The Springfield herald., 1902-06-27
Presidential Discretion il Ceaal
Situation.

An lnterocennic canal u::Gar
| American co:!ir,.l now seems ;is-
SIRED: After "A long debate tHni
exhausted he arguments for nnd
against Tie t"o proposed ro;:ies
HE srnale has m:feed Upon the
Pa:".na cannl, il tie president
shall find that Il clear Tile c::n l:e
given by the l'::"a;:in co:::,m:;y.
Unless The opposition 70 i:,y canal
shall i,:evaii III lie hose, hat
| body will probably :ece,'s l:o::i lis
position in favor OF tie Nic;:.ra;i:,
rn,!le rs provided il, He lippb:::,
bill. Tie people nl' Iii; rni:::,:y
are united on The proposition TO
bulld an isth::l:i:n canal, Tie OILY
difference of op;;.ion hei::g regard
ing lie selection Of u .n::;r. he
popular demand for !!":l #c::o:, III
the presr:.i session HAY iut.:ae
the hose TO accept the sr:,aie
substitute, although! lie Hepburn
bill passed tie hose by ali:;pst !:
unanlmo;is vote, and the Spnu;:e:
substitute had only u majority Of
eight in the senate. There is II
prevailing ,les::e 10 ayri,l iurilit:'
co:"pl:ca::'::s and la begin wc.k
on a canal Us speedily US possible.
y very considerable portion al
our people, if rot IL majority. re-
gre! that tie Nicaragua ioi:ie DID
moi prevail in he senate; but ihei:
q appointment will he sn::,s"!laI
ass,:"::--sd, hn"evc:. by Tie asS::G-
nace that The "si;;:c;:na OF Il
canal IS 1T last near at hHad. y
greater consolation is found il lie
provision OF tie Sioo::er III,
which e:ves the president discrr
i:oaaiy powers il: tie selection
If he shall he satisfied that clea:
title 10 The Panama cp::.,any's
property and concessions cnanui
he sustained he is au,sn: zcd to
proceed 10 the construction of IL
r.,lai by the Nic":a.ua ro,!;e
the people have the greatest con
iilence III President 2GospveIl's
integrity and ab:l!iy and therefore
sill be satisfied with his decision
The presidential clause in Tie
spoo"er amendment is ilv ssv::;::@-
grace OF HE measure, hi n "oui
otherwise be regarded wi;.l grave
suspicion by lle public.
1t is notorious that all lie or-
ponents of the construction of any
canal have proi'essed in iaTor @!
the Pannnia route.
They have not dared openly to
disregard public sentiment by
lighting the general proposition OF
building IL canal, but have sup
ported the route that offered the
greatest difficulties and promised
10 compllcate the situation. They
have hopetl to defeat all caaal leg
lslation by joining with the adyo-
Gates of the route that seemed less
likely to be adopted. 1t IS not to
be understood that all OF the sup
porters of the Panama route were
lnsincere, but it is true that the
railway interests that object to an
lsthmian canal have masked their
batteries behind the Panama in
trenchments.
The debate in the senate has
been a remarkable one IN many
respects. In the first place 1t has
been free from politics. 1t Is I'M
usual for congress to discuss any
measure from the standpoint of
pure craftsmanship. 1t Is not Oft
en- that a bill comes up i'll which
some of the members cannot find
excuse for partisan stump speech.
In the consideration OF the isthni-
an canal measure no party lines
were drawn. Democrats and Re
publicans alike divided in the
choice of IA route. and even lOcali-