The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-09-26
PANAMA CANAL SHOULD
BE BUILT PROMPTLY

An isthmian canal has long been the
nope OF our statesmen. and the avoWed
aim of the two great parties, as their plat
forms in the past show. The Panama
route having been selected. the building
of the canal should be pressed to COM
pletion with all reasonable expedition
The methods by which the executive
acquired the Panama canal route and
rights are source of regret to many.
To them. the statement that thereby a
great public work was assured to the
profit of our people is not sufficient
answer to the charge of violation OF ma
tional good faith. They appreciate that
the principles and healthy convictions
which in their working out have made
US free and great. stand firmly against
the argument Or suggestion that we shall
be blind to the nature of the means en-
ployed to promote our welfare. They hold
that adherence to principle, whether 1t
works for our good o.. ILL, will have q
more benefcent influence on our future
destiny than all our material upbuildlng,
the idea of doing wrong to a smaller,
weaker nation that we. or even all man
kind. may have a resultant good is re-
pugnant to the principles upon which our
government was founded.
Under the laws of the United States the
duty is imposed on the executive TO pro-
coed with due diligence in the work OF
constructing the canal. That duty should
be promptly performed.
Our commerce in American bottoms
amounts to but 8 per cent of our total
exports and imports For forty years
prior to 1851, when the Republican party
came into power, our merchant marine
carried an average of 80 per cent of our
foreign commerce. BY 1875 1t had
dwindled to 81 per cent. Now we carry
but a contemptib1y small fraction Of our
exports and imports.
American shipping In the. foreign trade
was greater by almost 100000 tons In 1910
nearly a hundred years ago-than 1t
was last year. In, the face OF the con
tinuous decline In the record of American
shipping during the last forty three years,
the promise of the Republican party to re-
store 1t is without encouragement The
record of the Democratic party gives as
surance that the task can be more wisely
Entrusted to it.
1t Is an arduouS task to undo the effect
of forty years of decadences and requires
the study and investigation of those best
fitted by experience to find the remedy
of subsidies wrung from the pockets of
all the taxpayers.
Recent disclosures, coupled with the
rapid augmentation of government -ex-
penditures, show need of an investiga-
ton of every department of the govern
ment. The Democrats in congress de-
manded it, The Republican ajority re-
fused the demand. The people can deter
mine by their vote in November whether
they wish an honest and thorough investi-
cation. Democratic congress and ex-
ecutive will assure it.
We are justly proud of the officers and
men of our army and navy Both, how
ever. have suffered from the persistent
fiuence Promotions and appointments
have been frequently based on favorit-
ism instead OF merit. Trials and court
martials have been set aside under Cir
cumstanees indicating political interior
ence. These and other abuses should be
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