The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-06-17

Itenance of the closest relations OF
amity 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 intimate
intercourse and promote commerce
between the United States and her
neighbors to the south of us. and such
international understandings as may
be practicable and suitable to accom-
plish 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 COM
mission which represented the United
States in the recent meeting of rep
resentatives of the Latin American
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
las a principle Democratic faith.
The doctrine guarantees the indepen-
deIft republics of the two Americas
against aggression from another con-
tinent 1t implies as we'll, the most
scrupulous regard upon our part for
: the sovereignty of each OF them.
The want of stable, responsible
government in Mexico, capable OF re-
pressing and Furnishing marauders and
bandit bands, who have not only taxi
en- the lives. and seized and destroyed
the property of American citizens in
that country. but have insolently in
vaded our soil, made war upon and
murdered our people thereon. has
rendered 1t necessary temporarily to
occupy. by our armed forces. 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 for their remaining must
continue.
Opposed to Intervention.
Intervention, implying as It does.
military subiugation. Is revolving to
the people of the United States. not
withdrawing the provocation to that
course has been great. and should be
resorted to. II at all. only as last
lresort. The stubborn resistance of
the President and his advisers to ev-
cry demand and suggestion to enter
upon 1t. is credltable 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 foreign commerce has in the past
been subject to many unnecessary and
vexat!ous obstacles In the way OF
legislation OF Republican Congresses.
Until the recent Democratic tariff
legislation II was hampered by un-
reasonable burdens OF taxation, Tn
III the recent banking legislation IT
had at its disposal few OF the neces-
sary instrurnentalties OF international
credit and exchange. Until the for
mutation of the pending act to pro-
mote the construction OF a merchant
marine II lacked even the prospect of
adequate carriage by sea
We heartily indorse the purposes
and policy of the pending shipping
bill and favor all such additional
measures of constructive or remedial
legislation as may be necessary to
restore our flag 10 the seas and to
provide further facilities for our for
eign commerce, particularly such laws
as may be made to remove unfair
conditions Of competition in the deal
lings of American merchants and pro-
ducers with competitors in foreign
markets.
L 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 a policy which shall
be positive rather than negative----a
policy which shall not withhold such
resources from development. but
which. while permitting and encour-
aging their use. shall prevent both
waste and monopoly In their exploita-
ton, and we earnestly favor the pas
sage OF acts which will accomplish
these objects. and we reaff1rm the
declaration of the platform OF 1912
on this subject
The policy of reclaiming our arid
lands should be steadily adhered to.
Administration and the Farmer.
We favor the vigorous prosecution
OF Investigations and plans TO render
agriculture more protfta BILE and coun-
try life more healthful, comfortable
and attractive, and we believe that
this should be a dominant aim OF the
nation as we'll as OF the States. With
| ali its recent Improvement, farming
still lags behind other occupations in
development as a business, and the
advantages of an advancing civiliga-
ton have not accrued to rural COM
munities in a fair proportion. Much
has bean accomplished in this field
under the present administration
| far more than under any previous adj
min!stration. In the federal reserve
act OF the last Congress and the rural
credits act Of the present Congress the
machinery has been created which
Will make credit available to the
farmer constantly and readily and he
has at last been put upon a footing
OF equality with the merchant and the
| M, Pa ~ In, ba itai