Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-08-26
PoSt-Bcllum America

L ROM time to time The Times Dispatch has
directed attention to the fact that the
great predominant characteristic of President
Wilson'S policies. foreign as we'll as domestic.
has been his clear-sightod insistence on the
rule OF reason and OF right He is not the
discovcrer OF the theory that powerful ma
ton should he at least a gentleman. hut he
has given it his answering support and at
every offered opportunity has put il the
test OF application. AS Secretary of War
Baker said in his Maine speech OF Thursday
evening. the admin stration has done to
Mexico as we would be done by. and has in
fused the spirit OF the Declaration OF Inde-
pendence and of the golden rule into our
foreign relations"
In an address the other day. Premier AS
quith asserted the great ambition of his life
and the great purpose Of the allies in the
present war was 10 establish justice as the
guiding principle of international relations.
He quote ;ladstone's noble description of
Eu"Cp" freed from the specter OF miliarsm
and lifted beyond the shadow OF national
Jeaious:es, into region where right shall
speak the final word He expressed the hope
that in the post-bellum conference, which
must repair wars ravagcs and pave the way
for lasting peace, counsel would not be
confined to Representatives of European ma
lions. In these guarded words those who
understand the operations OF Mr.. AsQuith's
MIND md the expression OF his desire that
the United States be invited to participate
and TO become a party 10 the compact which
shall give the world peace
We confess do not discover in all the
operations OF the allied governments that
passion for world peace after the war which
Mr.. ASQulth says he feels. The allied trade
conference and the threats TO destroy Ger
many economically and industrially. as well
as in military sense, have another implication
altogether Surely the United States could
not be expected to sympathize with such pur-
poses. Punishment of individuals found
guilty of bringing on this dreadful war may
be propcr--if il should ever become feasible
but the punishment OF whole people is
another matter altogether. America will
have 10 hand in that project
he Premer'S own words have another
meaning, and with them America can and
does. sympathize. We shall be happy and
fortunate 10 have in the White House Prosi-
dent whose whole course. as Mr. Baker saws
has placed this country in a position from
which. when the end of the great European
struggle comes, the moral forces OF the United
States can be exerted in the interests of
justice and humanity"
There must be force somewhere to keen the
peace OF the nations and it must be something
more than moral force. OF that we too shall
DE ready TO provide our share, but our great
contribution will be n national policy which
seeks no undue advantage, which leads us
neither 10 fear the strong nor Cypress the
weak, but which is founded on the golden
rule individuals and nations within them
selves have modified the old law of self
preservation TO involve consideration of
others. That modification, if war is to he
come memory, must be extended 10 inter
national affairs