The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-09-03
fHE RICHMOND OVERWHELMINGLY SEPTEMBER

ago and now actually redeemed In
constructive legislAtion.
I These things must profoundly dis
turb the thoughts and confound the
plans OF those who have made them
selves believe that the Democratic
party neither understood nor was
ready to assist the business OF the
country In the great enterprises which
II is It's evident and inevitable destiny
to undertake and carry through. The
pec,ally disconcert them: for 1t was
through the lobby that they sought
and were sure they had found the
heart OF things. The game of privi-
ilege can be played successfully by no
other means.
This record must equally astonish
those who feared that the Democratic
party had not opened it's heart TO COM
prehend the demands of social justice.
We have in four years come very near
to carrying out the platform OF the
Progressive party as we'll as our own;
for we also are progressive.
There is one circumstance connected
with this program which ought to be
very plainly stated 1t was resisted
at every step by the interests which
the Republican party had catered TO
and fNstered at the expense Of the
county. and these same interests are
now earnestly praying for a reaction
which will save their privtleges-for
the restoration Of their sworn friends
to power before 1t is too late to re-
cover what they have lost. They
fought with particular desperation and
infinite resourcefulness the reform OF
the banking and currency system.
knowing that to be the sitadel of their
control; and most anxiously are they
hoping and planning for the amend
ment Of the Federal Reserve act by
the concentration of control In a sin
gle bank which the old familiar group
OF bankers can keep under their eve
and direction. But while the big
men" who used to write the tariffs
and command the assistance of the
Treasury have been hostile--all but
a few with viston--the average bust
ness man knows that he has been de-
| livered, and that the fear that was
once every day in his heart. that the
men who controlled credit and direct
ed enterprise from the committee
rooms Of Congress would crush him,
is there no more, and will not re-
turn-unless the party that consulted
only the big men" should return to
power, the party OF mastery mac
itivity and cunning resourcefulness in
standing pat 10 resist change.
g. o. p. A PARTY THAT CANNOT
MEET NEW CONDITIONS
The Republican party Is Just the
party that cannot meet the new con-
ditions of a new age. II does not
know the way and it does not wish
new conditions. 1t tried to break away
from the old leaders and could not
otf
dictate its policy, still resist change
still banker after the old conditions
| still know no methods of encoura gina
business but the old methods. Wher
| 1t changes its leaders and its purposes
| and brings its ideas up to date II will
| have the right to ask tho American
| people to give It power again: bu
not until then. A new age. an age
of revolutionary change. needs new
purposes and new ideas.
| In foreign affairs we have bee,
guided by principles clearly conceived
! and consistently lived up TO. Perha p!
they have not been fully comprehend
ed because they have hitherto gov
theory. not in practice. They are sim
pie, obvious. easily stated. and funda
mental to American ideals
We have been neutral not only he
cause IL was the fixed and tra,utiona
policy Of the United States to stanc
aloof from the politics of Europe anc
because we had had no part either o
action or of policy in the Influence
which brought on the present war. bu
also because 1t was manifestly GU
: duty to prevent. If it were possible
the indefinite extension of the fires o
hate and desolation kindled by tina
Iferrihta conflict "a 4a r,
kind by reserving our strength and on
, resources for the anxious and Difficult
days Of restoration and healing whic
a must follow. when peace will have I
y build it's house anew.
az The rights of our own citizens Q
course beca me involved; that was in
evitable Where they did this was on
guiding principle; that property right
+ can be indicated by claims for dam
+ ages whsn the war Is over. and n
: modern nation can decline to arhitrat
4 such claims: but the fundaments
= rights of humanity cannot be. TIL
loss of life Is irreparable. Neither ca
direct violations of n nations so,
@ ereignty await vindtcation in suits fc
damages The nation that violate
r these essential rights must expect
a he checked and called to account
N direct challenge and resistance. 1t
# once makes the quarrel in part OF
\ own, These are plain principles an
Y We have never lost sight OF them {
: departed from them whatever IT
stress or the perplexitv of circun
stances or the provoCation to has'
C resentment. The record is clear an
q consistent throughout and stands d
/ tinct and definite for anyone to iude
who wishes to know the truth abol
1t.
r PLAIN SPEAKING IN
REBUkE OF HYPHF.N ATT
4 The seas were not broad enough
4 keep the infection of the conflict OF
:. of our own politics. Tho passions an
q intrigUes OF certain active groups an
A combinations of men amongst us WI
h were born under foreign flags in ieC
n ed the poison of disloyalty into OF
!, own most critical affairs, laid violeI
k hands upon many of our industrie
@ and subjected us to the shame of d
4 visions of sentiment and purpose
{ which America was condemned an
= forgotten. 1t is part of the bushes
e of this year OF reckoning and settle
o ment to speak plainly and act wit
It unmistakable purpose in rebuke {
/. | these things In order that they ma