The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1904-01-15
AsroRIAN PUBLISHING COMPANY.
THE SOUTH AND PANAMA.


In seeking to array his party against the Panama
canal treaty, Senator German evidently misjudged
hoth the temper and interests of the SOUTH says the
New York Tribune. In his opinion apparently, the
presidents canal policy could be turned to signal
partisan advantage. Opposition to it might offer
leading and adequate democratic issue for 1904.
So the Maryland leader planned to use the solid dem
ocrac vote of the senate to defeat the new canal
vention. At first glance, such a program might
have seemed both specous and attractive. The DEM
oeratc party is so bere of issues that it can scarcely
be eensured for graspng at any and every forutous
straw. But it is rather surprising that shrewd
and experienced democratic manager like Mr. Cor
man should have been tempted to exploit a policy
so unwelcome to the section to which the democratic
party nineenths of its present political power
Historically the south has been the most eager
advocate of those views of American trlsteeship in
and acted upon in the administrations dealings with
Colombia and Panama The doctrine stated by See
retary Cass and quoted by President Roosevelt in his
recent message to congress had the enthusiastic en-
dorsement of southern opinion in 1858. 1t has the
equally enthusiastic endorsement of southern opin-
ion The SOUTH through its leaders and spokes-
men, has constantly adhered to its policy of terri
torial expansion. 1t invented and applied the
theory of manifest destiny" 1t advocates the as
sertion at every opportunity of virtual guardian
ship of the western world. What good ground was
there for thinking that the southern people, in re-
sponse to Mr. Gorman's emergency summons, would
suddenly abandon all their rooted political prepos-
sessions and idealsl
Interest weighs even more in politics than ira
dition. Mr.. Gorman made the grave error, there
fore of ignoring the sOuths material concern in the
construction of an isthmian canal No section has
more to gain that the south through the shortening
and cheapening of transportation routes to the
Pacific No section has more to lose through delays
IN the completion of transisthmian waterway
Could the south reasonably be expected to sacrifice
its commercial interests and prospects to furnish
the democratic organization with some dangerous
and doubtful campaign ammunition for 1904?
There is nothing equivoca in the south's repudi-
alton of Mr.. Germans leadership. The legislature
of Louisiana met in special session few weeks ago
to make an appropriation for fighting the cotton boil
weevi. Its attention was directed to Mr.. Gorman,s
manoeuvers, and both houses passed without dissent
resolution instructing the Louisiana senator's to
support the canal treaty. Mssissppi's new legis.
lature met this week. and one of its first acts was Ia
give similar instructions to Senator's Money andMc
Laurin. In the state senate the vote was 81 to l. in
the lower house the vote was Sc to g. No other
southern legislature has had an opportunity TO ey
press an opinion the merits of the canal treaty.
But in Florida, Georgia, Alabama and Texas com
mercial bodies have enthusiastically favored ratif
cation, and public sentiment as voiced in the news
papers, runs almost unanimously the same way. TIL
south wants the canal and sustans the policy whicl
has made its construction possible under condition
exceptionally favorable. 1t repudates as undemc
cratic and unpatriotic an obstructive program dc
Vlsed only for temporary partisan profit.