Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1906-03-22
THE MONROE DOCTRINE
Attempt by the Executive to
Enlarge Its Scope.
WOULD MAKE Us DEBT COLLECTORS

WOULD MAKE Us DEBT COLLECTORS
Ratification of the Snnto Domin-
go Trcnty Opposed by the Demo-
crnts-C Constitutional and Business
Reasons Urge Us to Protect Our Sis
ter Republics.
The people of the United States must
bear in mind Just where the policy Of
President Roosevelt about Santo Do
mingo affairs is leading them. Ostensi-
bly, the Monroe doctrine is being used
rs a net to entangle us with all our
neighboring republics by charging the
scope of the Monroe doctrine. to in
cludc the compelling by force OF arms
that these republics pay their debts to
foreign creditors. In the Santo Do
mingo case Mr.. Roosevelt has virtually
appointed himself receiver by taking
possession Of the custom houses in that
island and is collecting the revenue and
SANAA NV IL oNSSNS III lhC A\S" 1Oln
banks. 1t is unnecessary to show that
these debts have been swollen unmerci-
fully by the creditors and that a few
hundred thousand dollars borrowed
when in distress now amount to mil
lions. The whole question to be settled
is, Shall the United States become the
debt collector for Europe, and if she
does not would the Monroe doctrine
compel us to prevent those European
nations from Selling the custom houses
and collecting their own debts?
The Monroe doctrine, whatever it's
original purpose, is now interpreted to
bind us to prevent European countries
from increasing their holding Of terri
tory on this continent. But the Roose-
Welt Interpretation enlarges the scope
OF the doctrine to make US responsible
for the political actions and the fnan-
cia} affairs Of other republics on this
continent whether we are personally
interested or not. The constant state
Of revolution in some of our sister re-
publics will probably lead to endless
complication if the Roosevelt idea is
followed out to its logical conclusion,
for not only will the United States be
pledged to make these turbulent repub-
lies pay their debts, but also we will
be compelled to keep order and prevent
revolution that would interfere with
the debt paying.
The right of President Roosevelt to
comphcate the relations of the United
States with Santo Domingo is resisted
by the Democrats on constitutional
grounds. unless a treaty to that effect
has been ratified by the senate. At the
last congress the senate refused to rati-
fy such a treaty, and the present sen
ate is considering the same with impor-
tant amendments pending. The presi-
dent, who, under the constitution, is
obliged to submit any treaty he may
make to the senate for ratification be-
fore it becomes a compact between the
United States and the country with
which the treaty was negotiated, was
impatient at the delay and made a
compact with President Morales of
Santo Domingo, which the president of
the United States calls a modus viven-
di, to carry out his plan of extending
the Monroe doctrine to cover the collec.
ton of the debts Of Santo Domingo
owing to Germany and other countries
including debts to citizens Of the Unit.
ed States. 1t is claimed by Democratic
senators, and virtually conceded by the
Republicans, that if the president car
do this with Santo Domingo he car
do the same with any other Latin re.
public.
The Santo Domingo question is com
plicated by similar problems in Vene
zuela and perhaps others of the Cen
tral American republics, and at any
time the United States might be called
upon by some European nation when
question arises like that now pending
between France and Venezuela to fur
nish armed forces to compel q settle
ment. The Democratic senator's there
fore are determined, with one or two
exceptions, to vote against the ratiti
cation of the Santo Domingo treaty
and not thus add to the burdens OF the
United States the guardianship of ali
the turbulent republics or any of them
that through carelessness and bad
management is involved with debts
and liabilities greater than their people
can pay.
The Monroe doctrine has always beer
dear to the American heart. Our peo
pie have always been ready to fight fol-
its enforcement. but they would be
foolish to enlarge it's scope to a point
that would involve us with the very
countries the Monroe doctrine was in
tended Cor us to protect.
Prays For All Alike.
1t appears that there are two classes
in the house of representatives of Penn.
sylvania, for the other day the chap