Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1904-09-02

The Democratic platform undertakes
to make the party the guardian of ma
tiona and international honor by attack
ing the administrator Panama Canal
policy. The platform says:
Our party having long aud earnestly adr
| yocated the construction OF an inter
! oceanic canal for the purposes OF national
defense and commerce between the States
ard with foreign nations. we favor the
| early completion Of the istbnlan canal
| "Bnt, while making this declaration and
accepting the results as an accomplished
and irreyersible fact, we cannot too forcf-
bly, express our disapprovai Of the meth
DDS by which, In disregard OF the usages
and obligations Of international law and
treaty obligations, the canal route has been
acquired, or too solemnly record our hope
that this precedent OF defiant diplomacy
may never be used against us TO our hui
initiation and injury
If the Democratic party has ever ad-
vocated the construction of an isthmian
canal its advocacy has been purely aca-
dcmic. No Democratic administration
has ever taken a step or lifted a finger in
that direction.
Democratic Platform of 1856.
As to the question of methods the
party is on record in favor of the most
strenuous policy for the establishment
and maintenance of isthmian transit.
The Democratic platform of 1885, on
which James Buchanan was nominated.
contained the following:
Resolved, That the great highway
which nature. as well as the assent Of
States most Immediately interested In its
maintenance, has marked out for FREQ
communication between the Atlantic and
Pacific oceans, constitutes one Of the most
important achievements realized by the
spirit Of modern Lines. In the unconquer-
able energy Of our people; and that re-
suit would be secured by timely and
efficient exertion OF the control which we
have the right to claim over 1t; and ne
power on earth should be suffered to Inn
pede clog its progress by any inter
ference with relations that may suit our
policy to establish between govern
ment and the governments Of the States
within whose dominions 1t lies; we I'M
der no circumstances surrender our pre-
ponderance In the adjustment of all ques-
lions arising out Of It,"
When the resolution was adopted the
question of an isthmian canal was not
being agitated as it never was in any
practical way by the Democratic party.
The resolution refers to the maintenance
# overland isthmian transit, which had
,een interrupted by Nicaragua under =
,retense that her sovereignty was being
INVADED. The resolution virtually asserts
he paramount right of the United States
o maintain and control the transit route.
which was an important part Of com
nunication with California, against any
ind all corners.
Buchanan's Message.
In his annual message of 1858 Presi-
lent Buchanan said the transit across
the isthmus was "a highway which
must be open to the world, and that
the commerce of other nations is not
to stand still and await the adjustment
Of such petty controversies" as those
which Nicaragua had raised. 'aThs
government of the United States expect
40 more than this" he added, ''and they
will not be satisfied with less"
These were brave and true utterances,
out no Democratic administration ever
lid anything to make them good. Still
ess did the Democratic party ever at
empt to apply them to the construction
If an interoceanic canal 1t was left
or a Republican administration to do
hat. President Roosevelt's Panama
Canal policy has moved steadily and
irmly towards assuring the construction
# the canal. and his methods have not
favored of deficient diplomacy as much
IS did those advocated by the Demo
ratio party in 1856