The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1904-09-03
on3the a Z ofs the earth, and4itsisfcon1
sidered good business policy when 1T
is Undertaken.
"pANAMA"
The Growing Glory Of the Twentieth
Century.
is undertaken

[Extractss from remarks of Hon. AL
bert ]. hopkins, Of Illinois, in daily
Congressional Record, February s,
1904.l y
The President well knew that if the
threats of the leaders of the province
Of Panama were carried into execr-
ton. n the people. as I have already
shown, were ripe to support, any dec
laration Of independence upon the part
Of their leaders, that Colon and Pana-
ma and the line of the railroad would
be the first points of collision between
the Colombian government and the
people of Panama. It was his duty
as the representative of our govern
:nent to TAX every precaution TO pro-
tect our rights under the treaty of
1876 and TO preserve the lives and
property OF our citizens in those cities
and on the line of the railroad. In
stead Of being subjected to criticism
for the promptitude with which he
sent our cruisers to Colon and other
points, he is entitled TO the greatest
praise. To my mind, MI. President,
nothing that has occurred in his en-
tire administration reflects greater
credit than the foresight that was ex-
ercised and the p~romptness with
which be took the necessary means
to protect American interests when
Panama had in fact declared her indie
D~endence.
Mr.. President. when we come to the
~. at, -I,-1, 1,J> inet
the President is condemned for carry
ing out the wishes of the great ma
iority of the people Of the United
States. He is denounced for prompt
ly responding to an overwhelming
American sentiment in protecting
American interests on the 1sthmus.
and in recognizing the new republic
which was established in Panama. and
in promptly negotiating a treaty
which, if ratified, has secured to the
United States the construction of this
great canal. which has been the
dream OF n~avigators for four hundred
years. an enterprise that will be the
GROWING glory of the twentieth cen
fury.
Mr.. President, Theodore Roosevelt
needs no defensc AT my hands. His
administration of the affairs Of CUR
great republic has been sucn as not
only to endear him to the people OF
all sections of our common country,
but to stamp him as n of the great
est me OF this generation. He is a
typical American. His every aspira-
| ton is for the greatness and glory OF
l,ic. country 1n1 tIa ~Unl1hajnU of the
people. Carping critics may jeer at
him; caluminators may revile him;
but, Mr.. President, they can not de-
stroy him. 1t is the fate Of greatness
to be reviled and denounced. Our
President will survive all this, as 9th
er great men Of the past have survived
the calumnies and ISLANDERS that have
been hurled at them during their
lives.
What ambitious ends have our Pres
ident and Secretary of State other
than the good of our common country?
h recognition Of the Republic OF
Panama and the negotiation Of the
treaty known as the Hay-Varilla treaty
are for the interests Of our common
country, not to enhance the power
or dignity OF elCHeT Oh THESE great lASil.
There was a time, Mr.. President,
when Mr.. Lincoln was thought to be
as bad a man as the Junior Senator
from Colorado now seems to think
President Roosevelt. There was a
time during his life when he occu-
pied that great office of President
whcn Democratic Senators and Repre-
sentatives denounced him as a usurp-
er and as a violator Of the Constitu-
ton. and INDUCED in language that
makes the criticism OF President
Roosevelt of to-day seem tame indeed.
During the life Of Mr.. Lincoln no
man was more reviled by Demo-
cratic members, both North n South,
than he. In comparison with the Ian
guage used during the Presidency OF
Mr.. Lincoln and General Grant the
criticisms that have thus far beer in
dulged in against President Roosevelt
seem like a gentle zephyr compared
with a Kansas cyclone.
But for the purpose OF placing the
Republican party in a false light, n
for the purpose of dwarfinS the intlu-
ences Of President Roosevelt before