New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-08-02
4 lost leSrF

Nothing has been more mystifying in the
Progress Of the Democratic campaign than the
utter disappearance Of the Panama Canal issue
The supersensitiTe guardians of public morals
who six months ago were condemning the nd
ministratiOn's Panama policy as a breach of
international law and stain on national honor
have unaecountably swallowed their righteous
indignation Our neighbors The Times" and
The Evening Post" no longer thunder at the
'l2famies" OF the Hay-Varilla treaty or de.
nounce as tainted and fraudulent our title 10
the canal strip. Last December they were re-
Joicing that they had found great moral issue
on which 20 assail and overthrow the Roosevelt
administration All their Influence was being
exerted 10 compel the Democratic minority in
The Senate 10 defeat the Panama treaty and
thus make the Presidents canal policy q lead
ING issue In the national campaign. Today the
petnlant tempest in a teapot which ragged 60
nercely has spent its force The moral Issue
seemingly SO vital and pregnant IN December.
nas fallen still-born in July. President Roose-
welt can say In his speech OF acceptance flint
he conducted the negotiation for the consty7,c.
ton OK the canal with the incest ana most
'scrupulous honor, and I'm a spirit OF the largest
generosity toward those through whose terri.
tory IL was 70 rum; and not peep of r,rotest
Is heard from the critics who once commended
that that negotiation was STEPPED in moral mr..
pitude.
Just how the moral SeTvor behind thIs con.
tentlon eyRpOTated it would be hard 20 Gov
Many Democratic State conventions held ,bis
spring seemed convinced that political capitaI
could be made ont OF the administrations deaf
.ngs with Panama and Colombia. Inc Mary
land platform echoed the assaults made by SEN
atog German on the Hay-TarIlla treaty. The
fennsysFania platform declared that the canal
project was stained With evidence ~ n dis
honorable intrigue against the Integrity Of n
friendly republic" Other conventions made
oeciarauons hardly less emphatic. In h,s
speech 70 the st. Louis convention Rpnresepto.
tire John Sharp Williams denounced Tho adj.
'i'iiliSiration's canal policy as shameful" and
INC canal plank in the draft OF the nat,onal
I''atiSF;n which was adopted by Che sab-com-
thiriee o. the committee on resolutions con.
tanned this sentence:
We cannot too forcfhlv erprese o,,, .,-...~-z..
~ 81 tne methods by which in alsregpr6 ~ sba
.Nasfs anu obligations OF international law and
i',,Ir,g Oo.ieatlons me canal route has been 40
MS pfeoeeent OF Defiant diplomacy nav never fe
-Nso against as 70 our humiliation and injury.
Nlef q thlrty-six hours struggle. however.
we full committee on resolutions repo-fpa n
iaueh revised and altered platform. Thie was
me cassal plank g contained:
-she Democracy. when intrliStsa with rau,sr
Sat construct the Panama Canal speedily hon.
49,. ana eeononnieaily, thereby giving 70 our
ea frr--o great lnfsroseAnie canai s,'rnisbi,.-
s,.oS,er ans cheaper lines OF transDorfnfion ana
sronNsf ana less tFnmmell.a trade rtjasIons with
We p-l-r peoples OF the world.
Ne. W.lliasns's phrases. a,gisrevars ~ ,r,o,,,
t'e'- -" hha treaty obligations" and defiant
~i''pluacy,' were carefully blotiud out and the