The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-12-19
STAND OF THE DEMOCRATS
Did United States Officially
 Ferment Rebellion?
Preference for Nicaragua VIII Not stand in the Way of Panama if Everything Was Done
 in Open.
Advertiser Bureau,
 Colorado Building.
Washlngton, Dec. ls.

Colorado Building.
 Washington, Dec. IS. Senators Bacon and; Clay of Georgia, because they have not been nasty in talk ing position on the Panama question. have been erroneousfy set down by cer- tan newspapers as at radical variance with the majority of their Democratic as- sociates in the Senate, among those so interpreting their position being The At Ianta Constitution. Your correspondent, after conversation with the two Senators, submits the following as their position, and with their approval of the statement as given below. which they believe also Is the position of their party associates In the Senate:
 There has been no policy yet determined upon by Democratic Senators relative to the Panama treaty, but, whatever Is final- ly determined upon will probably be sup- ported by all of them. There has been much fuller information given during the past four weeks as to the facts connected with the revolution. This additional in- formation has added largely to the grav- ity and magnitude of the question in- voived. They are trying to get additional information, and until there has been se- cured the fullest information the Demo- crats in the Senate will not decide upon the course they will pursue
 Orders to Warships.
 One fact of a very serious character which has been ascertained, Is that the United States government, the day before the alleged revolution. ordered the United States war ships, which had been pre-. viously ordered to Colon and, Panama. not to permit the Colombian government to land any troops Co suppress any attempt- ed revolution.
 It is difficult in the absence of further information to avoid the conclusion that the United States government. if not the instigator, was mainly ipstrumentalin In ac- compIishing the alleged revolution. Fur ther information may show to the ccns trary. but so long as this csNa pppAata te be as at pyesent, # preaenta 2 nsost SC, f4otis Hifuakf0ns ssk gess sSs f5r If tEs FevoIutiort was fomented in ths United States, but the government of the United States had nothing to do with it and took no part in the revolution. then there would be ground for the contention that, if the republic of Panama became firmly established and recognized by otA- CT governments then the United States government could enter into treaty with it without dishonor. But if 1t be true that the United States government itself fomented the revolution, and by its active aid made 1t successful, that Is very different thing.
 Facts Should be at Hand.
 The facts should be carefully ascertain ed before this government proceeds. If the United States government did foment and arrange beforehand for the revolu- tionsand actively aid it, then the question of entering into the treaty with Panama is one that touches very closely the honor ot the American people. Tn addition to this. some of the provis- ions of the proposed treaty present very serious questions which must be careful Iy considered One of these is that which guarantees the independence of Panama and undertakes to maintain it. It Is cer- tainIy a serious matter to under take to guarantee the independence of 8 Central American State among other states where wars and light ing are the favorite occupation of the peaple. ard particularly when the hos tilIty which has been caused by this mat ter will make certain wars with Panama and Colombia as well as other Central and South American countries.
 Then again, to enter into an alliance with country now practically at war with Colombia, it is contended. isNpracti- calIy for the United States to declare war against Colombia. If so 1t is violation of the constitution to declare war by treaty. The Constitution says that only Congress can declare war and the power is not given to the President and the Senate.
 &USSI10u 6Sf1OuS OmSs
 That is a most serious question and one not lightly to be set aside. It is import ant that the desire for the canal should not close our eyes to the magnitude and importance of such questions affecting the honor of the government and the preservation of its most important and fundamental features
 It is a mistake to assume that the con- struction of the canal Is dependent upon nf fxy yvzrHtH Da he law now upon the statute book plainly directs the President what to do to con- struct the canal. The law provided that the President should construct the canal at Panama if he could get a good title to the partly constructed canal and if Co., lonbia agreed to the ratification of the treaty. but that If this could not be done then he should proceed to arrange for the construction of the canal by the Mic aragua route. That is the law now.
 Practically the whole South has prefer red the Nicaragua route and all the Dem ocrats in the Senate and House, voted for the Nicaragua route. That being the law. there is the greater reason why the Senate should carefully consider al the questions connected with the Panama treaty and not be hurried into a panic.
 Alabama at Departments.
 Postmasters appointed:
 Local, Escambia County-Henry C.. Wl- Hams, vice Ebert L. Harper resigned.
 May, Tuscaloosa County-James H. Price, vice T L. Montgomery resigned.
 Francis, Calhoun County-J. H. Bur gess, vice r. r. Phillips resigned.
 Carlow. Mobile County-Andrew L. Mar shall. vice A. Marshall dead.
 DeatsviIle. Fillmore County-Inge R. Nix, vice John 4. Robinson resigned.
 Lowndesboro, Lowndes County-Thomas B. Holly, vice c. Douglass removed.
 Moriah. COosa County-William 4. Var ner. vice Bacumb H. Duke resigned.
 Spivey, Barbour County--William L. McGee, vice c. A. McGee resigned.
 Tabernacle. Coffee County-J. Shepard, vice T. Walter Nilsson resigned.
 Willie T. Porter has been appointed rue ral letter carrier at sylacauga, with Por- ter q. Vardaman substitute