New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-09
THE SOUTH AND PANAMA.

In seeking to array his party against the
Panama Canal Treaty, Senator German evident
ly misjudged both the temper and interests OF
the South. In his opinion apparently, the freS-
idents canal policy could be turned to signal
partisan advantage. Opposition TO II might
offer leading and adequate Democratic issue
for 1901 So the Maryland leader planned to
use the solid Democratic vote of the Senate 10
defeat the new canal convention. At first
glance such a programme might have seemed
both speclous and attractive. The Democratic
party is so bereft of issues that it can scarcely
be censured for grasping at any and every for
tuitous straw. But it is rather surprising that
a shrewd and experienced Democratic man
ager like Mr.. German should have been tempted
to exploit a policy so unwelcome TO the section
to which the Democratic party owes nlne-tehths
OF its present political power
Historically, the South has been the most eager
advocate Of those views Of American trustee
ship In the region OF the Caribbean which nave
been avowed and acted upon in the admlhSud-
tons dealings with Colombia and Panama The
doctrine stated by Secretary Cass and quoted
by President Roosevelt in his recent messages 10
Congress had the enthusiastic Endorsement or
Southern opinion IN 1858. 1t has the equally
enthusiastic Endorsement of Southern opinion
now. The South through its leaders ana spokes-
men, has consistently adhered to the policy OF
territorial expansion. 1t invented and applied
the theory of manifest destiny" 1t advocates
the assertion at every opportunity OF our VII
tual guardianship OF the Western World. what
good ground was there for thinking that the
Southern people, in response to Mr.. Gormans
emergency summons, would suddenly abandon
ali their rooted political prepossessions and
ideals?
Tr,fo oirha nvar
tradition. Mr.. German made the graver error,
therefore of ignoring the SOuths material con-
Germ in the construction OF an isthmian canal
No section has mors to gain than the South
through the shortening and Cheapening OF trans
portation routes TO the Pacific. No section has
more to lose through delays in the completion
OF n transisthmian waterway. Could the Souh
reasonably he expected to sacrifice lis CONNER
cial interests and prospects to furnish the Dem
ocratic organization with some dangerous and
doubtful campaign ammunition for 1904?
There is nothing equivocal in the SOuth's re-
pudiation Of Mr.. Germans leadership. The leg
islature of Louisiana met in special session
week or two ago to make an appropriation for
fighting the cotton boil weevil Its attention
was directed to Mr. Germans manRuyres, and
both houses passed. without dissent, resoiu-
ton instructing the Louisiana Senators to sup
port the canal treaty. Mississppis new lesis-
lature met this week, and one Of its first acts
was 10 give similar instructions 10 Senators
Money and McLaurin. In the State Senate the
vote was 81 to /; in the lower house the vote
was ST to 81. No other Southern legislature has
had an opportunity to express an opinion on
the merits Of the canal treaty. But In Flor
ida, Georgia, Alabama and Texas commercial
bodies have enthusiastically favored ratification
and public sentiment, rs voiced in the news
papers runs almost unanimously the same way
The South wants the canal and sustans the pol
icy which has made its construction possible
under conditions exceptionally favorable. 1t
repudiates as undemocratc and unpatriotic an
obstructive programme devised only for tenn
DorarY partisan profit