Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-06-16
CONSERVATION OF RESOURCES.

L Wee tndOrse the movement lnaugurated
by the. President for the cooperative con-
Servation of natural resources; we favor
the preservation of the White mountains
and Appalachian forests; We approve all
measures to prevent the waste of timber.
and commend the work now going on for
the reclamation of arid lands. No obliga-
ton Of the future is more insistent. and
none will result in greater blessings to
pOsterity. In line with this splendid un-
dertaking is the further duty. equally i'm
perative. to enter upon a systematic i'm
provement upon a large and comprehen-
sive plan just to all portions OF the coun-
try of the waterways. harbors and great
lakes. whose natural adaptability to the
incre asing traffic Of the land Is one Of the
greatest gifts of benign Providence
Recent Republican Legislation.
The Sixtieth Congress passed many
commendable acts increasing the efficiency
of the army and navy and making the
militia of the states AN integral part of
the national establishment: authorizing
joint maneuvers of the army and militia !;
fortifying new naval bases and complet-
Ing the construction of coalipg stations;
| instituting female nurse corps for naval
hospitals and ships. and adding two new
battleships, ten torpedo-boat destroyers.
three steam Golfers and eight submarines
to the strength OF the navy. Although at
peace with the world and secure in the
consciousness that the American peopie
do not desire and will not provoke a war
with any other country. we nevertheless
declare our unalterable devotion to a pol
! icy that will keep this republic ready at
all times to defend her traditional doc
trines, protect her citizens at home and
abroad, and assure her an appropriate port
in promoting permanent tranquility among
the nations.
Encouragement Of Peace.
The conspicuous contributions Of Amer
lean craftsmanship to the great cause of
International peace SO signally advocated
in The Hague conference are an occasion
for just pride and qualification. At the
last session of the Senate of the United
States eleven Hague conventions were rat
ified. establishing the rights Of neutrals.
laws OF wan on land. restriction of sub
ton of cOntractural debts. governing the
opening of hostilities. extending the ap-
plicatton of Geneva principles. and In
many ways lessening the evils Of war and
promoting the peaceful settlement of in
ternational controversies. AT the same
session twelve arbitration conventions
| with. great nations were confirmed, and
extradition. boundary and naturalist tion
treaties of supreme Importance were rati-
fed. We indorse such achievements as the
| supremest duty a nation can perform
and proclaim the obligation of further
good will with all the nations Of the
world.
To Revive Shipping.
We adhere to the republican doctrine of
encouragement to American shipping. and
urge such legislation as will revive the
merchant marine prestige Of the country.
SO essential to national defense, the en-
largement of foreign trade and the in:
dustrial prosperity of our own people.
We indnrSa tho
secure the organization of all existing
national public health agencies into a sim
i gle national health department and favor
such legislation as will effect this pur-
pose.
Another republican policy which must
be ever maintained is that of generous
provision for those who have fought the
country's battles and for the widows and
orphans of those who have fallen. We
commend the increase in the widows
pension. made by the last Congress- and
declare for a liberal administration of all
pension laws to the end that the people
gratitude may grow deeper as the memo
ries Of heroic sacrifice grow more sacred
with the progressing years.
Outlying Possessions.
The American government In republican
hands has freed Cuba. given peace and
protection to Porto Rico and the Philip
pines under our hag and begun the con-
struction Of the Panama canal. The
present conditions in Cuba vindicate the
wisdom of maintaining between that re-
public and this imperishable bonds OF
mutual interest, and the hope is now ex-
pressed that the Cuban people will soon
again be ready to assume complete SOW
ereignty- over their land. -,
United States n meeting with loyal and
patriotic support, order and prosperity