Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1904-09-29

HSODlC dlt1 LliSllSCtbCS ECuiIs.t-
free The liberation of tyranny over
others will soon breed contempt for free
dom and self government and weaken
our power of resistance to insidious
usurpation Of our constitutional rights
American Citizenship.
The pledge of the platform to secure
to our citizens, without distinction of
race or creed. whether native born or
naturalized. at home and abroad. the
equal protection of the laws and the
enjoyment of all the rights and priyi.
leges open to them under the covenants
of our treaties, as their Just due, should
be made good to them. In the accom-
plishment of that result it is essential
that passport issued by the govern
ment of the United States to an Amer
lean citizen shall be accepted the world
over as proof of citizenship.
Civil Service.
The statute relating to civil service
is the outcome of the efforts of thought
full. unselfish and public spirited citi-
zens Operation under it has frequent
" been of such a character as to of
fend 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 en-
forcement
Reclamation Of Arid Lande.
A vast expanse of county in the
west, portions of which are to be found
in each of the sixteen states and terri
tories, mentioned in the law, is direct
ly 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. Dur
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 opposition,
based to a large extent upon the view
that the aim of its promoters was to
secure the benefits of irrigation to
private 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
depend in large measure upon the abil-
ity. sobriety of judgment, independ-
ence and honesty of the officers of the
interior department having this great
work in charge.
In 1902 the main canals and bitches
in the region affected aggregated more
than $4,000 miles, and the work of rec
lamation is but in 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 a little over
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 if effect is to be given
to that part of the plan that relieves
the country at large from ultimate lia-
bility.
Panama Canal
An isthmian canal has long been the
hope of 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 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 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-
lions which in 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 to promote our
welfare. They hold that adherence to
principle, whether it works for our
good or Ill, will have a more benefi-
cent influence on our future destiny
than all our material upbuilding, and
that we should ever remember that
the idea of doing a wrong to 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 the executive
to proceed with due diligence in the
work of constructing the canal That
duty should be promptly performed.
American Shipping.
Our commerce in American bottoms
amounts 70 hut 9 nor oe.u+ Of orr total