Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1902-12-06

AAS. DUH KINGS OF federation, capi
talistic and labor, can do much good
and as a necessary corollary. they car
both do evil. Every employer. ever,
wageworker, must be guaranteed hi,
liberty and his right to do as he like,
with his property or his labor SO lon.
as he does not infringe upon the right
or others. 1t is OF the highest import
ance that employer and employee alik,
should endeavor to appreciate each tn,
viewpoint of the other and the sur,
disaster that will come upon both II
the long run IL either grows to take a,
habitual an attitude of sour hostility
and distrust to the other. We ar,
neither for the rich man as such MOI
Tor the poor man as such; we are for
the upright man, rich or poor. So fan
as the constitutional powers of the ma
uonal government touch these matters
or general and vital moment to the
nation. they should be exercised in con-
formity with the principles above set
forth.
1t would be both unwise and unne-
cessary at this time to attempt to re-
construct our financial system. which
has been the growth of a century. but
some additional legislation is, / think.
desirable. It is suggested that all fu-
ture legislation on the subject should
be with the view of encouraging the
use of such instrumentalities as will
automatically supply every legitimate
demand of productive industries and of
commerce, not only in the amount. but
In the character Of circulation; and of
making all kinds of money interchange
able, and, at the will of the holder.
convertible into the established gold
standard.
l hope soon to submit to the senate
a reciprocity treaty with Cuba. On
May 20 last the United States kept its
promise to the island by formally va
eating Cuban soil and turning Cuba
over TO those whom her own people had
chosen as the first officials of the new
republic. / urge the adoption of reci-
procfty with Cuba not only because it
is eminently for our own interests to
control the Cuban market and by every
means TO foster our supremacy in the
tropical lands and waters south of MS
but also because we of the giant repub-
lie of the north should make all our
sister nations OF the American conti-
nent feel that whenever they will per
NIT 1t we desire TO show ourselves dis
interestedly and effectively their friend
The congress has wisely provided
that we shall build at once an 18TH
milan canal, IL possible at Panama
The attorney general reports that we
can undoubtedly acquire good title
from the French Panama Canal Com
pany. Negotiations are now pending
with Colombia to secure her assent to
our building the canal. This canal will
be one of the greatest engineering
teats OF the twentieth century. al
greater engineering feat than has vet
been accomplished during the history
or mankind. The work should be car
ried out as continuing policy with
out regard to change of administration
and II should be begun under circum-
stances which will make It a matter of
pride for ali administrations TO con
tinue the policy.
or Porto Rico it is only necessary
to say that the prosperity of the is
land and the wisdom with which II
has been governed has been such as
to make 1t serve as an example of all
that is best in insular administration
On July last, on the one hundred
and twenty-sixth anniversary of the
declaration of our independence
peace and amnesty were promulgated
In the Philippine Islands. Some
trouble has since from time to time
threatened with the Mohammedan Mo-
ros, but with the late insurrectionary
Filipinos the war has entirely ceased.
Civil government has now been intro |
iuced.
The army has been reduced TO the
allowed by law. There /
should be no halt in the work of |
building up the navy, providing every
year additional fighting craft. The Mon |
roe doctrine should be treated as the
cardinal feature of American foreign |
policy, but it would be worse than idle
% assert it unless we intended to back
L up, and it can be backed up only /,
by thoroughly good navy.
We need a thousand additional Off
'ers in order to properly man the
ships now provided for and under con-
'truction.
gratifying progress has been made !
Turing the year in the extension of the
merit system of making appointments
n the government service. 1t should
De extended by law TO the District of
Columbia. 1t is much to be desired
hat our consular system be estab-
ished by law on basis providing for
and promotion only in
Of proved fitness.
Through wise provision of the
at its last session the White
House, which had become disfigured
W incongruous additions and changes.
las now been restored to what II was
damned to be by Washington. It is a
'ood thing to preserve such buildings
IS historic monuments which keen