The San Francisco call., 1904-09-26


a wrong to a smaller, weaker nation than we,
that even all mankind may have a resultant
which our government founded Under the
laws of the United States the authority is i'm
posed upon the executive to proceed with due
diligence to the construction If the canal. That
duty should be promptly performed.
Our commerce in American bottoms amounts
to but per cent of our total imports and ex-
ports For forty years prior to 1861 when the
Republican party came into power, our mer-
chant marine carried an average of so per
cent of our foreign commerce. BY 1877 1t had
dwindled to q per cent. Now carry but a
small fraction of our exports and imports
American shipping in the foreign trade was
greater by almost 100 900 tons in 1S1O-nearly
a hundred years ago-than it was last year
In the face of the continuous decline in the
record of American shipping during the last
forty-three years the promises of the Repub-
lican party to restore it are without encourage
ment The record of the Democratic party
gives assurance that the task can be more
wisely intrusted to it.
1t is an arduous task to undo the effect Of
and investigation of those best fitted by expe-
rience to find the remedy-which surely does
not lie in the granting Of subsidies wrung
Recent disclosures coupled with the rapid
augmentation of Government expenditures.
show a need of an investigation of every de-
partrnent of the Government The Demo
Gratis in Congress demanded It, The Repub-
lican majority refused the demand. The people
can determine by their vote in November
whether they wish an honest and thorough in
vestigation. A Democratic Congress and ex-
ecutive Will assure II.
ARMY AND NAVY.
We are justly proud of the officers and men
OF army and navy. Both however have
suffered from the persistent injection of per-
sonal and political influence. Promotions and
appointments have frequently heen based on
fayoritism instead OF merit Trials and court
martials have been set aside under clrcum-
stances indicating political interference These
and other abuses should be corrected.
The National Democracy faVors liberal pen
sions to the surviving soldiers and sailors and
their dependents on the ground that they de-
serve liberal treatment. 1t pledges by its plat
form adequate legislation to that end But 1t
denies the right of the elecutve, to usurp the
Such usurpation was attempted by pension
order No. rs and effect has been given to IL by
patton. 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 to which the order refers which
Is the one relating to pensions to civil war
veterans, does not authorize pensions on the
ground of age. 1t does grant pensions to those
suffering from any mental or physical dis
ability or disabilities of a permanent char
acter. not the result of their own vicious hab-
It's. which so incapacitates them from the per-
Torrance of manual labor as to render them
unable to earn support"
This specified requirement of incapa citv Is in
effect set aside by order No. rs, as to all per-
sons over go. The war closed nearly forty years
ago. In the meantime many of our sailors and
soldiers long survived the age of 62 and passed
away without receiving any pension SkiIful
pension attorneys hunting through the statutes
failed to find there a provision giving a pension
to all who had reached 62. Many prominent
veterans urged the justice or Congressional
action giving service pension to all veterans.
Bills to that effect were introduced in Congress-
and not until March of this year did any one
ever claim to have made the discovery that the
President had power to treat the statute as IL
1t read that when claimant had passed the
age of 90 years he is necessarily disabled and
only half able to perform manual labor, and
therefore entitled to pension
The president of the Civil Service Commits
sion General John c. Black. formerly Com
missioner of Pensions and commander in chief
of the Grand Army of the Republic indicated
his view of the order when. in recent address
ne thanked the Preslrent Tor what he had done
and advised his hearers to use their influence
that law might be passed to the same effect
Full confidence after all. seems not to have
been placed on the defense OF Justification for
1t is pleaded in mitigation that former Demo-
cratic President did something looking in that
direction. Even If that were so-which is not
admitted-our present duty would be none the
less plain and imperative Our people must
never tolerate the citation OF act of usurpa-
ton of power as an excuse for another The
nrst may possibly be due to a mistake; the sec
ond, being based on the first, 1t cannot be.
IN m explanation, however 1t should be said
that the order relied on simply provides that
the age of seventy-five years should be
garded as evidence of inability to perform
manual labor. Few able to perform
manual labor at that age, but nearly all
men are at sixty-two. The first order is based
on fact that experience teaches, the other is
true as a general rule.
The old inquiry what are you going to do
about it?" il not stated in a form. 1t
is said by the administration in reply to
the public criticism of this order that ''it is
easy to test our opponents sincerity in this
matter. The order in question is revocabe
at the pleasure of the executive If our op-
ponents come into power they revoke
this order and announce that they will treat
the veterans of 62 and 20 as presumably in
full bodily vigor and not entitled to pensions.
tend to do SOP IF so ISSUE
TF'E Fs.iT'-TTIE OF = 1LLOTS.
Tts suggests the susnic'ae at least. that
the oc0sr was made to cree issue-that
1t ygas supposed 70 prs strong strategic
fuIther and say t1af ENG done 1 will con
tribute lug efforts feer.-d the enactment of a
e iaw a 6q 5 b ee ses tbsf Of Wi5 GNngress TtSs
an age pan sion, withqgs reference to disability
to the soryi' ..e her18 ol the Civil War, and
unoer he provisions - which a pension may
be aces pied with 5.aetg because of the con-
the pe1pIe from ttelr chosen representatiyes
and NOT as largess distributed by the chief
executive.
The foreign relations of the Government
have In late years assumed special impor-
tapce. Prior to the acquisition OF the Philip
pines practically invunerable against
attacks by foreign stat states These tropical pos
have changed all this and have in effect put
US under bonds to keep the peace. The
conditions call for a management of foreign
affairs the more circumspect in that the re-
cent American invasion OF foreign markets in
all parts of the world has excited the se,i-
Gus apprehension Of all the great Industrial
peoples 1t is essential, therefore, more than
ever to adhere strictly to the traditional
policy of the country formulated by the
first President and never, in my Judgment
wisely departed from-to invite friendly
lations with all nations while avoiding en-
tangling alliances with any. Such a policy
means the cultivation Of peace instead of the
qualification of and the minding of our
own business In lieu Of spectacular inter-
ningling with the affairs of other nations. 1t
means strict observance of the principles of in
ternational law and condemns the doctrine
that great state, by reason of its strength,
may rightfully appropriate the sovereignty Of
territory Of smaller state account OF its
weakness. 1t means for other American States
that it claims no rights and will assume
functions save those of a friend and of ally
and defender as against European aggressions.
1t means that we repudiate the role OF the
American continental policeman; that we re-
fuse to act as debt collector for foreign states
or their citizens; that we respect the independ-
ence and sovereignty Of each American state
and its right to preserve order and otherwise
regulate It's own internal affairs in its
way; and that any Intervention in its affairs
by us is limited to the single office of enabling
its people to work out their own political and
national destiny for themselves free from the
coercion of any European state.
Twnntv-eIpht wears have passed since the