Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1904-09-03

The Democratic platform undertakes
to make the party the guardian of ma
tional and international honor by attack
ing the administrations Panama Canal
policy. The platform says:
Our party having long ard earnestly adj
yoeated the construction Of an inter,
oceanic canal for the purposes OF natiouai
defense and commerce between the States
aud with foreign nations. favor the
early completion Of the isthmiau canal
But. while making this declaration ana
accepting the results as an accomplishing
and irreversibe fact. we cannot too foTci-
bly, express our disapproval of the meth
DDS by which, In Disregard Of the usaEes
and obligations Of international law ana
treaty obligations. the canal route has been
acquired, or too solemniy record our hope
that this precedent OF defiant diplomacy
may never be used against Us to our hui
initiation and injury
If the Democratic party has ever adj
vocated the construction of an isthmian
canal its advocacy has been purely aca-
dcmic. No Democratic administration
has ever taken step or lifted a finger in
that direction.
Democratic Platform of 1886.
As to the question Of methods the
party is on record in favor of the most
strenuous policy for the establishment
and maintenance of sisthmian transit.
The Democratic platform of 1886, on
which James Buchanan was nominated,
contained the following:
Resolved. That the great highway
which nature, rs well the assent OF
States most Immediately interested In its
maintenance, has marked out for free
communication between the Atlantic and
Pacific oceans, constitutes one Of the most
important achievements realized by the
spirit of modern times, In the unconquer-
able energy Of our people; and that re,
suit would be secured by q timely and
efficient exertion OF the control which we
have the right to claim over II; and no
power on earth should be suffered 70 I'M
pede or clog its progress by any inter-
ference with relations that may suit our
policy to establish between our govern.
ment and the governments OF the states
within whose dominions II hes; we eau un-
der no circumstances surrender or pre-
ponderance In the adjustment OF all queS-
lions arising out OF IT,
When the resolution was adopted the
question of an isthmian canal was not
being agitated, as it never was IN any
practical way by the Democratic party.
The resolution refers to the maintenance
of overland isthmian transit, which had
been interrupted by Nicaragua under
pretense that her sovereignty was being
invaded. The resolution virtually asserts
the paramount right of the United States
to maintain and control the transit route,
which was an important part OF COM
munication with California. against any
and all Corners.
Buchanau's Message.
In his annual message of 1898 Presi-
dent Buchanan said the transit across
the isthmus was "a highway which
must be open to the world and that
'.the commerce of other nations is not
to stand still and await the adjustment
of such petty controversies as those
which Nicaragua had raised. The
government of the United States expect
no more than this" he added, and they
will not be satisfied with less"
These were brave and true utterances,
but no Democratic administration ever
did anything to make them good. Stlii
less did the Democratic party ever at
tempt to apply them to the construction
of an interoceanic canal, 1t was left
for a Republican administration to do
that President Roosevelt's Panama
Canal policy has moved steadily ana
firmly towards assuring the construction
of the canal. and his methods have not
savored of deficient diplomacy as much
as did those advocated by the Demo-
cratic party in 1856.