The Savannah morning news., 1903-12-18
FIRE IN THE DEBATE
~ WHICH SENATOR'S ENGAGED
OVER THE CANAL.
NO CANAL WITH DISH0N0R
WAS THE WAY SENATOR HoAR PUT
THE MATTER.


Course of the AdministratiOn-The
IndiscretiOn of LOOmis.
washington, Dec. 1.-THE Senate to-
dav was the scene of a most important
debate on the isthmian canal question,
as affected by the Presidents recogni-
ton of the independence of the Re-
nublic of Panama. The discussion be-
gan with a speech by Mr.. Hoar on
his resolution of inquiry and lasted
several hours. In addition to Mr..
Hoar's address, there were speeches by
Mr.. German and Mr.. Foraker All
three we're notable utterances, and of
historical interest.
Mr.. Hoar confined his remarks to
his resolution, and they were careful
w written out and read from manu-
script. He held that this country has
not yet received full official Informal
ton concerning the isthmian revolu-
ton, and criticised in sharp terms the
conduct of this country as shown by
what has been given out
There was no reservation in Mr.. Cor
mans utterances. He practically al
legged that the situation in Panama had
been created to make a campaign is
sue, and said that unless further light
was thrown on the subject he would
oppose the Panama treaty.
HOar and Foraker.
Mr.. Foraker took Mr.. Hoar to task
for his remarks rejecting on the ad-
ministration. He defended the admin
istration for it's attitude toward the
Panama revolt. A heated colloquy took
place between Mr.. Foraker and Mr..
Hoar during an effort of the Massachu-
sets senator to explain more fully his
position in the matter.
Mr. Hoar said he was in favor of
the isthmian canal, but was anxious
that the canal should be built with
out faint or suspicious of national dis
honor"
What we want to know isl he
said, did this government know that
a revolution was about to take place,
so arrange matters that the revolution,
whether peaceable or otherwise should
be permitted to go on without inter-
ruption, and whether our national au-
thorities took measures to prevent Co.
lombia from stopping it?''
Mr. Hoar quoted the correspondence
bearing upon the revolution and asked,
'Why this great anxiety before any
disturbance had occurred?' 1t was
clear, he said, that if the correspond
formation possible to give on the sub
ject, that from twenty-four to forty
eight hours before the revolution broke
out this government had instructed
man-of- war to prevent Colombia from
doing anything to prevent it.
POcketbOOIk for Policeman.
81 want to know and the American
people want to know, and have right
to know, whether this mighty police
h. s-XL q
about to attack another, is justified
before the blow is struck in manacling
the assailed party and whether, after
the assault has been made, the police
man is justified in claiming the pock-
etbook, which has been taken from
the victim by the aSSailant, should
be turned over to him (the policeman
on the ground that he was the right
full owner?"
Mr.. German took the floor as soon
as Mr.. Hoar had concluded, and there
was from the start evident interest
in what he might say. He began with
a reference to Mr.. Hoar's speech and
complimented that Senator highly on
his attitude and alluded to the Demo-
cratic attitude on the canal question.
On the latter point he said that Dem
ocratic senators generally are as fav-
orable to the construction of the canal
as are Republicans.
Mr.. German said the facts were all
that were desired, and he proceeded
to refer to the extension of the exc
cutive influence, saying that this in
fiuence had been extended from time
to time until the Senate had become
practically the agent of the execu-
tive"
The affair in Panama he declared,
was, 1.-The most fragrant act of trans
erosion that has ever taken place
in the history of the country, and it
he Cd N1-if6 rd IN
party"
Was There Too Much Wine:
Mr. German criticised Mr. LOOMS
for his discussion of the Panama sit
uation at a New York banquet before
injunction of secrecy had been re-
moved by the Senate. Mr.. German
said Mr.. Loomis had discussed the
Panama situation at a banquet at
which, perhaps, many were excited by
wine and had "given information
which the Senate had not had from
the administration or from any source.
He did not" Mr.. German continued,
tell the country all the facts, but he
made the assertion that the President
was a bold and great man, who had
had the courage and the patriotism to
land marines and seize part OF the
territory of the republic of Colombia,
which we were under contract to
guarantee to that country. This is"
he added, ''in the light of the facts
before us, nothing less than usurpa-
tion."
Mr.. German then discussed the
President as a second Napoleon"
which title had, he said been as
signed to him by some. A second Ma
poleon, indeed!'' he exclaimed. Had it
come to this, that the United States
must have a Napoleon to shape their
destinies and to distort the presiden-
tial Office from it's proper functions?
Here Mr.. Aldrich interrupted Mr..
German with a question as to whether
1t was the purpose of the re-concen-
trated Democracy to defeat the
treaty"
Would They Reject Its
Mr.. German replied that 1t was not
his practice to treat questions of in
ternational scope as a party man, and
he believed that by the union OF all
the forces inclined to protect the best
interests OF the country Its honor could
be saved. He agreed he said, that
the canal must be built, but In the
light OF all the facts at present known
i was even more important that the
integrity or the American people should
be preserved
Wont the Senator 10 a step far
Continued on Fifth Pare