The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1903-12-10

revision OF the civil service rules took or
rect on April 10 last. which has greatly
improved their operation. The compile
ton OF the reform OF the civil service is
recognized by good citizens everywhere
as matter OF the highest public impor-
lance, and the success OF the merit svs-
TEN largely depends upon the effective
ness of the rules and the machinery pro-
vided for their enforcement
The, enect o, OF The laws providing a
more effective use OF the national guard
has been excellent" says the PRESIDENT
Great Improvement has been made in
the efficiency OF our army In recent years
Such schools as those erected al Fort
LeaVenworth and Fort Riley and .he in
stitution Of fall maneuver work accom-
plish satisfactory results The good af-
feet OF these maneuvers upon the national
guard is marked, and ample appropria-
ton should be made TO enable the guards
men Of the several states to share in the
benefit. The government should as soon
rs possible secure permanent camp sites
for military maneuvers in tile various
sections Of the country. The service
army, but TO the national guard Of the
several states. viii be so great as TO
repay many times over the relatively
small expense We should not rest salts
fed With what has been done. however
The only people who are cOntented with
system of promotion by mere seniority
are those who are contented with the
triumph OF mediocrity over excellence
On the other hand a system which en-
couraged the exercise OF social or po-
htcal tavoritlsm in promotions would be
even worse. But 1t would surely be easy
to devise q method Of promotion from
grade TO grade in which the opinion of
the higher officers of the service upon the
candidates should be decisive upon the
promotion and standing of the latter"
The president congratulates congress
upon the steady progress in building up
the American navS lie says: I'VE can
not afford a iet-up In this great work,
no stand still tn back There
should be no cessation IN adding TO the
effective units OF tho fighting strength OF
the feet, Meanwhile the navy DEPART
ment and the officers OF the navy are DO
ing well their part by providing constant
service at sea under conditions akin to
those Of cctual warfara The establish
ment OF naval base in the Philippines
ought not TO be longer postponed. Such
a base Is desirable in tine Of peace; In
time of war II would be indispensable.
and It's lack would be ruinous II is
eminently desirable. however, that there
should be provided a naval general stan
on lines similar to those OF the general
stan created for the army. We need the
establishment by law of a body Of trained
officers, who shall exercise systematic
control of the military affairs of the
navy, and he authorized advisers OF the
secretary concerning it."
The president goes into the tsthmian
canal question at great length. In open
Ing he says: by the Get OF June ~.
1902, the congress authorized the presi-
for the building OF the canal across the
isthmus OF Panama; II being provided
that in the event OF failure to secure
such treaty after the lapse OF reason
able time, recourse should be had TO
building a canal through Nicaragua.
IL has not been necessary 20 consider this
alternative. as ] am enabled TO lay before
the senate treaty providing for the
building Of the canal across the lsthmus
of Panama. This was the route which
commended Itself TO the deliberate judy
acquire by treaty the right to construct
the canal over this route The question
now, therefore. is not by which route the
isthmian canal shall be built, for that
question has been definitely and ir-
reyocably decided. The question is
simply whether or not we shall have an
isthmian canal.
When the congress directed that we
treaty with Colombia, the essence OF the
condition, OF course, referred not to the
government which controlled that route,
but to the route ITSELF: to the territory
across which the route lay. not to the
name which for the moment the territory
bore on the map. The purpose OF the law
was to authorize the president TO make a
treaty with the power in actual control
of the isthmus Of Panama This purpose
has been fulfilled.
I'm the year 1915 this government en-
tered into treaty with New Granada.
the predecessor upon the isthmus OF the
Republic of Colombia and of the present
Republic of Panama, by which treaty II
was provided that the government and
citizens Of the United States should al
ways have tree and open right of way or
transit across the Isthmus Of Panama by
any modes OF communication that m gf.
be constructed, while in return our gov
eminent guaranteed the perfect neutral
ity IL the above mentioned isthmus with
the view that the free transit from the
one to the other sea might not be In
terrupted or embarrassed The treaty
vested in the United States a substantial
properly right carved out of the rights
OF sovereignty and property which New
Granada then had and possessed over
the said territory The name Of New
Granada has passed away and Its terri
tory has been divided, Its successor. the
government by Colombia has ceased to
own any property In the isthmus new
republic, that Of Panama, which was at
one time sovereign state, and at an
other time a mere department OF the sue
cessive considerations known as New
Granada and Colombia. has now sue
ceeded TO the rights which first one and
then the other formerly exercised over
the isthmus. But as long as the isthmus
endures. the mere geographical fact of its
existence, and the peculiar interest there
in which is required by our position,
perpetuate the solemn contract which
binds the holders Of the territory to re-
spect our right to freedom Of transit
across It. and binds us In return 10 safe
guard for the isthmus and the world the
exercise Of that inestimatable privilege.
The true Interpretation of Che Obligation
upon which the United States entered In
this treaty Of 1876 has been given re-
peatedly In the utterances OF presidents
and secretaries Of state
For four hundred years. ever since
shortly after the discovery OF this hemi-
sphere the canal across the isthmus has
been plauHed. For two score years il has
been worked at. When made II is to
last for the ages. IL IS TO alter the
geography Of a continent and the trade
routes of the world, We have shown
BY every treaty We have nesotiated or at
TEMPTED 10 negotiate with the peoples in
control OF the ithmus and with foreign
nations in reference thereto our con-
sistent good faith Ia observing our obliga-
uaNs, on the one hand TO the peoples of
the lssaEaLs and on the other hand TO
the civilized world whose commercial
aptgeils by our action. We have done
our duty 10 others In letter and In spirit
and we have shown the utmost forbear-
auce n exacting our own rights.
Last spring, under the act above re-
fcrred 10, 4 treaty concluded between the
representatives OF the Republic OF Co
lombia and OF our government was rati-
tered iaig Il TIE urgent solicitation 81 the
people Of Colombian and after a body OF
experts appointed by our government eS-
pecially to go into the matter of the
routes across the isthmus had pro-
nounced unanimously IN favor OF the Pam
anna route. in drawing up this treaty
every concession was made 10 the people
and to the government OF Colombia. We
we're more than Just In dealing with
them. our generosity was such as TO
make * a serious question whether we
had not coma too far in their interest at
tie expense Of our own; for In our
scrupulous desire TO pay ali possible
4 .,1r to o hu htfN ~,