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Show THE PORT AU PRINCE OUTRAGE. For some months past, wo have been fearful that something would occur which would involve San DoVnlngo with some European power or powers, to th9 Injury of the prestige of this country, in Its maintenance of the Monroe doctrine. doc-trine. And now that occurrence has come, but in Haiti, not San Domingo, The German and the French Ministers have been stoned In Port au Prince, and that not by an irresponsible mob, but by the guards of the "palace." Naturally, these Ministers have reported re-ported the outrage to their Governments, Govern-ments, and there Is talk of concentration concentra-tion of armed vessels at the city where the outrage was committed, and there Is talk of armed occupation and punitive operations. These will doubtless doubt-less be taken in some form, and will be followed by a demand for Indemnity which may bo far beyond the ability of Haiti to pay. Of course, the gravity of the case is immensely enhanced by the fact that it was the palace guards which made the attack. The reasons for that attack at-tack will not be inquired Into, for no reason could be accepted in that connection. con-nection. It was a gross and unmitigated unmitigat-ed outrage. But it will bo a great trouble to the United States, most likely. For It would be Impossible for this country to allow a permanent occupation of any part of Haiti by Germany or France, or both combined. Probably the desire of both nations will be to accommodate the trouble without trespass on the Monroe Mon-roe doctrine, and this no doubt will be the insistence of this country. But Halty is bankrupt, and the settlement may be difficult. The real solution of the difficulty in both divisions of that wretshed Island is for the United States to assume a protectorate, and enforce peace, order, and decent respect for the rights guaranteed guar-anteed by civilization. |