The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-09-26

Of cheapening many imported products
Tor American consu mers, and OF opening
and charging foreign markets to Ameri
can producers. Not one OF those agree
ments has met with the approval OF the
Republican masters of the Senate. In
deed, they did not even permit their CON
sideration. In view of the attitude OF the
present Executive, no new agreemen,
be expected from him. Nor does the Re.
publican platform contain a favorable
reference to one Of the suspended treaties
This section Of the Dingley act stands
forth asa monument Of legislative cozenage
and political bad faith.
INDEPENDENCE FOR THE F1LIPINos
In some quarters it has been assumed
that In the discussion OF the Philippine
question in my response the phrase self
government" was intended to mean some
| thing less than independence. 1t was not
intended that it should be understood to
mean, mol, do think as used it does mean.
less than Independence. However, to elm
mate all possibility for conjecture. l now
state that am in hearty accord with that
plank in our platform that favors doing
for the Filipinos what we have already done
for the Cubans, and 1 favor making the
| promise to them now that we shall take
such action as soon as they are reasonably
prepared for it,. II independence such as
the Cubans. enjoy cannot be prudently
granted to the Filipinos at this time the
| promise tnat IL snail come Cne moment
they are capable of receiving 1t will tend
| to stimulate rather than hinder their devel-
| opInent.E And this should be done not only
in justice to the Filipinoe. but to preserve
our own rights for free people cannot
withhold freedom from another people and
| themselves remain free, The liberation OF
| tyranny over others Will soon breed con-
tempt for freedom and self-government,
and weaken our power Of resistance to
nsdious 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 horn or naturalized,
at home and abroad, the equal protection
of the laws and the enjoyment Of all the
rights and privileges open to them under
the covenants Of our treaties as their just
the accomplishment of that result 1t Is
essential 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.
CIVIL SERVICE.
The statute relating to civil service is
the outcome OF the efforts Of thoughtful,
unselfish and public spirited citizens. OPP
GRAFTON under it has frequently been Of
such character as to ohend against the
spirit of the statute, but the results achieved,
even under a partial enforcement of the
and command the utterance of the Demo-
cratic party that it stands committed to
the principle of civil service reform and
demands its just and impartial enforce
ment.
RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
A vast expanse of country in the West
portions of " hich are to be found in each Of
the sixteen States and Territories men,
toned in the law, is directly affected by
the national statute-the outcome Of in
telligent 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 develop
ment of the measure which finally received
the vote OF every member Of the upper |
house Of Congress, it encountered oppoei- |
ton, based to a large extent upon the view |
that the aim of its promoters as to secure
at Government expense The aim OF the
statute is. however to enable this vast
territory to reclaim It's arid lands without |
at large to pay for it. Whether the pur-
poses Of the bill will be fully accomplished |
must depend In large measure upon the |
ability, sobriety Of judgment, Independence
and honesty OF the officers OF the Interior |
charge.
In 1902 the main canals and bitches in |
the region affected aggregated more than |
aft " nine thousand miles and the work OF |
reclamation ID Duu III ltS INFANCY. Inc COtal |
cost of construction of the necessary head |
gates. dams, main canals, ditohes reservoirs |
and pumping stations was at that time a |
little over ninety-three millions Of dollars, |
which of itself suggests the hundreds OF |
millions that may eventually be invested
The magnitude Of the conception and the |
enormous expense it's carrying out involves |
make us realize the overwhelming i'm |
portanoe Of broad, capable and honest
by the statute if effect is to be given to that |
part of the plan that relieves the country |
At large from ultimate liability.
PANAMA CANAL.
An Isthmian canal has long been the
nope of our statesmen and the avowed aim
Of the two great parties. as their platforms
n the past show The Panama route hav;
should be pressed to completion with all
reasonable expedition.
The methods by which the Executive
acquired the Panama Canal route and
lights are source OF regret to many. To
hem. the statement that thereby a great
public work was assured to the profit of
,ur people is not sufficient answer to the
,harge Of violation Of national good faith.
They appreciate that the principles and
healthy convictions which in their working
irmly against the argument or suggestion
hat 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 good or ILL., will have
more benefcent influence on our future
Iestiny than all our material upbuildinp.
nd that we should ever remember that the
dea of doing a wrong to a smaller weaker
Iation than we, or even all mankind, may
ave resultant good is repugnant to the
principles upon which our Government is
ounded.
Cnder the laws Of the United States tho
uty is imposed on the Executive to proceed
With due diligence in the work Of oon-
tructing the canal. That duty should be
performed.
AMERICAN SHIPPING.
Our commerce in American bottoms
mounts to but 0 per cent. of our total
Exports and imports, For forty years
,rior to 1851, when the Republican party
anne into power, our merchant marine
,arried an average Of 30 per cent. OF our
oreign commerce. By 1877 it had dwinoled
o ~ per cent. Now we carry but a con-
emptibly small fraction Of our exports
md imports
American shipping in the foreign trade
vas greater by almost 100 900 tons in 1870
nearly hundred years ago-than it was
asst year. In the face OF the continuous
leclne in the record of American shipping
Turing the last forty three years the promise
# the Republican party to restore it is
Without encouragement. The record of