Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-03-21
SAN DOMINGO'S WOES %.
A COUNTRY STILL IN
THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY

inent members of his own party, sees
to it that national obligations are at
tended and preserves the state Golfers
from exhaustion.
1t must, however, be said in justice
to Morales that the present Santo
DOMINICAN administrative programme,
which has worked out so successfully,
was planned and partly executed by
himself prior to his fall. 1t was he
who on becoming president in virtue
of the terribly embroiled financial con-
dition of the republic with its domestic
and foreign creditors established the
modus vivendi, the forerunner Of the
American convention, which
placed the customs service under
American control, thus securing a per-
manent revenue sufficient not only to
cover the needs of the government,
but to guarantee and pay off the ma
tional debt, and at the time he was
driven from power the Dominican
American convention was already un-
der consideration. Thus the present
administration, as far as it's foreign
policy is concerned, has not deviated
from the course mapped out by Mo-
rales. Never until Morales came to
the presidency had a president dared
to tax the people beyond the payment
of customs dues, and the terrible Heur-
eauX even trembled when such
scheme was suggested and refused to
consider such a suggestion. But Mo-
rales was determined to force his peo-
pie into the paths of civilization and
created the internal revenue depart
ment, which has brought a substantial
increase in the government receipts,
and his administration was strictly
honest. His last half months salary
as president of the republic was sent
to him while in exile in Porto Rico, it
is stated, by the very people who de-
posed him, and this is the first in
stance Of the kind in the history Of
Santo Domingo and does credit to the
honesty of both Morales and the Ca
ceres administration that paid him.
In a country whose people promptly
credit their rulers with the worst ac-
tions and motives, whether they be
known or surmised, not even his Bit
terest foes charge Morales with mis-
or squandering public
moneys, and he is recognized by liber-
al minded men as bold, courageous,
intelligent man and ruler who saved
the republic from utter financial ruin.
He was certainly guilty Of many err
rors, but they are the errors of des-
potic rulers, and Santo Domingo has
never tolerated a constitutional ad-
The republic has not yet
attained the stage of culture to accept
and support constitutional government,
and Santo Domingo will be able to ap-
preciate the value of liberal consti-
tutional government only after the
masses have been lifted out of the deg
radiation of illiteracy and learn to live
the life of a civilized people.
Not one-fifth of the republic, an
area of 10000 square miles nearly, is
under cultivation. The interior Is as
inaccessible to trade as the centre of
Africa, and this beautiful and wonder
fully fertile land, the spot Of all others
beloved by Columbus and the cradle Of
American civilization, for the first uni
in the New World was estab-
lished in Santo Domingo, is at present
living in the sixteenth century. Is it
to be wondered at under the circum-
stances that the little republic Is
prey to the worst evils that battened
upon Europe during that era? Santo
undoubtedly needs a despotic
ruler with a determination to make 1t
progress, a man of the Poflrio Diaz
type, who will do for it what DiaZ has
done for Mexico. Whether Morales Is
capable of doing this or not can not be
surmised. His term Of office was too
short to permit an influence either in
pro or in contra, but his passage was
marked by undeniable progress.
Moraless plans Of government,
whatever they may be, should he sue
ceed in reaching the presidency, are
but unless he can materially
better the present administration he
would not be justified in carrying civil
war into his country.
He Is, however. still long way from
the chair and the path to it Is rugged
and bloody. He is said to have sworn
to reach it or perish in the attempt,
but it Is feared that the present ad-
If driven to extremity will
avail itself of the clause in the DOM
convention, a clause
inserted by Morales himself with a
view to his own security at the time,
which provides that should the San
government he so menaced
by war as to imperil the fulfllment Of
its engagements with its foreign cred
itors the president may call upon the
United States for support. Should this
expedient be resorted to by President
Caceres and the United States respond
to the appeal there would be no hope
for Morales. Wiseacres are, however,
of the opinion that the administration
will not do this. as it would not only
hasten its own overthrow but might
embroil the republic in a war with the
United States, as the San Domingans
would probably join forces against the
American troops as common foe.
This can hardly be doubted, for the
San Domingans are so irritated by the
proximity of the United States forces
that recently when the administration
loaned Samana Bay for the manoeu-
vres Of the United States Atlantic fleet