The searchlight., 1912-12-06

would remove at one stroke the men.
ace of foreign creditors and the men
ance Of revolutionary disorder.
The second advantage to the Unit.
ed States IL one affecting chiefly all
the southern and gulf ports and the
business and industry Of the south.
The republics of Central America and
the Caribbean possess great natural
wealth They need only q measure of
stability and the means Of financial
regeneration to enter upon an era of
peace and prosperity, bringing profit
and happiness to themselves and at
the same time creating conditions
sure to lead to a fiourishing In
terchange Of trade with this country
wish to call your especial attention
to the recent occurrences in Mica
ragua, for I believe the terrible events
recorded there during the revolution
OF the past summer-the useless loss
OF life, the devastation OF property,
the bombardment OF defenseless cities,
the killing and wounding Of women
and children, the torturing of non.
combatants to exact contributions,
and the suffering Of thousands Of hu.
man beings-might have been avert
ed had the department Of state,
through approval OF the loan conven.
ton by the senate, been permitted to
carry out Its now welldeveloped policy
OF encouraging the extending OF Fl.
nancial aid to weak Central American
states with the primary objects OF
avoiding Just such revolutions by as
sisting those republics to rehabili-
tate their finances, to establish their
currency on a stable basic. to .smove
the custom houses from the danger
OF revolutions by arranging for their
secure administration. and to estab-
llsh reliable banks.
During this last revolution in Mica.
ragua. the government of that repub-
lie having admitted It's inability to
protect American life and property
against acts of sheer lawlessness on
the part OF the malcontents, and hav-
ing requested this government to as,
sumo that Office, II became necessary to
land over 1000 marines and bluejack.
cts in Nicaragua. Owing to their
presence the constituted government
OF Nicaragua was free to devote its
attention wholly to its internal trou.
bles. and was thus enabled TO stamp
out the rebellion in a short space OF
time. When the Red Cross supplies
sent to Granada had been exhausted.
5000 persons having been given food
In one day upon the arrival OF the
American forces, our men supplied
other unfortunate, needy Nicaraguans
from their own haversacks. wish to
congratulate the officers and men OF
the United States navy and marine
corps who took part in re-establishing
order in Nicaragua upon their splen-
did conduct. and to record with sor-
row the death of seven American ma.
rines and bluejackets. Since the
re-establishment OF peace and order,
elections have been held amid condi.
tions Of quiet and tranquility. Nearly
all the American marines have now
been withdrawn. The country should
soon be on the road to recovery. The
only apparent danger now threatening
Nicaragua arises from the shortage
OF funds. Although American bankers
have already rendered assistance,
they may naturally be loath to ad-
vance a loan adequate to set the coun.
try upon its feet without the support
OF some such convention as that OF
June. 1911. upon which the senate has
not yet acted.
The president alluded briefly to the
enforcement OF neutrality laws, to
Secretary Knox's visit to Central
America and to the unfortunate dis
turbances In Mexico. Continuing. the
message said:
Agricultural Credits.
A most important work, accom-
plished In the past year by the Ameri-
can diplomatic officers In Europe. is
the investigation OF the agricultural
credit system In the European coun-
tries. Both as a means to afford relief
to the consumers OF this country
through a more thorough develop
ment OF agricultural resources and as
a means of more sufficiently maintain
ing the agricultural population. the
project to establish credit facilities for
the farmers is a concern OF vital i'm
portance TO this nation. No evidence
of prosperity among well-established
farmers should blind US to the fact
that lack Of capital IL preventing q
development Of the nations agricul-
tural resources and an adequate in
crease of the land under cultivation;
that agricultural production is fast
falling behind the increase in popula-
ton; and that, in fact. although these
wellestablished farmers are main
tained In increasing prosperity be-
cause Of the natural increase In popu-
lation. We are not developing the in
dustry of agriculture. We are not
breeding In proportionate numbers a
race Of independent and independence
loving land owners. for a lack OF
which no growth of cities can COM
nensafa Our farmars hava haap our