The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1911-06-02
WASHINGTON.
Legislative and Gem
eraI Topics from
the Capital.
(From Our Regular Correspondent.)
Washington, May 26, 1911.

AS subject of interest at the national
capital, the situation in Mexico eclipses
all others. The wisdom of sending the
army to the border is now conceded bv
all parties. There is no telling what
day may bring forth. The able and
aged, but perhaps not venerable Presi.
dent-so-called, but actually Carol
the Mexican Republic is at bay before
powerful mob in his capital, and a med
ley OF instructions in his empire. There
IS apparently no cooperation and any
thing but harmony among the several
chiefs OF the insurrectionists in the differ
ent Mexicon States. 1t is scarcely pos
sible that Diaz dethroned, these different
leaders of the insurection can be har-
monized into stable government. The
Cuban situation on larger scale will
propably be reproduced and if there was
in Cuba reason for American interven-
ton, there will still be a greater reason
and far more important one in Mexico,
for our relations with that country are
greater and far more important 1t is the
old question inevitable in the material
and political ascendancy of any nation.
We can no more escape it than could
Rome or Great Britain. 1t is the destiny
of power to CONTROL protect and guide.
Whether for good or evil depends upon
the power itself. The half devil and
half child" whether in Cuba. the Phil
ippines, or Mexico, or the United States
for that matter, is not fit for self govern
ment. Alas where are the people that are
mt? The people that are governed by Great
Britain in China, India, and Egypt, with
out doubt enjoy far greater degree of
prosperity and security from ruthless
despotism than they have ever enjoyed
before. The Philippines and Cuba, as
all but the ignorant know, and they
themselves are the most ignorant, are
far better off under the suzerainty OF the
United States than they have been at any
time in their history. Directly or indi-
rectly, the United States must take charge
of this continent from the Canadian
border to the Panama Canal. 1t is our
burden. We are not fit for it, but there
are indications that we are growing
slowly less unfit for government at home
and management abroad.
We need most rigid publication of
our own government in its legislative and
executive branches-such a publication
as is advocated by Ex-President Roose-
welt, Senator LaFollette. Governor
Wilson, of New Jersey, Secretary Meyer,
OF the Navy, and the Attorney
General and the Postmaster General.
The Secretary of the Navy has shown
that nearly ten millions of dollars year
are wasted in the maintenance of ahso-
lutely useless navy yafds. To burn
them or to blow them up with dynamite
would be an economical and Just proceed
ure. The dynamiting process might per-
haps shock and awaken the country to
the fact that those navy yards have been
long and wastefully maintained for the
benefit OF the members of Congress in
whose districts they are situated. There
are many military posts in the West and
Northwest which are uselessly and ex-
pensively maintained for the same rea-
sons, and they are decimating and de-
moralizing the army. If a representative
government cannot be relieved of such
diseased incubi az these. then so much
the worse for representative government.
1t is expected that the Lorimer inves-
tigation will be again taken up in the
Senate this session, and it is expected
that the real facts will be brought before
this body with fullness heretofore I'M
known. The Senate Committee on
Privileges and Elections which it is be-
lieved to have "white-washed." the case,
will probably not have in their charge
the present investigation. and it is
predicted that Lorimer will be unseated.
The Canadian reciprocity treaty seems
TO be gaining favor in the Senate, and it
is freely predicted that it will be favor
ably voted upon. The present tariff on
paper has enabled the American pape
makers for long time to keep up high
prices and to prevent competition from
Canada. 1t is rumored that there will
be Congressional inquiry into the af-
fairs of the American Paper Trust.
Presidents Taft's refusal to grant par
dons to Charles w. Morse, of New York,
and John R. Walsh of Chicago, the two
most prominent bankers ever convicted
and sent to the penitentiary under the
national banking law will doubtless meet
with general approval