The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1904-09-26

under the covenants OF our treaties
as their just due. should be made
good to them. In the accomplish
ment Of that result ii Is essential that
a passport issued by the government
OF the United States to an American
citizen shall be accepted the world
over as proof of citizenship.
Civil Service.
The statute relating to civil ser.
vice is the outcome of the efforts OF
thoughtful, unselfish and public spir-
tied citizens Operation under it mas
frequently been of such character
as to offend against the spirit of the
statute, but the results achieved, even
under a partial enforcement of the
law, have been such as to both de
serve and command the utterance of
the Democratic party that it stands
committed to s1e principle of civil
service reform and demands its just
and impartial enforcement.
Reclamation Of Arid Lands.
"A vast expanse of country in the
West. portions Of which are to be
found in each of the sixteen states
and territories. mentioned in the law,
Is directly affected by the national
statute-thc outcome of intelligent
and persistent efforts of leading citi-
.ens, providing for the reclamation of
The arid lands for the benefit of home
seekers During the years of the de-
velopment of the measure which final
~ received the vote of every member
Of the upper house of congress, it en-
countered opposition, based to large
extent upon the view that the aim of
its promoters was to secure the ben
efits OF irrigation to private owners
at government expense. The aim of
the statute is, however. to enable this
vast territory to reclaim its arid
lands without calling upon the tax
ftayers OF The country at large to pay
fer it, Whether the purposes of the
bill will be fully accomplished must
depend in large measures upon the
ability. sobriety of Judgment. indie
pendence and honesty of the officers
of the interior department having this
great work in charge.
"In 1902 the main canals and ditch
es in the region asected aggregated
more than fifty-nine thousand miles
and the work of reclamation is but in
its infancy. The total cost of con
struction of the necessary headgates,
dams, main canals. bitches, reser-
voirs and pumping stations was al
that time a little over ninety-three
of dollars, which of itself
the hundreds of millions
that may eventually be invested in
the territory covered by the statute. |
The magnitude of the conception, and !
the enormous expense its carrying out |
involves, makes us realize the over
Importance of broad, cap |
able and honest administration of the 1
work authorized by the statute, If cf- /
feet is TO be given to that part of the |
plan that relieves the country at large
rom ultimate liability.
The Panama Canal.
AN Isthmian canal has long been
he hope of our statesmen. and the
vowed aim of the two great parties
Is their platforms in the past show
rhe Panama route having been Sc
ected. the building of The canal
hould be pressed to completion witt
N reasonable expedition. '"''
THE methods by which the execu-
i've acquired the Panama canal route
md rights are a source of regret To
many. To them. the statement that
hereby a great public work was as
ured to the profit Of orr people "
lot a sufficient answer TO the charge
# violation of national good faith.
they appreciate that the principle
nd healthy convictions which In
heir working out have made US free
nd great. stand firmly against the
rgument or suggestion that we shall
e blind to the nature of the meant
Employed TO promote our welfare
they hold that adherence 10 prin
iple. whether il works for our good
r IN. will have a more bcnchcent in
uence on our future destiny than all
ar material upbuilding. and that W.
hould ever remember that the idea
( doing a wrong to a smaller. weak
r nation that we. or even all man
ind. may have a resultant good l.
epugnant To the principles upon
hitch our govsrnmeni was founded
Under the laws Of the United !
tstcs the duty is imposed on the ex
cutive TO proceed with due diligence q
! the work Of constructing The canal .
hat duty should be promptly per 9
lrmed {
American Shipping. II
Our commerce in American Dol :
rms amounts to but nine per cent n
+ our total exports and imports For c
,rty years prior TO 1861. when the s
epublicsn party came into power Q
ur merchant marine carried an av
see - rs~As~ ~.cr cent ~ rur for I Z