Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-01-26
DEFEND1ro rHE ApMrNlsrRA r1oN.

DEFENDING THE dDMINlSTRA TTON.
The action OF the administration in
regard to Santo Domingo and in send
ing representatives of the United States
to the Moroccan conference has been
criticised by republicans as well as
democrats. To such criticism Senator
Lodge has replied and the Massachu-
sets senator's defense of the admins
tration is forceful. In regard TO the
Dominican matter he urged that the
course pursued was necessary to pre-
vent foreign nations from Selling the
custom houses of that country and Sc
curing n position there which might
threaten the approaches to the Panama
foreign military powers to take posses
sion Of any points commanding the
canal He further declared that IL we
establish order in Santo Domingo we
will thereby render annexation out of
the question. but If, on the contrary,
we leave that country in its present bad
condition, we will be compelled in self
defense to take II because we cannot
permit anyone else to take it."
PROFESSIONALLY there was very great
danger Of foreign nations taking agrees
sive action against Santo Domingo when
the administration adopted the course
that is being pursued there in regard to
the customs revenues. 1t is altogether
probable that had nothing been done
by our government to relieve the situa-
ton the custom houses Of the island
would now be I'm the hands of foreign
powers. They were about ready to pro-
coed to this extremity. Still the ques-
ton remains whether the United States
can wisely and safely establish this as
precedent, as is contemplated in the
treaty pending in the senate. The pres
ent government In the island is under
stood to favor the treaty and perhaps
majority OF the Dominican people do So
1t is manfestly for their good. What
our government has to consider. how
ever, is whether the creation of such
policy is judicious as to this country
whether there are not in it possibilities
of future trouble for us. 1t IS n wholly
new proceeding for the United States
and the feeling in the senate is that 1t
must receive the most careful considera-
ton. If the treaty is ratified there will
be established the principle that the
obi
ton and responsibility of collecting
debts due the citizens of foreign nations
by Independent countries in this hem
isphere which neglect or refuse to pay
creditors. This is something which it
is easy to understand might involve our
government in troublesome and embar-
RAISING complications.
As to the sending Of delegates to the
Algeciras conference, Senator Lodge
was quite right in saying that it was
necessary to the protection Of American
commercial interests. These representa-
tives Of the United States will. as
Secretary Root has explained, have
nothing to do with any political ques-
tons that may arise in the conference.
They are simply concerned with trade
interests, with seeing that the open door
Is maintained in Morocco. so that all ma
tons shall have an equal commercial
chance there There is no danger in
this of the United States becoming in
volved in any entanglements. So far as
this matter is concerned it is not to be
doubted that the best Judgment of the
country approves the action Of the pres
ident.