The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1906-02-23
UNITED STATES NOT
A DEBT COLLECTOR.
5:ess 32s !: &;
Savannah News.

Who killed the Dominican treaty?
That is a question that is being asked
in Washington, now that it seems to
be admitted that the treaty is dead. 1t
has been said that Senator Bailey kill
ed Ii when he answered Senator Pat
tersOn's speech. 1t will be recalled
that Senator Patterson declared he
couldn't be bound by the caucus &C
ton of his party in the matter of the
treaty. Senator Bailey showed him
so plainly that he could, that it WASH
his conscience that was troubling
him. that no other Democratic sena-
tor thought it advisable 10 disregard
the caucus and vote for the treaty.
And the treaty cannot be ratified with
out Democratic votes, at least four
Democratic votes.
As a matter of fact. however, the
Republicans have never seemed to be
very anxious for the ratification of it.
1t is doubtful if many of them are not
very much in doubt about its wisdom
It has been pending a year or more
and a great deal of lukewarmneSs has
been displayed by the Republicans in
respect TO Il. It can be pretty safely
said that all of the senator's, except
the very warm admirers of the PreSi-
dent, are secretly glad that the trea-
" is dead. Tt embOdies a policy that
emanated from the White House, and
is intended 10 be a COrOllaTy of the
Monroe doctrine. 1t is, in fact, an an
nouncement that the United States
must act as debt collector of the
claims against all of the Latin-Ameri-
can states.
The position the President took
was that because We object to any
European country acquiring territory
from any one Of these states we must
see to it that they pay their debts.
Acting upon this theory, and with
out asking the advice and consent OF
the Senate. the President undertook
to put his policy I'm force in San Do
mingo. When he found there was op-
position to it-that he had done some
thing he had no right to dO-he had
a treaty negotiated with San DOmin-
90 by which this country is given au-
thority 10 collect the revenues of that
republic and distribute them, TAX.
ing care that the creditors of the re-
public get a fair share Of them.
This is the treaty that has died a
natural death in the senate or was
killed by Senator Bailey. And it is
probably a good thing it has been kill
ed. 1t would have involved this coun-
try in hasty troubles of one kind and
another and would have been produc-
tive Of no compromising benefits to
it. IL the policy had been approved
Mr.. ROOsevelt's name might have
been linked with that of Monroe in
connection with the doctrine which
bears the name of the latter, but
there is no good reason why the coun-
try should become entangled with
foreign countries, respecting their
claims against the Latin-American
states. in order that Mr.. Roosevelt's
name may mime more brightly on the
pages of history.
There is no particular reason why
European countries shouldn't be per-
mitted to collect their own debts from
the Latin-American countries. The
most of these debts. IL is alleged, are
three-fifths fraudulent. It is alleged
that OF the S4O.00O0OO in claims
against San Domingo only about S..
000, 900 is honestly owed. Why should
this government use its influence and
power to collect from those weak
states rotten claims of capitalists of
Europe? The President must have
been straining a point to secure fame
when he originated such a policy.
And there is no particular reason
why we should concern ourselves so
much about the affairs Of the Latin
American states. Our good offices are
not appreciated by them. Our bust,
ness is to look out for ourselves. The
Monroe doctrine was promulgated
when we were weak and had rea-
son to fear the establishment Of hos
tile states under European direction