Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1905-12-05


citizens by an appeal TO arms, II Is
much To be wished that all foreign
governments would take the same
view. but they do not and In con
sequence We are liable at any time
To be brought face TO face with disa-
greeable alternatives. Tn the one
hand, this country would certainly de-
cline to go to war 10 prevent a foreign
government from collecting u just
debt; on the other hand, II ID very In
advisable TO permit any foreign pow
or to take possession, even temporafl
". of the custom houses OF an Anle'
rican republic In order to enforcs the
payment of It's obligations; Tor SUN
temporary occupation might turn In
to a permanent occupation. The only
escape from these alternatives may Ut
any time be that We must ourselves
undertake to bring about some ar
rangement by which 50 much rs pos
sible Of a Just obligation shall ~
paid. II Is far better that this coun'
try should put through such M ~
rangement, rather than allow any for
eign country TO undertake II. To do
so insures the defaulting republic
from having To pay debts OF an I'm
proper character under duyess. while
It also insures honest creditors OF the
'epublic from being passed by In the
interest Of dishonest or grasping ere.
iitors. Moreover. Tor the United
States to take such a position offers
he only possible way Of insuring us
against. a clash with some foreign
power. The position Is, therefore, In
the interest Of peace as well as In the
interest OF justice. II Is OF beneft
to u people: II Is Of benefit to for
eign peoples; and most Of all It Is real.
!y of benefit to the people OF the coun'
Try concerned.
This brings me to what should be
one of the fundamental objects OF
the Monroe doctrine. We must our.
selves in good faith try to help upward
toward peace and order those Of u
sister republics which need such help.
Just as there has ben a gradual growth
Of the ethical element In the relations
Of one individual to another, SO we
are, even though slowly, o and
more coming to recognize the duty OF
bearing one another's burdens, not
only as among individuals. but also as
among nations.
santo Domingo.
SantO Domingo, In her turn. has
now made an appeal to us to help her,
and not only every principle Of wis.
dom but every generous instinct with
In us bid us respond to the appeal. 1t
Ia not Of the slightest consequence
We grant the aid needed by
5anto Domingo as an incident to the
development Of the Monroe doc,
.rine. or because we regard the case
If Santo Domingo as standing wholly
)y itself, and to be treated as such
Ind not on general principles or with
my reference to the Monroe doctrine.
rhe important points Is to give the
leeded aid, and the case Is certainly
peculiar to deserve to be
Judged purely on its own merits. The
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. For
.unatelys just at this time a ruler
,prang, up in Santo. Domingo. who,
With his colleagues saw the dan
gers threatening their country and ap.
to the friendship OF the only
great and powerful neighbor who pos
,essed' the power, and as they hoped
the will to help them. There was
imminent danger Of foreign interview
ion. The previous rulers Of Santo
Domingo had recklessly incurred
lebts, and owing to her internal dis
orders she had ceased to be able to-
mean Of paying the debts.
rhe patience of her foreign creditors
lad become exhausted, and at least
.wo foreign nations were on the
Joint of Intervention, and were only
prevented from intervening by the un-
assurance of this government
hat 1t would itself strive to help
santo Domingo in her hour of need.
n the case Of one of these nations,
,nly the actual opening Of negotiations
o this end by our government pre-
rented the seizure of territory In San
o Domingo by a European power. OF
he debts incurred some were just,
While some were not of a character
which really renders 1t obligatory on,
,r proper for, Santo Domingo to pay
hem In full. But she could not pay
my OF them unless some stability was
her government and people.
According to the executive depart
nent of u government negotiated a
reaty under which we are to try to
lelp the Dominican people to straight.
n out their finances. This treaty Is
before the Senate. In the
Meantime a temporary arrangement
has been made which will last unit,
he Senate has had time to take &C.
ion upon the treaty. Under this ar
the Dominican government
has appointed Americans to all the i'm
positions In the customs SER
ice, and they are seeing to the honest
of the revenues, turning
Continued on page g.