The Taney County republican. (Forsyth, Mo.) 1895-1992, 1906-09-06
FORSYTH MISSOURI, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER

themselves to be fit representatives of
all good Americans.
In affairs outside OF our own country
our great work has been beginning to
dig the Panama canal. The acquisition
Of the canal strip was due to the initia-
tive of congress; and the fact that the
work thereon is now being done in the
most thorough and satisfactory fashion
is due to the action of the present con-
gress at the session just closed. Only
this action rendered the work possible,
and the hcartiest acknowledgements are
due 10 the far.seeing patriotism OF
those who made it possible. The dig
ging of the Panama canal is the
colossal engineering feat of all the
ages. No task as great of the kind has
ever been undertaken by any other
nation. The interests banded togeth.
er TO oppose it were and are numerous
and bitter, and most Of them
with peculiarly sinister basis for their
opposition. This sinister opposition
rarely indeed ventures openly to an
nounce its antagonism TO the canal as
such. Sometimes it takes the form of
baseless accusation against the man
agement and of demand for an in-
vestigation under circumstances which
would mean indefinite delay. Some
times it takes the form of determined
opposition to the adoption of plans
which will cnbable the work to be done
not merely in the best, but in the
quickest possible way.
Had congress hcen either umid or
corrupt, and had not the leaders Of
congress shown the most far-sightcd
resolution in the matter, the work OF
building the canal would never have
been begun or II begun would now have
halted. The opposition to the adop.
tion of the treaty by which our right
to build the Panama canal was Sc.
cured: a part at least OF the opposition
even now being made to the ratification
OF the Santo Domingo treaty, which is
one more step in the effort to make
peaceful and secure the waters through
which the route Of the canal leads; the
constant effort to delay on one preteXt
and another the actual work on tho
canal-all prove how essential it is that
ii the American people desire the
Panama canal TO be built in speedy and
efficient fashion they should uphold
the hands OF those who, in the present
congress, have 50 effectively
champiOncd this work.
No less priseworthy has been the
attitude OF this congress in continuing
To build and maintain on high plane
OF efficiency the United States navy.
This country is irrcvocably committed
to the maintenance of the Monroe
doctrine. 1t is irrevocably committed
to the principle OF defending and polio
ing the canal route. But It's champion.
ship OF the Monroe doctrine and its an.
nouncement of its intentions as to the
canal route would both be absurd on
their face II the nation failed to do its
duty in maintaining thoroughly
eff cient navy at as high point Of per.
fecton rs can possibly be attained.
Our external affairs are important,
but our internal affairs are even more
important; and no other congress for
many long year has, as regards the
betterment of our internal affairs, so
much and such excellent work to its
credit. The tremendous social and
industrial changes in our nation have
rendered evident the need OF u larger
exercise by the national government ol
its power to deal with the business use
OF wealth, and especially OF corporate
wealth in interstate business. 1t is moi
too much TO say that the course of con
gress within the last few years and the
hearty agreement between the exc
cutiye and the Legislative department.
Of the nation in taking the needed
action, each within its own sphere
have resulted in the nation for the frs
time definitely entering upon the ca
reer Of proper performance of duty il
these matters. The task is pecuiarl,
difficult because it is one in which tn,
fanatical or foolish extremist, and tn,
reactionary, whether honest or dis
honest, play into one another's hands
and they thereby render it especial.
hard 10 secure legislative and executive
action which shall be thorOugh.go goin!
and effective, and yet which shall no
nee llessly jeOpardize the business pros
perity which We all share, even thougl
we do not all share IL with as mucl
equality as We are striving to secure
white River Association.
The White River Association Of Gen
. eral Baptists will convene with tn