Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1922-01-09
Our Mandate" Over Haiti.

Because. as the Charleston CIV. Va.)
Mail independent republican, says
the problem of Haiti is a problem
OF the American people," there Is
much interest in the report of Sen
ate investigating committee, headed
by Medill Mccormick. dealing with
what the Philadelphia Bulletin On
dependent republican, styles our
Monroe doctrine mandate" To a
number Of democratic papers the
report is particularly gratifying IN
view of the partisan fire that fol-
lowed charges of atrocities by the
marines during the former aumln-
istration. Expressing this sentiment
the Mobile Register (democratlc)
notes that although the murmurings
of alleged misrule in Haiti began
during the democratic administra-
ton, the conduct of American officials
and soldiers has been commended by
a republican investigating commit
tee, so there is double reason why
Americans should set their minds at
rest concerning the situation" since,
the Columbus (Ohio) Dispatch Gnde-
pendent) adds. the committee is
united in the opinion that the occu-
patton has been a great benefit 10
the island and that withdrawal at
the present time would be disds-
trous."
Pleased with this "vindication of
the Wilson administration" former
Secretary of the Navy Daniels paper.
the Raleigh News and Observer dem
ocratic), declares that 1T was
regrettable necessity that compelled
the sending of marines into Haiti
The facts in the case. as the Detroit
Free Press independently chronicles
them, "are that in 1914 Haiti was, as
1t has frequently been before, IN
state bordering on anarchy me
people had been free under a paper
but for most of that time they have
been subjects of one military dictator
after another. Corrupt tyranny was
the general condition; democracy was
a mere shadow" Banditry masquer-
aiding as revolution. the wilkes
had brought desolation to the people
and the utmost confusion in all
governmental affairs" Further. the
Sioux City Tribune independently
continues, the foreign relations of the
island were so snarled that serious
complications were threatened" and
ut was to avert the direful conse-
uuences looming above the horizon
that America took control. More
particularly, the Manchester Union
independent republican, points out,
zone of the European powers was
preparing to challenge our Monroe
doctrine right at this Haitian point;
on the basis of the Haitian debt,
and, the Toledo Blade (lndependent
republican, says. America mad the
choice Of stepping IN ot AS th naton do
it," so "for the sake of the Monroe
doctrine. a principle more useful 10
Latin America than to ourselves, we
assumed the job.
How successfully the 1oo mas oeen
Senate committees report. In the
several years that Haiti has been con-
trolled by American military and
naval forces, which, the San Fran
cisco Chronicle Independently says,
MAINTAIN order, collect the revenues
noses" improvements have been made
in the character of the government
which are commented upon by many
writer's. Law has been carried into
the mountains" observes the Seattle
Times independently; the bands
have been broken up or SO chastised
clusions again with the marines.
Roads have been built and schools
established" Further, the Charleston
Mail Independent republican, adds,
"sanitary work has cleaned up the
once filthy coast towns, anu peaCe
and order have been estaphsneo every
However, at would be sad story
indeed" to the Johnson Democrat
fdemocratic), elf the occupation had
resulted in nothing good" but, as the
ithaca journal News independently
remarks. whether any group OF
permanent advantage from a control
exercised by an outside power is
another matter" The Providence
Tribune Independent republican,
suspects that Notwithstanding what
we have done for Them" the Haitians.
'if the wishes Of the majority could
be ascertained, would prefer to rule
themselves"
But getting out of Haiti, for the
present or any discernible future. is
not on the program of the Senate
committee. Rather it declares that
there can be no abrogation of the
treaty and at this time no diminution
of the small force of marines"