Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1909-03-20
UNCLE SANS PLAIN DUTY.

Whether he viii or no, Uncle sam
must act as a continental policeman,
to keep the peace among the petit
governments OF Central America. IN
view OF the fact that n good many
years q he served notice upon the
governments Of Europe that any at
tempt on their part to serve in that
capacity would be regarded by him
as an act Of unfriendliness, he took
the duty upon himself. and the world
now expects him to discharge IL.
Conditions which exist, and have
existed almost continually for many
years. imporativoly demand our at
i%ention, and the Kansas City journal
thus clearly points out what must be
done in the premises:
"The outbreak of hostilities be-
tween Nicaragua ana Salvador shows
plainly that permanent peace can not
be established in Central America un-
I'll this country or Mexico uses the
big stick in such a way as to make
q storm example Of the u%nprincipled
HtllliNldir WIZ Nlt tbiAAitihtlN ~
gagged in promoting revolutions and
petty wars for their own aggrandize-
ment. Less than two years & tho
authorized representatives. of all the
Central American republics met In
Washington In q peace conference,
at which it was mutually agreed that
wars should cease ana that all future
differences should be- submitted to n
court Of arbitration to be held under
the Joint auspices of the United States
and Mexico. This agreement was sub
s|oquently ratified by the several Cen
trail American governments and a
solemn obligation to maintain peace
and refrain from aggressive acts OF
any ana every character was signed
by All parties. Now, according to
the dispatches. President Zelaya of
Nicaragua has made ~ utterly un'
provoked attack upon the republic OF
Salvador. and it Is expected that
Honduras ANA Guatemala will be
drawn into the war as allies of the
two principals. Unless some stronger
power lntcrvcnes. the next few months
win witness a period of bloodshcd
which win convulso all Central
America"
In view Of these periodical wars
ana revolutions, and especially of
this fragrant act OF bad faith ON the
part Of the Nicaraguan dictator, Zo-
laya. II would sccm that the only
hope Of preserving peace in Central
America rests in the forcible inter-
vcntlon OF this country. conformity
with Mexico. The United states has
no desire nor could Il afford to annex
aud OF these banana republics. ANY
one Of them would be q rich and
profitable possession. and no Eu-
ropean power would hesitate for a
moment to take advantage OF the
present opportunity to grab them
But such action ON the part NJ the
states would be fatal TO its
uniform policy of friendly protection
To tho south and Central American
countries. and it's guarantee OF thoir
territorial integrity against foreign ag-
gression under the terms of the Mon
voc doctrine. We want the trade. but
the lands Of our Latin %ncighbors.
at the same time IL Is he duty OF
I've United States government to pro-
tcct ;he rapidly growing Interests of
IT, citizens In Central America. ns well
as tn require q faithful observance OF
international law as involved in the
treaties and agreements TO these conn
tries with out country The approach
ing completion OF the Panama canal
and the progress which American rail-
way builders are making in connecting
the links ln the P~on-Amcrican rail-
road which now needs only about
forty miles more To carry IL as far
south as Panama. add an additional