Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-05-03
HAITI AND SANTO DOMINGO


pies is feature of administrative
effort to which the American people
are not naturally inclined though
they have, thanks to the honesty and
efficiency OF the officials who hap
pened to be in charge, succeeded ad-
mirably in Cuba and in the Philip
pines. With regard TO Haiti and
Porto Rico there appears 10 be diff
ference Of opinion.
The fact that just a year ago there
was an outburst Of objection to
American methods in Haiti and Santo
Domingo would seem to indicate that
the present outburst is seasonal if not
seasonable, and possibly that those
who have charge OF making the COM
plants may be approaching the time
for making a report Of what they
have done.
Those small and backward coun-
tries In their very helplessness offer
inducements to aggression, tut In
vcstigations both under Wilson and
later under the present administra-
ton afforded no sound proof Of such
aggression, though the investigation
under Daniels was characterized as
joke. a year ago our secretary Of the
navy welcomed an investigation but
said the charges were "the same old
rot" as probably they were. In No
vember, 1920, a charge was made
that the financial adviser was under
the control of New York banking in
terests and had done many things
very injurious to those countries.
Nothing came of this charge. how
ever.
Speaking at Carnegie Hall, New
York City, Monday evening. Senator
Borah said the United States should
abandon the war breeding policy of
imperialism" in it's relations with
Haiti and Santo Domingo. He de-
clared: I'VE have destroyed the gov
ernrents of Santo Domingo and
Haiti. We have killed their people.
not by hundreds but by thousands.
We have substituted for their gov
ernments a military government. We
have driven their best public men
into seclusion and put men in their
places who agree in advance to do
the bidding of the military authori-
ties"
As the senator was addressing
meeting of the Haiti-S anto Domingo
Independence Society his remarks
must have met with approval. Now
Borah is not a Watson of Georgia,
Reed Of Missouri, Hiram Johnson nor
LaFollette. He is usually more care
full and better informed respecting
the statements he makes and on the
whole appears entitled 10 little more
credit for sincerity. Nevertheless he
is said to be very fond OF the lime
light and his opportunities for Great
ing a sensation have been somewhat
limited Of late. The applause of his
hearers probably overstimulated his
ardor in verbiage.
We haze no report of his speech in
full but proper discussion OF the
causes which brought us to those
places, compelled us to take charge
of their finances and their revenues
and pay their bills. which they we're
incapable or unwilling to do and
which foreign government were
ready to insist should be done, was
in order. to say the least. We didn't
want our neighbors coming over the
line to clean up our back yard and so
we went to work.
Now, in the nature OF things. the
Inhabitants would include many who
would object to any interference,
however salutary it might be. Really
II is surprising there has been as lit
tie complaint. all things considered
Nevertheless in such dealings Amer
lea should be like Caesars wife,
above suspicion. Our measures
should not be whit more rigorous
than the occasion requires, our oc-
cupancy not one minute longer than
is necessary. II Borah has any facts