The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-09-24
Venerable Statesman Speaks to Alabama Legislature on the
 IsthmiaD Canal Question
MANY DANGERS ESCAPED
 BY THE PANAMA REJECTION
He Says the Nicaraguan Route Is Now Forced Upon the President as the Last Chance, for the
 Other Canal Has Gone.

Montgomery, September 23-(Special)- The legislature listened for two hours today to a most interesting speech by Senator John T. Morgan. The speech was possibly delivered with as much personal pride as any that has ever came from the lips of the great statesman. It came upon the day following the greatest victory that Senator Morgan has ever won At P o'clock last night all possibility for the ratification of the treaty between the United States and Colombia fickered and went out and according to Senator Nor gan, this forces the acceptance by Presi- dent Roosevelt of the Nicaraugan route the fondest hope of the grand old man, who has given up the best efforts or his life for it's accomplishment.
 While Senator Morgans speech referred to the canal in the main part, still it covered rather wide scope He first told the legislators that they were members of the highest sovereign body in the world, embracing as it does the power overlife, men in all walks of life, taxes social regulations and domestic ties. This power was far in excess of that dele- gated to the members Of the United States senate.
 Referred to National Politics.
 The senator briefly referred to national politics. He said he believed that the de- bates that would follow the reconvening of congress would develop a harmony in the democratic party that would mean ultimate success. We will settle our differences" said the senator, and when we shall have solidified, can agree upon platform, put an honest man. faithful and able upon it who will obey the will of the party. We are not looking for Il man to lead us to victory but for man that will bring the American people to us and force victory"
 Referring to the Panama canal treaty Senator Morgan said the American peo- ple escaped great danger by the failure of the Colombian government to ratlfy the treaty, T believe" said he, it was done by the guiding hand of Providence. Certainly no man had anything to do with it. In His own way the Great Ruler of the universe has provided that there shall be a great gateway constructed that shall bring peace to the whole world. l do not think this is impious. l know no man has done 1t. l rejoiced at midnight last night, the last expiring hope for the treaty to be ratified by the Colombian congress disappeared and that this out rage has been prevented upon the Ameri- can people and the people of Colombia
 What We Escaped.
 '.Let me tell you what we have escaped: l. Complications with France, who had loaned the canal company over forty mill lions of dollars. which that country would have said we defrauded the country out of by our shrewdness. The money be- longed to the working people of France, numbering over S00,O00
 70 War with Colombia, and the charge that we had seduced Panama to secede. ''3 Effort to have point hygiene depart ment established, half American and half Colombian.
 ''4 Joint police control with no law save Columbian law to control the worst elements of the world.
 s5 Joint judicial control, but no provi- sion to supply laws.
 "6 Exclusive military control by Colom- bia, except when Colombia Is powerless, then the United States may send force there, but must withdraw them imme- dately after trouble has been settled. and at the instance of the Colombian gov- ernment
 Vicious Provision.
 What man can conceive" exclaimed the senator. of the United States con- gress agreeing to such provision"
 1T Marriage of civil authorities can be put aside, and only the marriage cere- mony performed by the church is recog- nized. In other words, a man can put his wife aside as If he had never been mar ried, and can take another woman to be his wife if he allows the church to per- form the ceremony.
 T offered an amendment that this law should not apply to Americans. but the amendment was voted down. The senate admitted 1t was right but we needed certain influences to get the treaty rati- fled and the vicious provision had to go in the treaty.
 'We could not under that treaty have lived in peace with the Colombian govern ment a single day. We would have gone there in peace and amty. but with our gun in our hand and war would have been followed"