The Tupelo journal., 1905-12-08

Il COukeICLCG " NAO \ -
to all the powers ~signatory to The Hague
| convention to send delegates to such a
| conference and suggested that 1t be again
held at The Hague. In its note OF De-
cember is, 1904, the United States govern
ment communicated to the representa-
tIves of foreign governments its belief
that the conference could be best ar
| ranged under the provisions OF the pres
| ent Hague treaty.
From all the powers acceptance was re-
| ceived, coupled in some cases with the
| condition that we should wait until the
| end of the war then waging between Rus
| sia and Japan. The emperor of Russia.
Immediately after the treaty of peace
! which so happily terminated this war,
in a note presented to the president on
September Is. through Ambassador Rosen,
took the Initiative in recommending hat
| the conference be now called. The United
States government in response expressed
it's cordial acquiescence and stated that
1t would. as a matter Of course, take part
in the new conference and endeavor to
further its aims. We assume that all
civilized governments will supper the
movement. and that the conference Is
now an assured fact. This government
will do everything in its power to secure
the success of the conference to the end
that substantial proErsss may be made
in the cause Of international peace, JUS
tice and good will.
In the conclusion of this subject he
says:
I have dwelt much on the dangers
to be avoided by steering clear Of any
mere foolish sentimentality because
my wish for peace is 50 genuine and
earnest: because I ave a real and
great desire that this second Hague
conference may mark q long stride
forward in the direction of securing
fhA naoon ~ ftvuftoA thrAyy0hNvt thR
world. No object Is better worthy the
attention of enlightened statesmanship
han the establishment Of a surer
method than now exists OF securing
justice as between nations, both for
the protection of the little nations and
for the prevention of war between the
big nations. To this aim we should
endeavor not only to avert bloodshed.
but, above all, effectively to strengthen
the forces of right. The Golden Rule
should be, and as the world grows in
morality it will Be. the guiding rule
of among nations as among
individuals; though the Golden Rule
must not DO construed. in fantastic
manner. as f%orbidding the exercise Of
free republic should ever deal with
all other states. great or small. on a
basis Of high honor, respecting their
rights as jealously as it safeguards Its
own.
The Monroe Doctrine receives
lengthy consideration. as does also the
appeal of Santo Domingo for assist
ance which the president believes 1t
is our duty to give.
In treating Of h subject of the
army and navy the president favors
a change in the method OF promotion.
He would promote oficers on mort
instead Of by seniority. believing that
this method would be conducive to bet
tor efficiency than tho ono now in
vogue. He also recommends an In
crease in the coast artillery; the gar
risoning of considerable bodies Of
troops at ono place. and for an In
crease and reorganization of the med
ical service in both the army and
navy.
Naturalization Laws.
Legislation in line with the recommended
lions Of the naturalization commission az
pointed by the PRESIDENT last March is
asked for. These recommendations are
given as follows:
First. A federal bureau of naturaliza-
ton, to be established in the department
of and labor, to supervise the
| administration Of the naturalization laws
and to receive returns of naturalization
pending and accomplished.
Second. Uniformity Of naturalization
certificates, foes to 10 charged. and pro-
edure.
Third. Moro exacting qualifications for
citizenship.
Fourth. The preliminary declaration OF
intention to be abolished and no alien to
be naturalized until at least % days after
the fling of his petition.
Fifth. Jurisdiction to naturalize aliens
to be confined to United States district
courts and to such state courts as have
jurisdiction in civil actions in which the
amount in controversy II unlimited: In
cities Of over 100. 900 inhabitants the
United States district courts to have ex-
elusive jurisdiction in the naturalization
Of the alien residents Of such cities.
Public Land Laws.
Recommendations for changes in the pub
lie land laws are made, and In this connec
ton the president says:
The creation of small irrigated
| farms under the reclamation act Is a
powerful Offset to the tendency Of GER
tain other laws to foster or permit
monopoly of the land. Under that act
the construction of great irrigation
works has been proceeding rapidly and
successfully. the lands reclaimed are
eagerly taken up. and tho prospect
that the policy Of national irrigation
| will accomplish all that was expected
L Va y Al La @Sk oAhooAo
tended to include the state Of Texas.
The reclamation act derives much
of it's value from the fact that it tends
to secure the greatest possible. num-
Der of homes on the land, and to Gre
| ate communities Of fr~eeholders, in part
by settlement on public land. in part
by forcing the subdivision of large
private holdings before they can get
water from government irrigation
works. The law requires that no right
to the use of water for land in private
ownership shall be sold for a tract
exceeding $50 acres to any n land
owner. This provision has excited &C
tive and powerful hostility, but the
| success of the law itself depends on
| the wise and firm enforcement of it.
We canno afford to substitute tenants
for freeholders on the public domain.
The greater part Of the remaining
public lands cannot be irrigated. They
are at present and will probably al
ways be of greater value for grazing
than for any other purpose. This fact
| has led to the grazing homestead of
$40 acres in Nebraska and to the pro-
posed extension of 1t to other states.
It is argued that a family cannot be
| supported on 16e acres Of arid grazing
land. This is obviously true; but
neither can a family be supported on
$40 acres of much Of the and to which
it Is proposed to apply the grazing
| homestead. To establish universally
any such arbitrary limit would be un-
wise at the present time. It would
| probably result on the one hand in
| charging the holdings Of some of the
| great land owners and on the other
in needless suffering n failure OF
the part Of a very considerable pro-
portion q the bona f1de settlers who
give faith to the implied assurance of
tho ~oyornrApt that such an ara4 ic
sufficient. The best use of the public
grazing lands requires the careful ex-
| animation and classification of these
lands in order to give each settler