The Monticellonian., 1902-07-11
friends by the thousands. His tragic death causes deep sorrow all over Arkansas.

7 criticised in certain quarters for voting for the Panama canal scheme instead Of the Nicaragua Monticellonian.
 All of the criticisms have been unjust, some of them extremely vicious. Senator Jones would have been recreant to his duty had he voted for the Nicaragua project after the facts laid before the country proved without doubt or cavil that the Panama route was not only the most practicable but the cheapest, safest and most desirable in every way. It is true the Democratic convention at Kansas City de- clared for the Nicaragua route, but that was simply because of the prevailing sentiment of the country for 1t because 1t was one days travel nearer this country than the other. At the time the convention was held, too, the Panama route was in the hands of a foreign country and could not be considered. It is safe to assume that ofthe whole Kansas City convention there were but tw enty men who knew anything about the comparative merits Of the different routes. -Ft. Smith l Elevator.
 | Our esteemed contemporary is, perhaps, assuming too much when it contends that the Pana- ma route is the most practicable and cheapest. It is true that the civil engineers, whose duty it was to investigate and ascertain the feasibility and practicability of the two routes reported Tn favor of the Panama; but what is such q report worth when brought face to face with poli- tician, who has an" axe to grind and who would most likely not be able to tell the difference be tween buck saw and a broncho? Then. again, some of the million aire country editors have loudly proclaimed and vociforously howled that Jones had sold out to Hanna. was traitor" etc. all of which, considering the pres ent libel laws of Arkansas. was very foolish for them to do unless they are able 10 prove the truth of their assertions. They even | go so far as to claim that Jones was to be appointed one of the canal commissioners as a cou- pensation for his vote. This charge Senator Jones strenuous ly denies, stating that the subject of feanaleommissioners had never been mentiouedto him.
 Senator Jones, 1t IS true, voted against almost all Of his party Senators and in this regard he acted none too wisely for the politician; but Ii he was prOmted in his vote from pur9motives and voted for what he believed for his country's good, then he rises to the high plane of statesman, and should be commended in- stead ofcensured. As the trusted leader of his party for years, 1t is unreasonable to suppose that he would sell his vote and in fluence for any purpose whatever but as men who have been trust ed and highly honored have oc- casionally betrayed the confi- dence of those who trusted them it is barely possible that Sena- tor Jones has done so; but the legitimate and charitable view to entertain IS that he acted from patriotic rather than sinister motives, and, unless there is proof to sustain the charges that the Senator has swerved from the path of rectitude, from dis honest causes, no one is justified in coming to such a conclusion and a great deal less is one war ranted in giving publicity to such a thought.
 I0NFS WAS RIGHT