The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1907-05-24

Famous Drago Doctrine.
1T is useless to speak of disarma.
mcnt when first of all the rival natioas
have more confidence in their fighting
, strength than in the Justice of their
cause or the love of peace OF their
neighbors. To certain exteat the
democratic doctrine OF government by
the people and for the people affords
greater security against wars, proyi-
ded the public sentiment Is properly
guided and the nation as a whole has
true love for fair play and honest
dealing.
When the Venezuelan ports were
bombarded by the. combined fleets OF
some Of the great powers of Europe,
the Argentine Republic through her
Minister OF Foreign Affairs, called at
tention to the great injustice and the
menace TO the sovereignty of the vic
tim republic that such action implied
"Seuor Drago, in his famous note,
among others, made the following
statements: The acknowledgment of
debt and the liquidation OF its
amount must be made by the country
without curtRilment of its fundamen-
tai rights as q sovereign entity. but
the compulsory demand at a given
time. by means of force. would only
be the destruction of the weak ma
tions and the absorption of their gov
ernment With all OF their facilities by
the strong nations of the world The
principles acknowledged in the Am
erican continent are different. The
illustrious Hamilton said The con-
tracts entered into as between nations
and individuals are obligations sub
iect to the conscience OF the sover-
oign and cannot be an object of COM
pulsory claim. They do not confer
any right OF action outside OF the will
of their sovereign.
Referring to the Eleventh Amen2-
ment TO the Constitution Of The United
States Senior Drago remarks: that II
forgids a judicial action on questions
OF law or equity as between the citi-
zen of one OF the states against any
Of them or by the subjects OF foreign
power
"The doctrine advocated in this
! famous document is thus summariz-
ed: In a word the principle which we
would like TO see established is that
a public debt cannot warrant an arm
ed Intervention. much less the occu-
patton OF the territory of any of the
Amsrican nations by European pow
r."
Thanks to the efforts of the Hon
Secretary of State, Mr.. Root the
| Drago doctrine will be submitted to
the Hague conference and It is e. be
hoped that the great powers. guided
by more reasonable ideas, VIII agree
to end one OF the most dsgraceful
practices and establish rules that will
afford justice TO all
'.The advancement of the Latin Am
erican republics is shown in the year
IL increase of their foreign trade
which now amounts to nearly billion
and a half dollars per year, and that
with population of only about atty
millions The enormous resources Of
the vast territory OF each OF the zen
republics of South America cher a
! remarkable field Tor the employment
of all the energy and efforts Of future
generations There is Bolivia my
country with a territory equal To one
| fourth that of the United States,
aboundinS in all kinds of minerals.
with prairies of rich pastures for q
vast cattle industry, forests where
millions OF rubber trees can supply
large quantities OF this useful commo-
dity. besides other equally imporant
products Every one of the republics
of the South are ready TO welcome the
life-giving current Of immigration
which has so greatly holped the rapid
and extraordinary accumulation oi
wealth and happiness IN this great
commonwealth.
providence has destined the whole
of America 20 the the home OF ifee
doEi
LET us hope that guided By iae
true principles OF democracy and iol
lowing the natural development Of
their Intercourse In no distant epoch
the South Americans republics. conied
Grated into few powerful nations
will be the home OF hundreds Of nil
lions Of free men working peacefully
for sheir own welfare. conquering and
dominating natures municlfent gifts
free from military thraildom and ~
she ssll possession OF the rights viii
which God has endowed our immortal
souls
The Pan-Amerlcan Railroad--A
Practical Peace Project was the sub
iect of an interesting address by Hon
Francis Il LoOmis. former assistant
secretary OF state After reciting the
history Of the movement for the Pan
| American or infeIcontincnai railway
Mr. LO0mis spoke as follows:
II do not hesitate tO say that no 9th
er single project. enterprise or under
taking can do so much 20 establish
substantial permanent conditions Tor
/ peace, good Will good feeling trrough
\ out this hemisphere as the building
and operation OF a international rail-
way New York 10 she Argentine RE-
public
Thc essence Of an that Is worthy
and good and noble IN our civilization