Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1904-09-28


work I'm charge
In 1902 the main canals aud bitches
In the region affected aggregated moro
than $4,000 miles. and the work OF rec
iamation is but I'm its infancy. The to-
tai cost OF construction OF the neces-
sary head gates. dams. main canals.
bitches. reservoirs and pumping sta
tons was at that time 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 magni-
tude OF the conception and the enor-
nous expense its carrying out involves
make us realize the overwhelming i'm
portance Of broad. capable and honest
administration OF the work authorized
by the statute IL effect is to be given
TO that part OF the plan that relieves
the country at large from ultimate liza
bility.
Panama Canal.
An isthmian canal has long been the
hope or our statesmen and the avow-
ed aim OF the two great parties. as
their platforms in the past show. The
Panama route having been selected
the building OF the canal should be
pressed 10 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 a
great public work was assured 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 convic-
tons which I'm their working out have
made US free and great stand firmly
against the argument or suggestion
that we shall be blind TO the nature
OF the means employed 10 promote our
welfare. They hold that adherence to
principle. whether Il works for our
good or ILL., will have more benefi-
cent influence on our future destiny
than all our material upbuilding. and
that we should ever remember that
the idea OF doing n wrong 10 a small
er. weaker nation that we. or even all
mankind, may have resultant good
is repugant TO the principles upon
which our government was founded.
Under the laws OF the United States
the duty is imposed on tie executive
to proceed with due diligence i'm the
work OF constructing TIE canal. That
duty should be promptly performed.
American Shipping.
Our commerce in American bottoms
amounts to but : per cent OF our total
exports and imports. For seventy
/ lican party came into power our mer-
chant marine carried an average Of
I T5 per cent OF our foreign commerce.
I BY 1877 II had dwindlcd 10 p per cent
| Now we carry but a cOntemptibly
small fraction OF our exports and inn
ports.
American shipping I'm the foreign
/ trade was greater 10y over 100000 tons
/ in 1910. nearly 100 years ago. than II
was last year. In the face OF the con-
I tinuOus decline in the record OF Amer
| lean shipping during the last forty
three years the promise OF the Repub-
! lican party to restore IL is without en-
/ enlargement. The record Of the Dem
/ ocratic party gives assurance that the
I task can be more wisely intrusted 10
Z IL.
1t is an arduous task 10 undo the Of
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 wrung
from the pockets OF all the taxpayers.
Investigation Of Government Depart
nents.
Recent disclosures. coupled with the
rapid augmentation OF government eX-
penditureS, show a need OF an investi-
cation OF every department OF the gov
eminent The Democrats I'm congress
demanded II. The Republican ma ori-
~ refused the demand The people
can determine by their vote in No
vember whether they wish an honest
and thorough investigation. \ Demo
cratic congress and executive will as
sure f.
Army and Navy.
We are justly proud OF the officers
and men OF our army and navy. Both
however, have suffered from the per
sistent injection OF personal and pOlit.
zeal 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 polit-
ical interference. These and other
abuses should be corrected.
Pensions For Our Soldiers and Sailors
The national Democracy favors lib
eral pensions to the surviving soldiers
and sailors and their dependents or
the ground that they deserve liberal
treatment. 1t pledges by its platform
adequate legislation to that end But
II denies the right OF the executive L
usurp the power OF congress to legis
late on that subject. Such usurpatioT
was attempted by pension order No
IS, and effect has been given to it 10y
a congress that dared not resent the
usurpation. 1t 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 the imposition is not pointed
out. The act 10 which the order re.
fers, which Is the one relating to pen.
sions 10 civil war veterans. does not
authorize pensions ON the ground OF
age. 1t does grant pensions to those
suffering from any mental or physical
disability or disabilities OF a perma-
nent character, not the result of their
own vicious habits, which so incapaci
tates them from the performance OF
manual labor as to render them una.
bic to earn a support" This specified
requirement OF incapacity is in effect