Valentine Democrat. (Valentine, Neb.) 1900-1930, 1904-10-06
RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.

found in each of the sixteen States
and Territories. mentioned in the law,
is directly affected by the National
statute-the outcome of intelligent and
persistent efforts of leading citizens,
providing for the reclamation of the
arid lands for the benefit of homeseek-
ers. During the years Of t1t develop
ment of the measure which finally re-
ceived the vote OF every member or
the upper house of Congress, it en-
cOuntered opposition, based to Il large
extent upon the view that the aim OF
its FRONTIERS was to secure the benefits
of irrigation to private owners ut Gov
eminent expense. The aim Of the stat
ute is, however, to enable this vast ter
ritory to reclaim its arid lands without
| calling upon the taxpayers OF the cOun-
! try at large to pay for ii. Whether the
purposes of the bill will be fully ac-
cOmplished must depend in large meas
IRE upon the ability, sobriety of judg-
| ment, independence and honesty of the
officers of the Interior Department
having this great work III charge.
In 1902 the main canals and bitches
in the region affected aggregated more
than $4,000 miles and the work of re-
clamation is but in its infancy The
/ total cost of construction of the neces-
sary head-gates, dams, main canals,
bitches, reservoirs and pun ping sta
tons at that time was Il little over
S93 100000, which of itself suggests
the hundreds of millions that may
eventually be invested in the territory
covered by the Statute. The magnitude
of the conception, and the enormous ex-
pense its carrying out involves, make
us realize the overwhelming impOr-
lance of broad, capable and honest
administration of the work authorized
by the statute, III effect is to be given
to that part of the plan that relieves
the country at large froI. ultimate liza
bility.
NATIONAL FAITH BROKEN.
An Isthmian canal has long been the
hope of our statesmen, and tire avOwed
aim of the two ,reat parties, us their
Platforms in the past show. The Pam
ANA route having been selected. The
building of the canal should be pressed
to completion with ali reasonable ex-
petition.
The methods by which the Execu-
tive acquired the Panama Canal route
and rights are Il source of regret to
many. TO them the statement that
thereby 4 great public work was as
sured to the profit of our people is not
a sufficient answer to the charge of
violation of National good faith. They
appreciate that the principles and
healthy convictions which i'll their
working out have made us free and
great, stand firmly against the argu-
rat yy-n hA
blind to the nature OF the means en-
plOyed to promote our welfare They
hold that adherence to principle,
whether it works for our good or i'll.
Will have a more beneficent influence
on our future destiny than all our ma
terial upbuilding and that we should
ever remember that the idea of doing
wrong to a smaller weaker nation
than we or even all mankind. may
have q resultant good is repugnant to
the principles upon which our govern
ment was founded.
Under the laws of the United States
the duty is imposed Oil the Executive
to proceed with due diligence i'll the
work of constructing the Canal. That
duty should be promptly performed.
AMERICAN SHIPPING.
Our commerce in American bottoms
amounts to but nine per cent. of our
total exports and imports. For forty
years prior to 1861, when the Republic
can party came into power, our mer-
chant marine carried an average of
eighty per cent. of our foreign COM
merce. BY 1877 it had dwindied to
twenty-seven per cent. Now we carry
but Il cOntemptibly small fraction or
our exports and imports.
American shipping in the foreign trade
was greater by almost one hundred
thousand tons in 1S10-nearly hundred
years agO-than it was last year. In
the face of the continuous decline in
the record of American shipping dur
ing the last fOrty-three years. tile
promise of the Republican party TO re-
store it is without encoura cement.
The record of the Democratic party
gives assurance that the task can be
more wisely entrusted to it.
1t is an arduOus task to undo the eff
feet of forty years of decadence, and
requires the study and investigation
of those best fitted by experience TO
find the remedy-which surely does not
lie in the granting of subsidies, wrunS
from the pockets of all the taxpayers.
Recent disclosures, coupled with the
rapid augmentation of government eX-
penditures, show Il need of an investi-
CATION of every department OF the
government. The Democrats in Con-
gress demanded it. The Republican
majority refused the demand. The
people can determine by their vote in
November whether they wish an hon.
est and thorough investigation. A
Democratic Congress and Executive
will assure it.
ARMY AND NAVY.
We are justly proud of the officers
and men Of our Army and Navy. Both,
however, have suffered from the per-
sstent injection of personal and pOliti-
cal influence Promotions and appoint
ments have been frequently based on
favoritism instead of merit. Trials
and court-martials have been set
aside under circumstances indicating
political interference. These and other
abuses should be corrected.
USURPATION IN PENSION ORDER.
The National Democracy favors lib
eral pensions TO the surviving soldiers