The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1903-11-18
THE OPPOSITION PARTY.

ional session is already outlined. AS
might be expected. it is program of
opposition and obstruction, This the
people might readily forgive were the
opposition to be one of principle or
against measures in which the people
were not vitality interested. Democra-
cy had decided to oppose, first, the Gu
ban reciprocity treaty impart, and sec
ond, theIproposed Panama canal treaty.
lt.is generally conceded that both of
these treaty are wise, aable,
and almost necessary to the future
welfare of the country. The demo
Gratis acknowledge the ultimate wisdom
OF both treaties but seek to obstruct
the legislation solely because it is re-
publican, When a party has no higher
ambition than to oppose, simply for the
sake of opposition, it has lost its use
fhlness as an engine for the good of the
people "
The Cuban treaty is to be opposed
not because it is not for the good of the
people of both countries, but on the
technically that in placing time limit
on tariff concessions it binds the hands
of future congresses
The attitude of democracy toward
the Panama treaty is much the same
purely technical and without regard
for the interests of the people, After
years of debate-a whole time of it
Congress, and in fact the whole Ameri.
can people, decided in favor of the,
Panama route. In order to pacify
few, however, and to secure the pass
age of the bill through that most diff
cult of bodies, the United States SEN
ate, the Spooner amendment was adopt
ed, authorizing the president to treat
with Colombia for the necessary con-
cessions, and if satisfactory results
could not be obtained within reason
able time, to treat for the Nicaraguan
route. The president, through Secre-
tary Hay, opened up negotiations with
! Colombia. The Colombian statesmen
had evidently no consideration for
aught but greed. They had no person
al interests in Panama; the state that
would be primarily benefited, they had
always treated it as a dependency-a
colony to be bled without consider
alton for its own welfare, and the Co
| lOrp hiapS bo n a.
sire of the United States for speedy ac-
ton; an opportunity to hold Uncle Sam
up for many millions. 1t was for
this reason that the Hay-Herran treaty
failed. To the people of Panama, how
ever, the failure of the treaty and the
possible selection Of the Nicaraguan
route, meant more than the few mill
ions involved in the concession. 1t
meant millions upon millions to be eX-
pended for the canal. 1t meant either
that Panama should become the high
state. The greed of the Colombian
Seniors killed the goose that laid the
golden egg and in an almost bloodless
revolution the people of Panama threw
off the allegiance which had meant
nothing but sueserviency and declared
themselves an independent republic,
ready and willing to do business with
Americans on reasonable basis.
1t must be confessed that the Ameri-
can state department has done nothing
to retard the new republic or to dis
courage it. In fact the United States
has shown itself almost eager to recog
nize the new republic. and to open w
negotiations with it.
The democrats are now prepared tC
take the position that as the Spoone:
law provided that the president should
deal with Columbia, he cannot dea
, negotiations for the Nicaragua route.
The only possible result of the demo
, cratic opposition can be the further de
: lay of the great canal project, projec
which will unite the oceans; be of i'm
;, mense commercial advantage to thi
}, country. anu which will effect freigh
rates even in interior states such a
!, Iowa.
:, 1t is to be noted that the democrati
: program says nothing as to silver. an
= it may well be adjudged that that issu
= is officially and everlastingly dead
is good radiance to bad rubbage.
= The republican party stands for tn
, progress of the American people an
l. the petty obstruction methods of th
n democratic congress will be of lttl
>. avail
d