The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-12-29


avaricious, SO Enthusiastically tricky.
Yankeeish is it, that one cannot wonder
We maintain our position as a nation, not
because of the voluntary respect and
sympathy of civilized countries. but be-
cause of our physical strength-the
strength of bully or gladiator. Is there
any doubt that similar conduct on the
part of an individual would exclude him
forthwith from all decent associations =?
especially in the South? and yet | regret
to see dispatch from Washington say
ing our Senators are inclined 20 90 in
tor their little hunk Of stolen pork! Can
1t be possible? Are we so completely
Yankeeized?
Keep UP the protest; have an abiding
faith In the honesty and intelligence of
the masses OF North Carolina, and that
they will not endorse this national free
booting. Oh! for twenty-four hours of
Vance in the Senate
Hon. Locke Craig, of Asheville, was a
guest OF honor at the Forefathers Din
ner at Charleston, S. c., few days ago.
and made a speech which the News and
Courier commends in the highest terms
Ai-NlOCitoly uC tOuCuSQ upon lue QuCS-
ton of the Panama treaty and said:
We ought to build the canal. The
fact that the commerce of the world has
been so long obstructed by that narrow
strip OF land is no credit to the United
States, but 1T was not necessary to obtain
the privilege by piracy. do not know
which is the better route, the Nicaraguan
or the Panama. But one thing is GER
tain. American honor is too much boot
between the two. Standards of civic
should be as high and high
er, than the standards of individual in
tegrity. Conduct like this Panama trans
action in any individual would be called
chicanery and would not be tolerated as
ordinary honesty in dealings between
men. The conscience of the Nation re-
volts against it. Our honor is the first
and highest consideration.
Instead of an evolution to a higher
state, we are trying to get back to the
political conditions when Europe fell
rIostrate before the grand Monarque
Booted and spurred as on wild broncho,
with lariat for any little nation that
comes in our way, with blaring trumpets
and fireworks, and clashing cymbals, we
are galloping with all strenuosity-whith-
er? By an external law Providence has
decreed vexation to violence, and poverty
to rapine. The law of the Western ranch
is not the international law of Christian
-
The News and Courier prints the com
utterance of Governor Ter
rell. of Georgia, based purely upon
expediency, in the same issue with the
onscience-directed words of Mr.. Craig.
and says:
1--WE do not think that any high-minded
man, any true patriot, any one with the
courage of his convictions would hesitate
long which to choose, the policy of pure
commercialism urged by Governor Terrell
at the Barry banquet in Atlanta, or
the high course for which the gallant
North Carolinian spoke at the dinner of
the Pilgrim Fathers in Charleston
AS we understand his position, Senator
Simmons. who viii vote for the treaty,
VIII do so solely upon the ground that, il
thwarted in its determination to set up
the so-called republic of Panama, this
will not build any canal.
and he is so anxious to secure the canal
that he will vote for the treaty as the
only means of securing it. If the Senator
is right-if the price of the canal is
,ondoning executive usurpation and piracy.
the United States Senators are truly ''be-
tween the devil and the deep blue sea
There are many who would shat their
eyes to the usurpation because they feel
that the immediate construction of the
canal is of paramount Importance. Sena
tor Simmons fears if the treaty is de-
feated by the Democratic Senators, no
canal will soon be constructed ard his
party will have to suffer the oiium OF
construction. There is no
1oubt that it will be sought to place upon
L the stigma of standing in the way OF
progress, if the treaty should be defeat
ed. and many would not uadcrstand It's
motives. But the defeat of the present
.reaty would not at all effect the con-
Of the canal unless Mr.. RoOse
selt's executive usurpation would cause
him to refuse TO carry out an act of Con
yress. Senator Simmons believes he is
stubborn enough to kill the canal unless
ne can dig the ditch where he wants it
Ind in his own way.
The President has already, as Sen
ator Overman points out, been in
;tructed to proceed with the con
;truction of the Nicaragua caral if inl-
possible to secure the Panama route. What
IS the situation? He found it not ''pcssi
Dle' in peaceful and honorable ways TO
secure the necessary authority to dig the
Panama canal. Instead of obeying the
plain letter of the law, he goes to work
10 secure the Panama concessions by
ways that are dark in a manner wholly
Inconsistent with our national honor, as
many see it.
Whatever may be the result, two 'tings
ought TO be done:
L. The Hoar resolution ought to be
adopted and the President requested 10