Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1903-12-10

VINO passed the examinations. This alb
FORMAL growth was largely occasionsd nv
tne extension OF classification to the rural
Tree delivery service and the apnointroenf
, raS year OF over 1900 rural carriers. A
seNIsion or the civil service rules took ef.
rect on April u last. which has greatly
unpsoveN their operation. The connie
uoh OF the reform Of the civil service Is
~oosnlaea oy good citizens everywhere
as a matter of the highest public impor-
lance, and the success OF the merit svs-
Iein largely depends upon the erectiye-
mess OF the rules and the machinery pro-
Vlaea Tor their enforcement"
The effect OF the laws providino a
general { an for the army and for the
more effective use OF the national guard
.G,s oeen sMcellent. says the president.
she eiflciency or our army Ia recent years.
Such schools as those erected NJ Fort
Leavenworth and Fort Riley and the IN
sutntion OF fall n1aneuver work ACCOM-
push satisfactory results. The good ef-
rect or these maneuvers upon the national
guard Is marked. and ample ~appropria-
ton should be made to enable the ruards-
men OF the several states to share in the
benent. The goverE!aent should as soon
as possible secure permanent camp sites
sor military maneuyers in the various
thereby rendered not only to the regular
army, but to the national guard Of the
several states, VIII be SO great as to
small expense. We should not rest salts
he'd with what has been done. however.
The only people who are contented with
a system OF promotion by mere seniority
triumph OF mediocrity over excellence.
On the other hand a system which en-
outraged the exercise Of social or po-
iticai favoritism in promotions would be
even worse. But II 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"
Inc president congratulates congress
upon the steady progress n building up
not afford a let-up In this great work.
To stand still means to go back There
snould be no cessation In adding 10 the
e~tfective units Of the fighting strength Of
the feet. Meanwhile the navy deuart-
ment and the officers OF the navy are do
ing Well their part by providing constant
service at sea under conditions akin 10
those OF actual warfare. The establish
ment of a naval base In the Philippines
ought not to be longer postponed. Such
a base is desirable in time OF peace; In
and Its lack would be ruinous. II is
eninently desirable. however. that there
should be provided a naval general stan
on lines similar to those Of the general
80 NiNotVh luI tlio army. W. htch tiN
establishment by law OF a body OF trained
officers. who shall exercise a systematic
control OF the military affairs OF the
navy, and be authorized advisers of the
secretary concerning it,"
n president goes into the isthmian
canal question at great length. In open
ing he says: B the act OF June 2S.
1902, the congress authorized the presi-
dent to enter into treaty VITA Colombia
for the building OF the canal across the
isthmus OF Panama.; 1t being provided
such treaty after the lapse OF a reason
able time. recourse should be had TO
building a canal through Nicaragua.
IL has not been necessary to consider this
alternative, as / am enabled 10 lay before
the senate a treaty providing for the
building OF the canal across the Isthmus
OF Panama. This was the route which
commended itself TO the deliberate judg-
ment OF the congress. and we can now
acquire by treaty the right 10 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-
revocably decided. The question Is
simply whether or not we shall have an
sthmian canal.
When the congress directed that we
should take the Panama route under
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 q
treaty with the power In actual control
of the isthmus of Panama This purpose
has been fulfilled.
tered into a treaty with New Granada.
the predecessor upon the isthmus OF the
Republic OF Colombia and OF the present
Republic of Panama, by which treaty 1t
was provided that the government and
citizens OF the United States should al
ways have free and ope right OF way or
transit across the Isthrnus OF Panama by
any modes of communication that nigh.
be constructed. while In return our gov
eminent guaranteed the perfect neutral
lily IL the above mentioned isthmds with
the view that the free transit from the
terrupted or embarrassed. The treaty
vested In the United States a substantial
property right carved out of the rights
| Granada then had and possessed over
the said territory. The name OF New
Granada has passed away n its terri
tory has been divided. its successor, the
government by Colombia, has ceased 90
w any property In the isthmus. A new
renublic, that Of Panama, which was at
one time a sovereign state. n at an
other time a mere department of the sue
| cessive considerations known as New
Granada and Colombia. has now sue
caeded to the rights which FIRST one and
| then the other formerly exercised over
the lsthmus. 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 cur right 10 freedom of transit
across II, and binds us In return 20 safe
guard for the isthmus ana lne world the
exercise of that inestimatable privilege.
The true Interpretation OF the obligation
upon which the United States entered in
this treaty OF 1916 has been given re-
| peatedly in the u~tterances OF presidents
and secretaries of state.
For four hundred years. ever since
shortly after the discovery CT this herni-
sphere, the canal across the isii,mus has
been planned. 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 W. ave negotiated or at
tempted to negotiate with the peoples in
control of the ithmus and with foreign
nations In reference thereto our cum
sistent good faith in observing our obiiga-
tons; on the one hand to the peoples OF
the isthmus. and on the ulaer hand to
the civilized world whose commercial
rights we are safeguarding and guar
anteeing by our action. We have done