Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1904-10-04

ing the years OF the DEVELOPMENT of
the measure which finally received
the vote Of every member of the upper
house Of congress, it encountered op-
position, based to large extent upon
the view that the aim of its promoters
was to secure the benefits of irrigation
to private owners at government ex-
pense. The aim of the statute Is,
however, to enable this vast territory
to reclaim its arid lands without call.
ing upon the taxpayers of the country
at large to pay for it. Whether the
purposes OF the bill will be fully &C
complished must depend in large
measure upon the ability. sobriety Of
judgment, Independence and honesty
Is the officers u ~ intArasr depart
Aeat having thia shsAt weex In charge.
In 1902 the main canals and bitches
In the region affected aggregated more
than $4,000 miles and the work Of
reclamation Is but in its infancy. Thu
total cost Of construction Of the neces-
sary head-gates, dams, main canals,
bitches, reservoirs and pumping sta-
lions was at that time little over
$9s,0oo,00o, 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
expense Its carrying out involves,
make us realize the overwhelming i'm
portance Of a broad, capable and
honest administration of the work
authorized by the statute, II effect Is
to be given to that part OF the plan
that relieves the country at large from
ultimate liability
Panama Canal.
An Isthmian canal has long been the
hope OF our statesmen, and the avowed
aim of the two great parties, as their
platforms in the past show. This
Panama route having been selected,
the building of the canal should be
pressed to completion with all reason.
able expedition.
The methods by which the executive
acquired the Panama canal route and
rights are a source of regret to many.
To them, the statement that thereby
q great public work was assured to the
profit of our people is not sufficient
answer to the charge of violation Of
national good faith. They appreciate
that the principles and healthy con-
victions which in their working out
have made US free and great, stand
firmly against the argument or sug
gestion that we shall be blind to the
nature Of the means employed to pro.
mote our welfare. They hold that
adherence to principle, whether +
works for our good or Ill, will have
more benefieent influence on our
future destiny than all our material
upbuilding, and that we should ever
remember that the idea of doing .
wrong to smaller. weaker nation
that we, or even all mankind, may
have a 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 on the executive
to proceed with due diligence In
the work Of constructing the canal.
That duty should be promptly per:
formed.
American Shipping.
Our commerce in American bottomD
amounts to but eight per cent. Of our
total exports and imports. For 70
yeras prior to 1860, when the Fspptp
lican party came into power, our msf.
chant marine carried an average Of u
per cent. OF our foreign commerce. By
1877 it had dwindled to 27 per cent.
Now we carry but contemptibly
small fraction Of our exports and I'M.
ports.
American shipping In the foreign
trade was greater by over 100000 tons
IN 1S19-nearly 400 years ago-than Il
ives last year. In the face of the con-
Iinuous DECLINE In the record Of Amer.
lean shipping during the last 43 years.
the promise Of the republican party
to restore 1t is without encouragAv
ment. The record Of the democrats
party gives assurance that the task
can be more wisely intrusted to It.
Recent disclosures, coupled with the
rapid augmentation Of government ex-
penditures, show need of an invests
cation Of every department Of the gov
eminent. The democrats in congress
demanded 1t. The republican majority
refused the demand. The people car
determine by their vote in November
whether they wish an honest and thor
ough investigation. A democratic con-
gress and executive will assure 1t.
Army and Navy.
We are justly proud of the officers and
men Of our army and navy. Both, how.
ever, have suffered from the persistent
injection Of personal and political In
fuence. Promotions and appointments
have been frequently based on favorit.
ism instead OF merit. Trials and court
martials have been set aside under cir-
cumstances indicating political inter-
ference. These and other abuses should
be corrected.
Pensions for Our Soldiers and Sailors.
The national democracy favors liberal
pensions to the surviving soldiers and
sailors and their dependents, on the
ground that they deserve liberal treat
ment. 1t pledges by its platform ade-
quate legislation to that end. But It
denies the right of the executive to
usurp the power OF congress to legis-
late on that subject. Such usurpation
was attempted by pension order No.
70. and effect has been given to 1t by a
congress that dared not resent the
usurpation. It is said that "this order
was made in the performance of a duty
imposed upon the president by act Of
congress-" but the provision making