The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-01-21

The conference of Democratic senators to
discuss the Panama situation has made it
apparent that the canal treaty will be rati-
fed by the Senate and that several South
ern Democratic senators will vote for it.
Some Of these have been instructed by their
States, while others will vote FOR the
treaty because the Southern people are in
favor of the canal and because it will bene-
fit the South There is a still broader
ground and better reason for supporting
the treaty viz, because il will benefit the
entire country and the whole world. and
will promote the interests of collective
civilization. While senators were seeking
a reason for supporting the treaty they
might as well have selected the broadest
and best one.
The Democratic senators who will oppose
the treaty will base their opposition on con-
stitutional grounds, thereby maintaining
the traditions of the party for opposing
every measure Of national progress because
it is unconstitutional. The Democratic
theory of the Constitution is that it was
framed to retard national progress, to tie
the hands Of the executive, TO prevent
prompt action in emergencies, to prohibit
the adoption of new policies for new con-
ditions to enforce adherence to obsolete
presidents and to require the United
States to stand still and mark time while
other nations are marching past it. Prior
to the civil war the Constitution was in
voked for the protection and extension Of
slavery. During the war almost every act
of Abraham Lincoln was held to be uncon-
stitutional, and about the only thing adj
mitted by Democrats to be clearly constitu-
tional was the right of State to secede
from the Union. Every important measure
during the last forty years. from the
emancipation of the slaves to the acquisi-
ton of the Philippines. was denounced as
unconstitutional, and now the Panama
canal treaty is opposed on the same ground.
The inconsistency of some Southern SEN
ators Is very marked in view of the fact
that while opposing the treaty on constitu-
tional grounds the excessive representa-
largely due to the notification of the four
teenth and fifteenth amendments to the
Constitution. If the Constitution had been
enforced. in fact if it had not been fragrant
ly violated, the representation of every
Southern State in Congress would have
been cut down years ago. and some SEN
ators who are now there would not be
there. At this very time. while Senator
German is denouncing the President for an
| alleged violation of the law he is trying
to formulate plan for multiplying the Con-
stitution of the United States in Mary
land.
These Democratic senator's strain at a
gnat and swallow camel. They lie awake
nights forging arguments to prove that the
President violated the Constitution by land
ing marines in Panama to protect Amer
lean lives and property and by recognizing
the independence of the new republic, but
they see no wrong in the absolute nullifica-
| ton of the Constitution in the South. The
| Constitution is only sacred in their eyes
when ii can be used as an argument against
| national progress or the performance OF
/ some great work or duty by Republican
administration. When it is nullified tC
give the Southern States a fraudulent rep
resentation in Congress they have not a
word of protest.
| But the treaty will be ratified. the canal
will be built and owned by the United
States, and the American people will ap
prove of every step in the proceeding and
assign high place in history to the Presi
| dent who was wise and patriotic enough tC
seize the opportunity Of bringing 1T about