The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1911-10-17

President Taft in his speech at
Sacramento sought to answer some OF
the objections made i'll the senate and
elsewhere against the pending treaties
with Honduras and Nicaragua in
which it is proposed that the United
States shall become customs receiver
of the two Latin American republics.
President Taft urged in favor OF the
treaties the reasons which every stu
dent of political conditions ip those
two turbulent republics already knew.
but which makes them none the less
valuable.
AS Is we'll known when a revolution
breaks III in those countries the first
movement is to get possession OF the
customs houses SO as to secure the
.ginews of war. The treaties now pend
Ing between this country and the Gen.
trail American republics provide that
we shall appoint receivers for the GUS
toms and collect and pay out the rev.
enue. as it should be. But we incur
no liability except that of honestly
handling and accounting for the
funds. In as much as this collection
and distribution would be safeguard
ed by the military power Of the Unit
ed States, 1t is clear that the revenues
could no longer be subjects OF con-
dscation and would cease to become
the means OF carrying on internal war.
There might be revolutions. u with
the prime essential handled and
guarded by this nation with cold in
difference to the revolutionists them
selves. it is certain that h effect
would be much like a drouth on the
wheat crop of Kansas.
The real question is whether this
nation shall depart somewhat from
it's traditions and take a more pro-
nounced stand in reference to the in
ternal affairs Of those little republics
In the revolutionary belt, whose o
slant internal quarrels are a national
nuisance If not a menace. 1t looks
as If the choice lay between this
course and the abandonment Of the
Monroe Doctrine. We can hardly pro.
test If European nations take mat
tiers in their own hands and protect
their commercial interests in those
little nations whose governments are sc
unstable that a night ma bring forth
q change. Something must be done
by ON government to put a stop to
the constant revolutions. If vi do no,
do it, we can hardly complain If some
else does.
Lying so near our door, other ria.
tons concede US the first right of reg.
ulation. The only thing they ask is
fair treatment. and as we have already
pursued this revenue collecting polio,
In Santo Domingo with satisfaction to
the other nations, they already have
confidence in the plan.
With the chief incentive for revolu.
tons removed these tax-burdened and
treasury-robbed nations would dis
band thir armies and establish stable
governments. Moreover. if the collec.
ton n distribution Of the revenues
by a reliable agency. such as this gov
eminent, were assured, American f.
nances would be available to refund
at a fair rate OF interest the public
debts now inflated to unreasonable to-
tails and bearing usurious rates OF in
terest. such loans being secured by &
lien on a fixed percentage Of the
customs revenues. the remainder go
ing to pay current expenses Of the
government and for public improve
ments.
Honduras and Nicaragua would b.
the beneaciaries Of the plan, as II
time it would reduce the tax burden!
under which the people now groan
and permit the development Of thei1
resources. among the richest in the
world, and convert an indolent ant
turbulent bunch Of politicians into
useful citizens. On our part the plar
Is entirely ph%ilanthropic. but our ma
tional responsibility requires that We
act without question Of rccompense.