The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1900-05-07
Stand by the Bill.

Stand by the Bill.
Now that the house has passed the
Nicaragua canal bill, it goes TO the SEN
ate. where the old fight under cover
Will be renewed upon *.
That is significant sentence in the
dispatch referring tn the fate of the
bill in the senate. which. while ex-
pressing the confidence OF senator Nor
gan that it can be pClled through. goes
on to say: This is. however. extreme
ly Doubtful" And why? Because
II the republican leaders are able TO pull
thrUuAh tLcir present programme OF an
early a[tigrumcut--inat i. adjourn
Mcnt before the date Of the republican
Rational COMMUNICATION there - little
chance for this ~ any other legislation
SXcePs the appropriation hill and perhaps
q frw Tc- measures
Then Il becomes the duty OF the dem
ocratic senators. and those republican
senators who are really friends OF the
measure. "a resist adjournment up to
the reassembling CT congress in Decem-
Der. IL necessary TO force a vote on the
measure,
There is not a senator who Will he
brave enough tn oppose the bill straight
ont. They viii cry out for delay, in
order to have more time for debate la
ter on. Let them understand that
there never was better time than the
present. when the people are in humor
for the discussion. Beneath every OBJ
lection there will be found hidden
either party politics or personal and
selfish interests The transcontinental
route TO some senatorial minds and
pockets can be easily traced. and while
Il may not be parliamentary 20 men
ton the fact in public. the people will
appreciate it Just as readily.
What is the issue? The enlarged
commerce Of the world demands the
same shortening OF the western route
rs has already been accomplished in
the east The defense of the two ex-
posed coasts OF the United States must
be brought within the province OF ev-
cry battleship. whether on the one
coast or on the other. Both reasons
combined make the duty one belonging
exclusively TO the United States. whose
overQOwering interests must have the
sam. control OF Nicaragua as those OF
England have of Suez For fifty years
this matter has been before congress.
its necessity admitted by al men. but
frs culmin1tion held hac., for Other in
terests. When Captain Clark and the
Oregon were lost in tho turning OF the
Cape. and the whole country was
alarmed lest he should become a prize
20 a hidden Spanish fleet. then the res
oiutiOn became fixed that in the emer-
gencIes OF the future no such risk
should be run. Added 20 this, when
the Pacific has developed as an Amsri-
can lake. with the commercial hope OF
the southern staple crop involved. there
no longer remained 20 statesmen from
the south anv other duty than that OF
support for the bill.
Tho senate stage has been reached.
but bow2 IL IS 4 favoTite game Of poll
ties 70 PASS a measure through one
house. 20 please ard allay the demands
Of the neOpie. and to stifIe il in the
other. tO satisfy the special interests
which desire its defeat. Tho managers
OF the transcOntInental railways want
70 force the growing commerce over
the overland route. They are bitterly
opposed. not only 20 rival lines OF rail-
road. but to ocean lines as well. Above
ell. they are opposed. first. last and all
the time. 70 any canal. under any cir
cumstance. across any Part o. the 18TH
mus. But TIE people must pay the
freight and stand the loss,
The duty 81 senators favoring the
bill IS TO keep the senate in session all
Summer or force a vote Let the men
who dare oppose the Nicaraguan bill
put il in the shape OF an honest mo-"
and We can understand them. But
Let there lie no pOstpOning,
No wriggling,
M JOab-stab from professed friendsi
The plain straightforward way Is TO
line up and say yes" or no" II a
majority OF The senate Is opposed to
the bill vote It down,
II they are in favor OF IL. enact Il
into law at once.
"The courtesy OF the senate has
been invoked in favor OF the people in
the past. IL is a priceless privilege
that even one honest senator can hold
conspiracy at bay. The present conspir-
acy is while appearing TO favor the
people by the house action. to play into
the hands OF the transcOntinental rail-
roads by holding Il up in the senate
through an early adjournment Now Is
the time for the friends OF the measure
to force a vote. to oppose adjournment
and TO hold the body in continuous ses-
sion
What say Senators Bacon, Clay and
Morgan 10 the appeal for senatorial
courtesy. with which to enforce the de-
mands of the peOp-e as against the
rranscontinental conspirators7