Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-05-01

these conditions cry out for remedy. They
say that but for
Some Say Conditions the Monroe doc
Call for Remedy. tons tons long u,1 before nr
now would have taken possession Of these
countries and would have carried to
them the substance Of the civilization Of
which they now possess only the shadow
They feel that England, or Germany, or
France might have done for the masses
OF some Of these countries what the
United States has done for the masses Of
Porto Rico Looking further. they con-
assume the responsibility OF guaranteeing
to the masses of the people Of these
countries those blessings of good govern
ment which the enforcement Of the Mon
roe doctrine has denied them. Just how
such thing can be accomplished no one
is able to say. But those who hold to
this view feel that means may be de-
vised which will make it possible and
still leave to these countries their invio-
late political integrity.
statesmen who believe that nations are
not their brothers keepers, who think
that nations may live to themselves
alone. They contend that our enforce
ment Of the Monroe doctrine has guar
anteed to the countries of, Latin America
their political integrity, has protected
them from the expressions Of Europe,
and In general has been as much of a
boon to them as It has to our own coun-
try, thereby discharging every obligation,
moral and otherwise. that we owe to
them. They reject entirely the idea of
our right to pass upon the internal af-
fairs OF any American government, no
matter how despotic or tyrannical it may
be.
However all this may be, it must be
recogpizeu by any one who has travelled
through all the countries Of the Carib-
beam that the United States has grave
problems confronting it there: In many of
these countries there Is a distinct anti
American feeling, sometimes yelled, but
ever present. Even the unfortunate mass
es In whose behalf the voice Of America
would be lifted, IL at all, have this feel
ing inculcated into their hearts by those
who live by their exploitation.
sometimes country in those regions
gets into such dire straits that it knows
not whittier to turn. 1t is then that 1t
becomes willing to bargain away enough
of it's sovereignty for a specified period in
exchange for the friendly aid of the
United States in saving it from complete
and desperate ruin. This was what hap
pened in Santo Domingo. 1t was this
Uncle Sam control Of its finances until
its pressing obligations could be met. It
was this that Honduras chose rather
than graver things. In Santo Domingo
the United states has acted as q bank
ruptcy court so honestly and carefully
that 60 per cent of q reduced tariff In
that country has yielded more revenue to
the government than 100 per cent Of a
former tariff, which was IA per cent
higher on imports and 50 per cent high
er on exports. Making the customs
houses sacred soil, like the churches, has
removed the incentive to revolution and
practically the ability to support one. The
State Department believes this to be the
first step toward ending the hundred-year
reign of revolution in tropical America,
and In bringing to the submerged nine.
tenths Of the people of these countries at
least a share Of the blessings to which
all civilization now agrees all men are
entitled.