New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-06
LODGES STRONG SUPPORT.
FLAYS CANAL OPPONENTS,
Po1rerful Speech by Massachaseth
Senator on Panama 4ction.
rFEoN THE TRIBUNE nuREAr.I

Washington. Jan. 5-Senator Lodge delivered
a powerful speech in the Senate to-day, answer
ing IN part the argument of Senator German
made Just before the holiday recess. and de-
Tending the position of the administration from
the partisan attacks made by numerous Demo-
cratic Senators
The Senator received the most careful atten-
ton from crowded galleries and his colleagues
on both sides of the Senate Chamber most OF
Whom remained throughout the long oration
ana most of whom broke the rule Of the Senate
anu greeted the conclusion of the speech with
d ourst or applause. NIv. Lodge said in part:
l never In my life. I think. questioned any
oody motives who differed from me- and / do
NOT now; sun less would | impUgl the patriot
ism OF Senators who hold different view of this
question from my own. ( only ask from them
the same belief in my sincerity that T accord to
theirs. but l do think tEat il is fairly open TO
dlscuss this question from a political standpoint
ana confess the attitude assumed by some por-
uons at least, of the Democratic party is very
curious and interesting 1 know that there
some members OF that party-Iarse sections Os
mat party outside Of WashingtOn-who are IS
JedCuS ana as eager for the promotion of this
canal and the ratification of this treaty as any
people can possibly be- know there are others
-IOr L nave read debates which have occurred
elsewhere-who. while they protest from hatred
or the sinner, seem perfectly willing to embraces
the sin. But there is stiu another element which
seems deSirous TO make this a party question
and to get out of it political capital 1t seems TO
me that q stranger idea than that never entered
4I4tO lAAe HSdu OF man. W nile quite agree Win
the dictum of Disraeli, that the business of an
opposition Is 70 oppose, think that great par
hamentary leader, when he uttered that epi-
gram postulated that the opposition should hs
intelligent. for he knew perfectly well that thu
duty Of an opposition 10 he always ready 20
take up the Teins of government, and that Moth
ing could so soon prevent the rise of an Opposl-
tiOn to power their convincing the eIectorats
that they were not fit 10 govern.
have been reminded by this Democratic op-
position on several occasions of DR.. JOhnson'S
remark about Thomas Sheridan the father of
the great dramatist and orator. He said:
sherry is dull; unnaturally dull; but he muSC
have taken great pains to arrive al his presenE
position; such an excess of stupidity is not In
nature. sir.
NOT a SUBJECT FOR POLITICAL CAPITAL
Think of the proposition of making political
capital our of question Of this sort, To me.
as a Republican. I should ask nothing better
than TO have the Panama Canal made the issue
IN the Impending campaign I think good
deal OF valuable material has already been
given in that direction. but / should be very
sorry, as an American, to see the work delayed.
and think that when il is thought over by the
Democratic party they will see that there ara
more 1udjcious courses than TO oppose simply
because the other party proposes. There must
be grounds Of opposition more relative thar.
that. IL you would satisfy the American people.
and l think that the Democratic party will nOd
always be deceived by the solemn face or ap-
parent wisdom which sometimes proves to be-
nothing but extraordinary cunning which over
reaches Itself.
This morning had the pleasure Of reading
the account of a great banquet in New-YOrS-
l cannot properly finish without an aIlusiou
to something said there. 1t seemed to me a
most interesting OCCasiOn-Tammany Hall and
the remnants of the Democratic reform a6-
minisUration nesting under the wings Of Mr.
David r. Hill I do not know which were the
lions and which We're the lambs. but they were
certainly all lying-down together. Among
others present there was distinguished citi-
zen OF my own state. whom I call my personal
friend I rarely agree with him on any dues-
tton. but he made a single statement last night
with which think am in more or less agree
Fnent He referred 10 the dreadful career that
| has been run by the Republican party since it
came into power in 1886. He said thew had on
posed a needless war with Cuba and wanJoTI
war with Colombia.
am Inclined to think the adjective was we'll
CHOSEN II. when the first strains of indepen-
dence we're heard in that island. the adninls-
tratiOn IN power had behaved with strength
United states could not longer hold back
believe then. and I believe now Cuba w0uld
nave obtained her independence without any-
war by US
DEMOCRATS MIGHT HAVE AvERTED WAR
I have always believed. if that administra-
tiOn instead Of taking counsel with the Min
lister OF Spain and great sugar planter in Cuba
had been guided by that feeling before SDair
| had squandered blood and treasure in the isl
ana We might have been saved from the war. r
look forward with great interest and great pleas
| ure 10 the picture drawn by the Secretary os
state of that administration when he euIOeized
the Democratic President.
In the last twenty years he is the only canii-
date tnat the Democratic party could produce.
and Mr.. Olney thinks that he is the only one
they can elect Whatever his strength or weak
ness. | cannot help saying that his noInina ton
would present me at least with one great source
of pleasure His administration has never been
discussed 1 do not regard the Democrats party
as always abOunding I'm common sense although
suppose this remark will be regarded as parti-
But they did have too much sense not tor
wage the campaign OF 1896 on those issues made
by Cleveland Without saying anything about
free silver. the silver issue was better one for
them 10 go before the country advocating than
the issue they had before.
When I read these speeches and saw the Dem
OCratic party prepared 10 stand across the rarh-
way of American progress and propose 70 n,1t
at their head the man who held power in their
name. think what pleasure II would be TO
contrast the policy that he advocated with our
policy. His policy in relation 10 IiliuokaIanf:
their policy in adopting tariff which their
own President called a tariff Of perfdy and dis
honor. with the tariff that passed: their
policy in borrowing money in time of profound
peace from the bankers of New York with orr
policy of raising money a less rate of inter
est in time of war by subscriptions open to the
people.
The result OF such a contrast could onIy-
be happy one for US We have often had
fortune showered upon us by our Democratic
friends. but nothing better could happen than 10
nominate their last Democratic reform Presf-
dent on the policy of sustaining Colombia ar6
opposing the United States in digging the canal
at Panama
Senator Lodge said in the course Of his are,,-
ment that an attempt had been made TO be-
cloud the issue because the course Of Panama
had been one Of secession. whereas the I-nftad
States had prevented the secession Of the sou+b-
States. In fact. secession was in its ultf-
mate analysis. revolution. In 1776 the colonies
revolted from the rule OF Great Britain and
France recognized the colonies. Was France
therefore to be regarded as having established
precedent whereby she was bound 10 sub,,,,
to the secession Of portion of her own terri
tory? The fact that the United States recor-
1fz zad Taxa had