The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1916-06-23


the peace of the world and the main
tenance of national and individual
rights. 1t has followed the highest
American traditions. II has preferred
respect for the fundamental rights Of
smaller states even to property inter-
ests, and has secured the friendship
OF the people of these states for the
United States by refusing to make
more material interest an excuse for
the assertion OF our superior power
against the dignity of their sovereign
independence. II has regarded the
lives OF its citizens and the claims of
humanity as Of greater moment than
material rights, and peace as the best
basis fo- the just settlement of com
mercial claims. 1t has made the
honor and ideals of the United States
Its standards alike in negotiation and
action.
Pan-American Accord.
We recognize now, as we have al
ways recognized, definite and com
mon interest between the United
States and the other peoples and re-
publics OF the western hemisphere in
all matters OF national independence
and free political development.
We favor the establishment and
maintenance of the closest relations
OF family and mutual helpfulness be-
tween the United States and the other
republics of the American continents
for the support of peace and the pro-
motion OF common prosperity. To
that end we favor all measures which
may be necessary to facilitate init
mate intercourse and promote com
merce between the United States and
her neighbors to the south of us and
such international understandings as
may be practicable and SUITE Bile to
| accomplish these ends.
We commend the action of the
Democratic administration in holding
the Pan-American financial confer
ence at Washington in May, 1915, and
organizing the international high
commission which represented the
United States in the recent meeting
of representatives of the Latin-Amer-
lean republics at Buenos Aires, April.
1916, which have so greatly promoted
the friendly relations between the
people of the western hemisphere.
Mexico.
The Monroe doctrine is reasserted
as the principle Of Democratic faith.
That doctrine guarantees the indie
pendent republics of the two Americas
against aggression from another con-
| tinent. 1t implies, as well, the most
scrupulous regard upon our part for
the sovereignty of each of them. The
want of stable, responsible govern
ment in Mexico, capable of repress-
ing and Furnishing marauders and
bandit bands, who have not only TAX
| en- the lives and seized and destroyed
the property of American citizens in
that country, but have insolently in.
yaded our soil, made war upon and
murdered our people thereon, has
rendered it necessary temporarily to
occupy, by our armed forces. a por.
ton of the territory of that friendly
state. Until, by the restoration of
law and order therein, a repetition OF
such incursions is improbable the
necessity of their remaining will con.
tinue.
Intervention, implying as it does
military subjugation, is revolving to
the people of the United States, not.
withstanding the provocation to that
course has been great, and should be
resorted to, If at all, only as a last
resort. The stubborn resistance OF
the president and his advisers to
every demand and suggestion to en-.
ter upon it is creditable alike to them
and to the people in whose name he
speaks.
Merchant Marine.
Immediate provision should be
made for the development OF the car.
rying trade of the United States
Our forai0n oor,paarna hoe IN tho nos,
been subject to many unnecessary
and vexations obstacles in the way
of legislation of Republican con
crosses. Until the recent Democrat
ic tariff legislation, it was hampered
by unreasonable burdens of taxation
Until the recent banking legislation
it had at its disposal few of the neces
sary instrumentalities of information
al credit and exchange. Until the
formulation of the pending act to pro
mote the construction of a merchant
marine, it lacked even the prospect Of
adequate carriage by sea. We heartily
indorse the purposes and policy oil
the pending shipping bill and favor
all such additional measures of con
structive or remedial legislation as
may be necessary to restore our f1ag
to the seas and to provide further
facilities for car foreign commerce
particularly such laws as may be
made to remove unfair conditions Of
composition in the dealings of Amer
lean merchants and producers with
competitors in foreign markets.
Conservation.
For the safeguarding and quicken
ing of the life OF our own people, We
favor the conservation and develop
ment of the natural resources Of the
country through policy which shall
be positive rater than negative
policy which shall not withhold such
resources from development, but
which, while permitting and encourag
ing their use, shall prevent both waste
and monopoly in their exploitation
and We earnestly favor the passage Of
acts which will accomplish these OBJ
jects, and we reaffirm the declaration
of the platform of 1912 on this sub
iect