The Savannah morning news., 1904-09-26

| seHlidl 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.
The Civil service.
The statute relating to Civil Service
| is the outcome of the efforts of
thoughtful, unselfish AMI public spirited
citizens. Operation under it has fire.
quently been of such a 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 deserve and COM
, mand the utterance of the Democratic
| party that it stands committed to the
| principle of Civil Service reform and
demands its just and impartial enforce
ment.
A vast eXpanse of country in the
West. portions of which are to be found
in each of the sixteen states and terri
tories, mentioned in the law, is directly
affected by the national statute-the
outcome Of intelligent and persistent
efforts of leading citizens, providing for
the reclamation of the arid lands for
the benefit of home-seekers. During
the years of the development of the
measure which finally received the vote
of every member of the upper house
of Congress, it encountered opposition,
based to a large extent upon the view
that the aim of it's promoters was to
secure the benefits of irrigation to prl-
Vate 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
taxpayers of the country at large to-
pay for it, Whether the purposes of
Ill
depend in large measure upon the
ability, sobriety of judgment. inde-
pendence and honesty of the officers OF
the Interior Department having TINS
great work in charge.
Reclamation in Its Infancy.
In 1902 the main canals and bitches
in the region affected aggregated more
than $1,000. miles and the work of re-
clamation is but in it's infancy. The
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
ninety-three millions of dollars, which
of itself suggests the hundreds of mil
lions 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 over
Whelning importance of broad, ca
pable and honest administration OF the
work authorized by the statute, If ef-
feet is to be given to that part OF
the plan that relieves the country at
large from ultimate liability.
The 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. The Fan
ANA route having been selected, the
building of the canal should be pressed
to completion with all reasonable ex-
petition.
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 sum
cient answer to the charge OF VIOLA
tion of national good faith. They APP
nreciate that the principles ana
healthy convictions which In ther
working out have made US free ana
great, stand firmly against the argu-
ment or suggestion that we shall DC
hind to the nature of the means en-
nloved 70 promote our welfare. They
hold that adherence to principle
whether il works for our good or Ill,
win have a more benefieent influence
on our future destiny than all our
material uphuilding. and that we
should ever remember that the idea OF
doing wrong to a smaller, weaker
nation that we, or even all MANKIND
NAV have a resultant good is repug-
nant TO the principles upon when our
government was founded.
Under the laws OF the United states
on
IN nroceed with due diligence in the
work of constructing the canal. That
duty should be promptly performed
American shipping.
Our commerce in American bottoms
or,ounts TO but nine per cent, Of our
total exports and imports For forty
wears prior to 1860, when the RepuDli-
San marty came into power, our mer-
chant marine carried an average OF
oivbtv ner cent. Of our foreign COM
merce. BY 1877 IT had dwindled TO
twenty-seven per cent. Now we carry
hut a contemptibly small traction OF
our exports and Imports. ,t.
American shipping In the forelgn 1
trade was greater by Almost loV'vVV
TONS In 1910 nearly nun
dred wears ago-than II was last year
In The face Of the continuous decline
In the record of American shipping
anrIng the last forty-three years. the
nromise Of the Republican party TO re-
store IL is without announcement. Inc
record OF the Democratic party gives
assurance that the task can be more
wisely entrusted 70 H. a. A..
IN is an arduous task 10 unao ths
eject Of forty years Of deeadenee' ana
reo,lires the study and mvestleation
~ those best ntted by experience 70
ana ne remedy-which surely does nor
ne In Inc grantlng OF subsidies wfuns
from he pockets Of all the taxpayer"
The Government Department.
Recent disclosures. coupled with me
rapid augmentation ~ goYffninsnf
e,ne,sifuros. show a need n ~ h.
.eltiCaflop u every department. or
/ ~ eovernment The Democrats ~
Goreress demanded n. The hepan,l-
4 ran majority refused me osnlehe- "
,eo,ie an determine BY their vote m
I 10000 whether they wish ~ hppfti
~ fboronrh investigation. Demo
cratic coneress nnd eaeepilFf VIII o.
NJ nrs Justly prouf q ths pis.s,s
80 rsen II ouf nruY nrf neff BOD
t.-e,er hate suffered ffom no Pflr
/ 1900 Irirrfion of personal ane ~
.H....I THnfUHI ETnN NN. N|H