Palestine daily herald. [volume] (Palestine, Tex.) 1902-1949, 1905-12-05

AL contributions by corporations to
any political committee or for any po-
iitical purpose should be forbidden by
law, directors should not be permitted
to use stockholders money for such
purposes. and, moreover. a prohibition
of this kind would be. as far as 1t
went. an effective method of stopping
the evils aimed at In corrupt practices
acts.
The Hague Conference.
The first conference of nations held
at The Hague in 1899. being unable to
dispose OF all the business before il.
recommended the consideration and
settlement Of a number of important
questions by another conference to be
called subsequently and at an early
date. These questions were the follow
ing: ~ The rights and duties of neu-
trails; (2) the limitation of the armed
forces ON land and sea and of military
budgets; C3l the use of new types and
callbers of military and naval guns: az
the inviolabillty of private property at
sea In times OF war; (5J the lombard
nlent of ports. cities and villages by na-
val forces. In October, 1904, at the in
stance of the lnterparliamentary union.
issued invitations to all the powers
.signatory TO The Hague convention TO
send delegates to such a conference
and suggested that it be again held at
| The Hague.
From all the powers acceptance was
received, coupled in some cases with
the condition that we should wait until
! the end of the war then waging be-
tween Russia and Japan. The emperor
Of RUSSIA, Immediately after the treaty
OF peace which so happily terminated
this war. In note presented to the
! president on Sept. IL took the Initiative
in recommending that the conference
| be now called. The United States gov
ernment in response expressed its cor
dial acquiescence and stated that II
would rs matter of course take part
In the new conference and endeavor to
further its aims. We assume that all
civilized governments will support the
movement and that the conference Is
now an assured fact. This government
viii do everything in its power TO Sc
cure the success Of the conference to
the end that substantial progress may
be made in the cause Of international
peace, Justice and good will.
Monroe Doctrine.
There are certain essential points
which must never be forgotten as re-
CARDS the Monroe doctrine. In the first
place, we must as nation make it ev-
In any shape or way as an excuse for
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OH our part at the ex-
pense of the republics to the south.
But we must make 1t evident that we
do not intend to permit the Monroe doc
trine to be used by any nation ON this
continent as shield to protect it from
the Consequences of its own misdeeds
against foreign nations. The Monroe
doctrine does not force us to interfere
to prevent the punishment of a port
save TO see that the punishment does
mot assume the form of territorial occu-
ieuoi72ny shape. The case Is more
diff tult>when 1t refers TO contractuaI
Obligation. This country would GER
tainly decline to 90 to war to prevent a
foreign government from collecting a
| just debt. On the other hand, 1t Is
very inadvisable to permit any foreign
power to take possession. even tempo
rarily, of the custom houses of an
American republic in order to enforce
the payment of its obligations. for such
temporary occupation might turn into
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.
To do so insures the defaulting re
public from having to pay debts of an
improper character under duress, while
1t also insures honest creditors OF the
republic from being passed by in the
interest of dishonest or grasping cred.
itors. Moreover. for the United States
TO take such position offers the only
possible way of insuring us against
clash with some foreign power. The
position Is therefore in the interest of
pcatCt wei TIE illleEtSl VI JUS
tIce.
santo Domingo.
Santo Domingo has now made an ap-
peal to us, and not only every principle
Of wisdom. but every generous instinct
within us, bids us respond to the APP
peal. The conditions in Santo Domingo
have for a number OF years grown
from bad to worse until year ago all
society was on the verge of dissolution.
Fortunately just at this time a ruler
sprang up In Santo Domingo who. with
his colleagues, saw the dangers threat
enlng their country and appealed to the
friendship of the only neighbor who
possessed the power and the will to
help them. There was imminent dan
ger of foreign Intervention. The pa
tience of foreign creditors had become
exhausted. and ut least two foreign ma
tons were on the point Of Intervention
and were only prevented by the unotli
cial assurance of this government that
ii would itself strive TO help Santo
Domingo In her hour OF need.
Accordingly, the executive depart