The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-12-28
SENATOR GoRMAN,s NEW TACK.

The quickness of the American people to
see a political point is shown by the con-
sensus of opinion regarding Senator Cor
mans bad break on the Panama question.
With the exception Of a few Democratic
papers which, having taken the wrong
shoot under Senator Germans leader
ship, are too stubborn to admit that they
blundered. the press and country are prac-
tically unanimous that the Maryland SEN
ator made the worst political mistake of
his life when he started out 10 line up his
party against the Panama treaty. Either
he made a false diagnosis of Democratic
sentiment in the South, or else he greatly
Overestmated his ability to whip Demo-
cratic senators into line by caucus action.
But Mr.. German is a resOurceful man,
and not the kind of fighter to accept defeat
because he has been knocked out in the first
round. Though badly dishgured, he will
come up smiling after the holidays. and re-
ports foreshadow the new tack he will take.
He will say his position has been misunder
stood and injustice done him by charging
that his opposition to the Panama treaty
meant opposition to the canal. He will de-
clare that he fully appreciates the impor-
tance of the canal to the world at large,
to the United States. and especially to the
South, whose interests lie very near his
heart, but that he does not approve of
President ROosevelts method of insuring
the construction of the canal. He is in
favor of the canal, but opposed to the
treaty.
There was a man in Maine who assumed
much the same position regarding prohibit
ton that Senator German does on the
Panama question; he was in favor of the
prOhibitory law, but against its enforce
ment. In this way he attempted to square
himself with moral principle while OPP
posing the attempt to make it effective. 1t
is not recorded that he ever won much
applause for consistency
Before Senator German can expect any
person to believe he is sincere in the new
position it is said he will take he must be
prepared to show wherein the administra-
ton has erred in the course it has pursued,
and what other possible course would have
contributed more directly or potentially to
securing the desired end. Admitting that
the canal is the objective point to be aimed
at, what possible action could have worked
more directly to that end than the action of
the administration in promptly recognizing
the independence of Panama and entering
into treaty with her for the construction
of the canal under more favorable condi-
tions than any previously offered? If any
mistake was made or wrong done 1t was in
| recognizing the independence of Panama
because her independence once recognized
the treaty followed as a matter of course
But if the United States erred in recognize
ing Panama's independence I'm order to Sc
cure the canal, what shall be said of Great
| Britain, Germany, France and other powers
that have recognized her independence
without any great object in view?
Senator German cannot take the position
it is said he intends to take without insult
ing the European powers that have recog-
/ nized the independence of Panama, and at
the same time stultifying himself, for
without the treaty the canal would be i'm
| possible. II he favors the canal he should
support the treaty. He cannot be in favor
of the prohibitory law and against its en-
| forcement