The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1904-09-30

hope OF q statesmen and the aVowed
aim OF the two great parties. as their
platforms In the past show. The
Panam route having been selected.
me building Of the canal should be
pressed 10 completion with all reason
able expedition.
The methods by which the executive
acquired the Panama canal route and
rights are a source Of regret 10 many
To them, the statement hat thereby
a great public work was assured 70 the
proht OF our people is not a sufficient
answer 70 The charge Of violation OF
national good faith. They appreciate
ihai the principles and healthy con
V~lctlons which in their working out
nave made as free and great. stand
hrmly against the argument or sug-
gestion that we shall be blind 10 the
nature OF tho means employed 20 pro
mote our welfare. They hold that
adherence 20 principle. whether Il
works for our good on ill. VIII have
a more %benehcent inf .ence on our
future destiny than all our material
upbuilding, and that we should ever
remember that the idea OF doing a
wrong TO a smaller. weaker nation
that we. or even all mankind, may
have a resultant good Is r%epugnant TO
the principles upon which our govern.
ment was founded.
Under the laws of the United States
the duty is imposed on the executive
TO proceed with due diligence in
the work OF constructing the canal.
That duty should be promptly per
formed
American Shipping
Dur commerce In American bottoms
amounts to but eight per cent. OF our
total exports and imports. For 10
yeras prior TO 1860. when the repub-
lican party came into power, our mer-
chant marine carried an average OF IS
per cent. OF our foreign commerce. BY
1877 1t had dwindled to 27 per cent.
Now we carry but a c~Ontemptibly
small fraction Of our exports and i'm
ports.
American shipping In the foreign
trade was greater by over 100. 900 tons
in ~1S1O-nearly 100 years ago-than il
was last year. In the face OF the con-
tinuous decline In the record OF Amer
lean shipping during the last 43 years.
the promise OF the republican party
TO restore it is without encourage
ment. The record of the democratic
party gives assurance that the task
can be more wisely i%ntrusted 20 il
Recent disclosures. coupled with the
rapid augmentation Of government ex-
penditures. show a need Of an investi-
cation Of every department Of the gov
eminent. The democrats IN congress
demanded il. The republican majority
refused the demand. The people can
determine by their vote in November
whether they wish an honest and thor
ough investigation. A democratic con-
gress and executive will assure il.
Army and Navy.
We are justly proud Of the officers and
men Of our army and navy. Both. how
ever. have suffered from the persistent
injection Of personal and political in
huence. Promotions and appointments
have been frequently based on favorit-
ism instead Of merit. Trials and court
martials have been set aside under cir
cumstances indicating political inter-
ference These and other abuses should
be corrected.
Pensions for Our Soldiers and Sailors.
The national democracy favors liberal
pensions TO the surviving soldiers and
sailors and their dependents. on the
ground that they deserve liberal treat
ment. II pledges by its platform ade-
quate legislation to that end But il
denies the right Of the executive to
usurp the power OF congress 10 lepis-
was attempted by pension order No.
rs. and effect has been given 10 il by a
congress that dared not resent the
u~surpation. II IS said that this order
was made In the performance Of a duty
imposed upon the president by act OF
congress- but the provision making
the imposition is not pointed out. The
act to which the order refers. which is
the one relating TO pensions 70 civil
war veterans. does not authorize pen
sions or the ground OF age. tdoes grant
pensions 10 those suffering from any
mental or physical disability. or disa-
bilities. Of a permanent character. not
the result OF their own vicious habits.
which SO incapacitates them from the
performance Of manual labor as 10 rem
der them unable to earn a support"
This specified requirement OF incapacity
Is in effect set aside b. order No. IS
as to all persons over GO.
The war closed nearly 40 years AGO
In tho meantime nan Of our soldiers
and sailors long survived the age Of
GO. and passed away without receiving
any pension. Skillful pension attorneys
hunting through the statute failed to
find there a provision giving a pen
sion TO all who had reached 50 Many
prominent veterans urged the Justice "a
congressional action giving a service
pension to all veterans. Bills 20 that
effect were introduced IN congress And
not until March of this year did any