The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-02-07
HE SERVES HIS PARTY BEST, WHO
SERVES HTS COUNTRY BEST"

those who oppose ratifying the treaty
are moved to this course by political con-
| slderations. This is great en-
ror The opponents of the treaty
base their opposition upon higher ground
than any partisan advantage. They de
clare that the president has been guilty
| OF executive usurpaton, a violation of
sacred treaty obligation, and a violation
of the constitution. In his first speech
Mr.. Simmons criticised the president for
his conduct. If Roosevelt has been guilty
as German, Daniel, Morgan, Bailey and
| the others of the ablest Senators believe
OF virtually declaring war without the
consent of Congress, how can any man
defend voting for the treaty which vir-
tually condones the presidents wrong?
The Democratic Senators ought to en-
phasize the presidents usurpation and dis
regard of the treaty and the constitution
because it sets dangerous precedent and
lican Senators, for the same reason, ought
to antagonize it, but nobody expects them
to rise superior to party. The duty there
tfore devolves imperatively all the more
upon the minority-the party that pecu-
larly stands for adherence to the consti-
tuition. The Republicans have never hest
tated to ride rough-shod over the consti-
tuition and have regarded it as a rope Of
sand. The Democrats hold that it is the
sailing chart and the ship of state is safe
only when steered by it,
The party that stands most firmly for
constitutional government, for national
honor, for preventing executive usurpation
best serves the country. He who best
lserves his country, best serves his party
The Democratic duty is to stress Roose-
lvelt's rashness and usurpation because il
endangers peace and business stability
For two years and more the Democrats
have been saying that Roosevelt's methods
J were unwlse, unsafe, and his natural
gait is running away Were they honest
, in this criticism? The Panama conduct
J transcends all other unsafe and reckless
!, conduct. 1t is proof of Rough Rider meth
DDS and buccaneering policy toward a
, weak and friendly republic. If we condono
J that crime-reckless, dangerous revolu.
tionary, how can his smaller sins of dis
regard of right precedents be condemned Z?
AS to politics; 1t is the duty of po
III al
acts of the party in power. a duty that
no false fear of being called partisan
; should cause them to neglect If they dc
not do this, what is the good of two po
, litical parties? If the Democrats had
stood as one man in opposition to the
treaty, obtained by methods that are al
variance with treaty obligations ant
constitutional limitations they would
have presented to the American people a
clear-cut issue that would have exposed
Roosevelts revolutionary and reckless
Rough Riding policy in such a manner
as to have proved before any impartial
tribunal that he is a dangerous man to
be chief executive of this republic dan
gerous because he does not hesitate to
run rough shod over constitutional limi
tations and treaty guarantees to carry out
his determination to dig the ditch through
Panama. II he would endanger the peace
of the republic to carry out his view as
to route. a matter of small consequence
what might he not do to carry his point
when executive usurpation would mean
war?
Mr.. German, Mr.. Morgan, Mr.. Daniel are
not moved by political considerations in
their Indictment against the president
They, and those who agree with them
believe that Roosevelt'e course is wholly
lindefensible, and being indefensible, they
believe it to be the duty of the opposi-
ton party to put his conduct in the Pan
anna matter under the calcium light where
| the people can sec it as it is and pass
upon it. In failing to follow unitedlv where
| these three greatest of Democratic Sena-
/ tors lead, we believe the Democrats have
failed at a critical point and lost an op-
portunity TO serve their country and their
party
| We have not attributed political mo
tives to those who disagreed with Us on
this matter, though there is quite as much
f! evidence that they are so actuated as that
German. Morgan and Daniel ara
50 controlled. In his latest interview,
Senator Simmons said:
| From a political standpoint it would
be unfortunate for the party, if the treaty
should be defeated by Democratic votes
In that event we would not get canal
at Nicaragua as has been contended, but
| the Republicans would by joint resolu-
tion as they did in the matter of Hawaii
annexation after the defeat of the treaty
for that purpose, authorize the President
to contract with Panama and the canal
1 company on the terms of the Spooner act
and proceed at once with :ae construc-
| ton of the canal. and in the approaching
campaign they would say to the people
See we are building the canal, despite