New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-10-22
THE PRESIDENT ON PANAMA.

Much has been said about the Panama Canal
bv many men at many times, but nothing more
noteworthy than what was said by the Presi-
dent yesterday at Jacksonville It was note
worthy because Of its supremacy responsible
and authoritative source. Mr.. Roosevelt Will
be known in history for many things, but prob
ably for nothing more conspicuously and perna-
nently than for his building of the Panama
Canal. 1t has been given to only a few Presi-
dents to do things which overshadowed the
mere facts of their being Presidents. Jefferson
is remembered not merely as President for
eight years, but as the first great e1pansionist
who secured for us the western half OF the Mis-
sissippi Valley Monroe is recalled not merely
as a President but as the prOmulgator OF doc
trine which for fourscore years has been funda-
mental to the foreign policy of this nation. Eco
Die think of Lincoln not as q President doing
the routine business Of the executive Office Dut
as the emancipation OF race and as the savior
of the union. So Theodore Roosevelt will prob
ably be remembered-and he could scarcely
wish more than to be thus remembered-not
only as a President, but especially as the Presi-
dent who completed the work Of Columbus In
opening waterway around the world and who
fulfilled the age-long desire Of the nations in
the construction Of the Panama Canal.
We must regard it as encouraging and insp1r-
ing then that the man upon whom authority
and responsibility for that great work so
greatly rest takes so confident view OF the
enterprise. He recognizes the arduous nature
and vast magnitude Of the work-nobody more
than he. He realizes the evils at once OF over
eagerness and Of too great forebodings. But
avoiding both extremes, he declares unhesitat-
ingly that 1.-The work can be done. is being done
and will be done' and that that is SO every in
formed and thoughtful American citizen must
know 1t is quite true that the President
says, adventures and their timid followers
have flocked to the scene; some OF the former
class causing trouble. and the latter whimper-
ing forth their criticisms and their fears. It is
quite true that many "grafters" or would-be
"grafters" have returned from the isthmus dis
appointed at not having been permitted TO grow
rich through loot, and consequently railing
against the government and against the whole
enterprise while other timorOus brethren, ap-
palled at a case or two of fever among quar-
ter of a million people, panied in all their
muscles at the discovery that hard work is to be
DONE have piped their lack OF faith in the under
taking But is it not an anomaly that any "a
tionaI people should listen to and give credence
to such utterances, rather than to the ten times
more numerous assurances of those who are a
hundred times better qualified to speak upon
the subject?
With the appalling memory of De Lesseps's
Panama in mind, it is simply inconceivable that
rational and responsible men, like the members
Of the canal commission should commit them
selves and their regulations to the construction
of the canal without knowing beyond perad-
venture that its success is assured Credulity
revolts at the idea of the Presidents speaking
as he did at Jacksonville yesterday without the
most positive personal knowledge that the dis
astrous errors of the old regime are being
avoided. Nobody doubts that the French could
have built the canal had 1t not been for the
errors which they fell into and which are now
known of all men. We cannot concede that
Americans are less capable OF doing the work
and we know they are not repeating the errors
Of the French. In such suspicious crcum-
stances the confident words of the chief canal
builder are amply justified.