The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-01-17
Can Build the Nicaragua
Without Loss of Life.
DEMOCRATS DIVIDE
The Outlook for Success This Year is
Marred Because of Division in
Party Upon Vital and I'm
portant Matters Before
Them.

Inem.
Washington, D. c., Jan. 15-"It looks like
it will be whole month before the Pana
ma treaty is disposed Of" said Senator
Simmons today, "and that means that
Congress will not adjourn until hot wealth
er. The debate on the Hoar resolution
and the Bacon resolution seems likely to
continue some time before the treaty
itself comes up for final action
The debate not only promises to con-
tinue some time yet, but it has already
become quite 'gingery" There is no man
in the Senate who can make such pat
phrases as Senator Carmack, of Tennes-
teristic arraignment of Roosevelt's usur-
patton and it abounded in telling epi-
grams and in happy phrases. 1t drew
the fire of Senator Spooner, who had not
heretofore spoken on the matter. 1t had,
indeed, been whispered that at heart he
was opposed to the treaty, though, of
views in Difference to the view of the ma
jOrity of his party. o, for a similar spirit
in the Democratic party! 1t is the glory
of the Democratic party that it's members
think for themselves and permit no one
or two men to do the thinking for the
party. 1t is to be hoped that it will
III L.
ence, but there is needed spirit of will
lingness to submit to the arbitrament of
the majority after full and fair discus
sion.
What does the Democratic party stand
for?" was a question a Democratic Sena-
tor propounded to me today "You can
hardly TELL" he went on to say. Ger
tainly you cannot tell if you look for
an answer in the votes cast by its mem
bers OF Congress. No matter what is up,
1T seems that there is always enough
division among Democrats to enable the
Republicans to carry out their policy.
Now here is the Panama question. have
yet to hear anybody unreservedly ap-
prove the course of the President. His
friends say it was necessary for him to
pursue the extraordinary course in Or.
der to get the right to construct any
canal. A gentleman high UP in office
told me only today that it was the now
erful railroad lobby that caused the re
lection of the treaty by Columbia, and
that the same corrupting influence would
have defeated any proposed agreemen.
with Nicaragua. Therefore, he argued.
the President was forced to do a rash
thing to outwit them. The whole line Of
defence and apology proceeds upon SINH
lar lines. In private it is always admit
ted that the President did an act that
might have involved this country in war.
l: is clear that the President could not
declare war without the consent of Con-
gress and yet he has virtually declared
war upon Columbia BY DISOBEDIENCE
OF AN ACT OF CONGRESS requiring
him to construct the canal by Nicaragua
if the Panama treaty failed. And, in
the face of this executive usurpation anu
virtual declaration of war, what do we
see? A divided and disorganized Demo
cratic minority in the Senate A majori-
ty, under the leadership of Mr. German,
is refusing to condoRe or to ratify the
usurpation. A minority, in a go-as-you-
please trot is determined to vote for the
treaty on the ground that Roosevelt will
permit the construction of no canal unless
his action in Panama is ratified by the
Senate. Now, independent of which side
is right, what is the spectacle presented
to the country? 1t is OF a divided De.
mocracy. The people wish to see party
bring things to pass, to stop wrong to
unite upon a policy. and then to stand
to it in a solid phalanx. Instead of that
they see division and are apt to conclude
that a party that cannot agree in rebuk-
ing and undoing the most fasrant piece
OF executive usurpation in a generation
will not be able to agree if given the reins
of government. Such disagreement mill
tates against Democratic success this
year
One hope of Democratic victory this
wear is in convincing the people of the