The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-03-04

1 of the army aud navy and of coast de lenses should always be considered as
 something which the government must
 pay for. and they should not be cut of through mere consideration of econ omy. Our government is able to af ford a suitable army and a suitable navy. It may maintain them without the slightest danger to the republic or the cause Of free institutions, and fear of additional taxation ought not to change 8 proper policy in this regard. Protection For Our Citizens Abroad. The policy of the United States in
 the Spanish war and since has given it a position of influence among the nations that it never had before and should be constantly exerted to secur- ing to its bona 1de citizens, whether native or naturalized, respect for them as such in foreign countries. We should make every effort to prevent humiliating and degrading prohibition against any of our citizens wishing temporarily to sojourn in foreign coun- tries because of race or religion.
 The Japanese Question.
 The admission of Asiatic immigrants who cannot be amalgamated with our population has been made the subject either of prohibitory clauses in our treaties and statutes or of strict ad- ministrative regulation secured by dip- lomatic negotiations. I sincerely hope that we may continue to minimize the evils likely to arise from such immi- grafton without unnecessary friction and by mutual concessions between self respecting governments. Mean time we must take every precaution to prevent or. failing that, to punish out bursts of race feeling among our peo- pie against foreigners of whatever na- treaty right to pursue lawful business here and to be protected against law less assault or injury.
 This leads me to point out a serious defect in the present federal jurisdic- tion which ought to be remedied at once. Having assured to other coun- tries by treaty the protection of our laws for such of their subjects or citi- zens as we permit to come within our jurisdiction, we now leave to state or a city not under the control of the federal government the duty of per forming our international obligations in this respect. By proper legislation we may and ought to place in the hands of the federal executive the means of enforcfng the treaty rights of such aliens fn the courts of the federal government. It puts our government in a pusillanimous position to make definite engagements to protect aliens and then to excuse the failure to per form those engagements by an expla- nation that the duty to keep them is in states or cities not within our control If we would promise. we must put ourselves fin a position to perform our promise. We cannot permit the possi- ble failure of justice due to local preju- dice in any state or municipal govern ment to expose us to the risk of war which might be avoided if federal jurisdiction was asserted by suitable 1 legislation by congress and carried out | by proper proceedings instituted by | the executive in the courts of the na- | tional government.
 Monetary Laws Need Change. 1
 One of the reforms to be carried out | during the incoming administration is i a change of our monetary and banking | laws so as to secure greater elasticity | in the forms of currency available for | trade and to prevent the limitations of | la W from operating to increase the em- l of a financial panic. The | monetary commission lately appointed | is giving full consideration to existing l conditions and to all proposed reme- dies and will doubtless suggest one that | will meet the requirements of business | and of public interest. We may hope 1