from
, us. There are certain republics to the
south of us which have already reached
such q point of stability. order and
prosperity that they themselves. though
as yet hardly consciously. are among
the guarantors of this doctrine. These
republics We now meet not only on a
basis OF entire equality. but in Il spirit
of frank and respectful friendship.
which we hope is mutual. If all of TIE
republics TO the south of us viii only
grow as those TO which l allude have
already grown, all need for us 10 be the
especial champions of the doctrine will
disappear, for no stable and growing
American republic wishes to see some
great non-American military power ac-
quire territory in its neighborhood All
that this country desires is that the
other republics on this continent shall
be happy and prosperous, and they
cannot be happy and prosperous unless
they maintain order within their
boundaries and behave with just re
siders. 1t must be understood that I'M
der no circumstances will the United
States use the Monroe doctrine as
cloak for territorial aggression. We
desire peace with all the world. but
perhaps most of all with the other peo-
pies of the American continent. There
are of course limits TO the wrongs
which any self respecting nation can
| III
wrong actions toward this nation or
toward citizens of this nation in some
state unable TO keep order among its
own people, unable to secure justice
from outsiders and unwilling To do jus
tice To those outsiders who treat it well.
may result in our having 10 take ac-
ton to protect our rights. but such
action will not be taken with view to
territorial aggression. and it will be
taken ut all only with extreme reluc-
lance and when it has become evident
that every other resource has been eX-
hauSted.
Not a Shield For Wronsdoers.
Moreover, we must make il evident
that we do not intend 10 permit the
Monroe doctrine to be used by any ma
ton on this continent as II shield 10
protect it from the consequences of its
own misdeeds against foreign nations.
III republic to the south of Us com
mitS a tort against Il foreign nation.
such as an outrage against Il citizen of
that nation, then the Monroe doctrine
does not force us TO interfere 10 pre-
vent punishment of the tort save to see
that the punishment does not assume
the form of territorial occupation in
any shape. The case is more difficult
when it refers to a contractual obliga-
ton. Our own government has always
refused to enforce such contractual oh
legations on behalf of its citizens by an
appeal to arms. 1t is much to be
wished that all foreign governments
would take the same view. But they
do not. and in consequence we are liza
Die at any time To be brought face To
face with disagreeable alternatives. on
the one hand, this country would Ger
tainly decline to 20 To- war to prevent II
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 IN
American republic in order to enforce
the payment of its obligations for such
temporary occupation might turn into
"A 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
a just obligation shall be paid. 1t is
far better that this country should put
through such an arrangement rather
than allow any foreign country to I'M
dertake it. To do SO insures the de
faulting republic from having 10 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 graSping creditors. Moreover for
the United States to take such posi-
ton offers the only possible way OF in
SuTng us against a clash with some
foreign power. The position Is there
fore in the interest of peace AZ well as
in the Interest of Justice. II is OF ben
eft to our people II IS Of benefit 10 for
eign peoples. and. most of all. ii is real
~ of benefit TO the people of the coun-
try concerned.
This brings me TO what should be one
Of the fundamental objects OF the Mon
roe doctrine. We must ourselves I'm
good faith try to help upward toward
peace and order those OF our sister
publics which need such help Just as
there has been a gradual growth OF the
ethical element I'm the relations of on"
individual TO another so we are, even
though slowly. more and more coming
TO recognize the duty of bearing one
another's burdens. not only As among
but also as among nations.
SANTO DOMINGO.