The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1916-10-10

haroors had given refuge to the great
discoverer. Columbus, and whose
capital city still contains what un-
doubtedly are his ashes and demand
cd that the claims OF their subjects
be saushed-olaims for money ad-
vanced, claims for interest accumu-
lated, claims for property wantonly
uestroyed-and they demanded II at
the point or big naval guns.
In predlcament from which they
were powerlsss to extricate them
selves, the Dominicans were ready
enough to negotiate treaty turning
over the control OF the country's Gus
toms to the United States IL, in re-
turn therefor. the United States
would protect them from angry Euro
pean creditors and rejuVenate their
treasury.
And so II was that in 1895 the
United States undertook to serve as
treasurer OF Santo Domingo and to
vOuch for her debts The tariff was
quickly revised. the American au-
thorities urging that duties be laid
on Injuries rather than upon neces-
stiles. upon the things Of the rich
rather than upon those OF the poor.
The tariff as a whole was cut down,
the general reduction being fifty per
cent on export taxes and fourteen per
cent on import dutiea.
And yet in spite Of this great re-
duction. In spite Of payments Of ST.
200. 900 year on the debt, there was
still left a greater net income for the
use OF the government than II had
ever had before.
For long time It was thought
that. deprived OF the opportunity OF
securing customs-house revenues
through the seizure OF ports. revolu-
lions could not support themselves.
But after six or seven years OF peace
trouble broke out again. and during
1914 and 1915 It became so serious
that the United States was forced to
intervene in behalf OF peace and to
demand. with marines on shore and
naval guns trained and pointed on
the ports. that the country return to
state OF quiet And so today the
Dominicans. realizing that the Mon
roe Doctrine Is determined to afford
cesses. their own bitter passions and
blind purposes. have accepted the in
evitable and have secured the bless
lngs OF peace from without when
they could not attain that end them
selves. 1t is a reluctant acquiescence
they yield. but wholesome one, none
the legs.
Sacrifice of Blood.
1T has not been without effort or
without expense, nor yet without the
actual sacrifice OF blood and life that
our country has stepped in TO play
the role Of Good Samaritan to the
peoples OF Santo Domingo, Haiti, and
Nicaragua. who had lost the bless
ings OF peace and we're unable to re-
gain them. In Haiti alone we lost one
officer and six marines and had a
number OF wounded. But of this altru-
istic effort are growing results OF
which u nation that covets no terri
tory. that seeks only its own security
and the welfare of its unfortunate
nelghbors. may well be proud.
In Porto Rico we have reduced
the death rate from forty-five per
thousand to nineteen per thousand.
and Il beginning along the same line
is being made in these new fields Of
American endeavor. In Porto Rico
waes have increased from sixteen
cents to seventy-fye cents. and stable
conditions show encouraging results
in the same direction in our new ward
lands. In Porto Rico the school at
tendance jumped from twenty per
cent to more than eighty-hve. and
these new wards are trying to follow
in Porto RTco's path.
Wherever America has gone,
whether to Cuba. whether to Panama,
whether to Santo Domingo. Porto
Rico, Nicaragua. the Philippines, or
Haiti, the welfare of the people has
been her first concern: and while all
colonial history shows that the tares
of evil are never absent from the
wheat OF good, our nations record OF
help given where most needed is one
that well may challenge our admin
istratlon and quicken our patriotism.
Another Experiment.
The success in Santo DOMINICAN
customs administration led to another
experiment along the same line a few
years later. Nicaragua became revo-
lution-torn, resulting in the over
throw Of Zelaya and the conversion
OF the country from an unspeakable
despotism iuto one Of rulnous an
archy. Ribal factions issued fiat mon
cy az freely as tap water flows from
spigot The treasury was bankrupt,
interest was in default. foreign cred
ftors were threatening to collect their
debts with bunboats and cruisers, and
there was not enough money to be
had by the party in power even 10
pay salaries. much less soldiers wag-
es. the offer of the United States to
perform for the Nicaraguans SER
vice similar to that given the Domin-
leans was accepted. and here again
the plan worked beautifuglly as long
as hydra-headed revolution remained
under cover. Trouble came. however.
and only the presence of American
marines has served to keep the peace
The outs are bitterly opposed TO the
role being played by the United
states; but Nicaragua is being reju-
ypnatpd in spite of every handicaD