The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1920-02-13

who witt ertrust to successful business
men the execution of the policies
agreed upon The issues pressing upon
US are SO great, SO critical. SO far
reaching that narrow partizanship
should be discarded in toto. and the
best men of all parties should be in
Iyitef to assist
Mexico deserves consideration. The
problem calls for imm ediate action.
Our present half-hearted policy means
loss Of aelf-respect, contempt of the
Mexicans and justifiable complaint
from England. We refuse to let Eng
land protect the interests of her peo-
pie in Mexico, because of the Monroe
Fcctiine: and at the same time we re-
fuse to protect them. This la intol-
cradle. ~ all means uphold the Mon
roe Doctrine. 1t means the welfare
of the Western hemisphere. But there
should he no further trifiing with the
Mexican Problem.
The same action which has proven
satisfactory and just for Cuba and the
Philippines should apply equally as
we'll to Mexico. And when the reign
OF law AMI justice have obtained IN
Mexico by virtue OF our temporary oc-
cupation, none will be better satisfied
than the Mexicans themselves. after
due time For they will attain pros
perlty impossible under the outrageous
conditions which have prevailed now
$50 many years Such a policy might
mean several years of occupation, II
might coet many millions Of dollars;
it might require the killing of several
thousands CT bandit Mexicans. includ-
ing villa: it might mean the sacrifice
of some hundreds of our own men. bu,
the end Guild justify the means. Fur
thernore there is no other means ade-
duate to the situation
Our policy toward suffering Europe
should be ore of wise, conservative.
sympathy. We, and we alone, have the
means of supplying her needs. We can
rot and VIC dc not, wish to shut our
ears to the Macedonian call: Come
over and help us And yet we arc
wasting much valuable time while the
leaders of our two great political par
ties are sparring for party advantage
While Rome was burning, Nero was
fiddling. While Europe is starving
America is clubbing.
The best sentiment of all parties is
|djsgusted at the needless delay. The
league of nations and the peace treaty
are not perfect Neither was our con-
stitution, The various amendments to
1t were made from time to time as
recessity demanded Like changes
would of course be made to both
league and treaty. 1t would seem.
however that the present differences
of - opinion regarding the various
clauses might be made in spirit of
harmony, and mutual cooperation
rather than be retarded by the acrimo-
NOUS disputes now going on. The
ugly spirit of partizanship is again re-
sponsible,
We are spending vast sums for the
education of our boys and girls and
rightly SO; for the hope of the figure
depends upon wise and generous ac-
ceptance of the truth in all it's mani
fl Id forms. But are we careful enough
as to what is being taught in our
school. We claim TO be a Christian
nation and yet we are permitting many
of our children to grow up as pagans.
The only opportunity many of them
have to hear the word OF God is two
or three minutes of the opening excr-
eises devoted to a passage of Scripture.
Ard yet by narrow short sighted
bgotry we are denying them this one
opportunity. Finally and most impor-
pAblicly expressed our faith in and
an the past has been our pilot. guiding
our ship of state through storm and
shine TO a degree of prosperity
never before experienced in the history
Of nation. At the opening of every
days work in congress there should be
q brief invocation for divine wisdom.
lin our counsels and a brief expression
OF gratitude for divine favors granted
JAMES w JOHNSON.
Spuyten Duyvl, n, r.. February II.