The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1914-07-23
(Donaestic)
DOLLAR DIPLOMACY"

plOmdcy was one or the reprOaches
flung by the democratic party at the
republicans. With very little
justice, it was claimed that the pow
er Of our government was used to
back up the exactions of American
capitalists, who exploited the people
of the weaker nations, particularly of
Central America.
The Star never took any too much
stock in the charge. 1t couldn't help
noticing that our citizens in the said
countries were treated with a disre-
specf that plainly showed Uncle
Sam wasn't feared any more than
ne was loved in that part of the
world 1t took almost a quarter Of
century Of insult and bullying
from Spain to make the old gentle
man fight, and the dollared portion
Of The nation would have remained
peaceful then if the wrath of the
people hadn't boiled over. :
The truth is that the little Cen
trail American tyrants have done
about as they pleased with Ameri-
can citizens and business men. They
have taken their good money for
concessions, then held them up by
-eanceling the concessions; they have
shut them in dungeons and held them
for ransom under threat of death.
The greater part of the history of
Y1Tr dnaIfnoc NTH Tantro1 ~ e,.; no
for the last thirty years has been a
record of outrageous imposition on
Americans by the greasers and dis
graceful forbearance by our govern
ment; and when, a little over two
years ago, all patience gave way,
and battalion of our marines
charged into one of the opera bouffe
republics, whipped all the greasers
that were foolish enough to get in
their way, and captured their capt.
tai. even though it was done under
a republican administration, the
Star was heartily glad of it.
Now comes Mr.. Wilson, with his
declaration at Mobile, that the pow
.er OF this country will not be used
to extend it's territory or advance its
business interests at the expense of
weaker nations. All of which is
moral and chivalrous, and strictly
proper.
Bnf the Star cannot see, when our
citizens go to semi-civiized coun-
try, and make a legitimate bargain
with the government of that country,
why they should not be protected in
their rights. Our people are as
good as any people, their money is
as good as any, and why it is more
moral and chivalrous to allow them
60 be plundered abroad than at
home, If is difficult to understand.
Great Britain and Germany pur-
sue an opposite policy. They do not
impose on these weaker nations, but
If a Briton or German is i'll treated
in foreign country, there is trou-
BILE at once; consequently, British
the world; and if an American in a
semi-civilized country gets into trou-
Die, he is more likely to obtain pro-
lection from the British or German
consul than from the representative
Of his own country.
Gf our government made it plain
Iy understood that it would not al
low our citizens abroad to be i'll
treated, the bullying and extortion
they are subjected to would cease.
The Star has no sympathy with
the policy that has been observed
thru the Mexican trouble, of telling
our citizens in Mexico to understand
that it was their own fault they
were in that country, and must lool
for protection to the government O
a people who had no government.
The entire country feels disgrace6
by the fact that only the interference
of the captain of German cruises
saved American men and womer
from murder and possibly worse a
Tampico, while our own powerful
ships steamed humbly out to sea
~1J4nS ~ pIdSdIC oil SHCA1CIAt VI
which peaceful methods are wasted
We have no idea that there vii
be any change in this policy, and VI
very much fear that, in addition t
national humiliation. it will resul
In time in more bloodshed thar
wDu1d ever have been caused b.
making a few vigorous examples il
he first place. Its good deal Xix
trying to prevent murder and rob
cry by teaching criminals that it