The sun., 1906-12-20
Order OF Panama Merit.

One Of the most interesting, if not one
Of the most important, passages in Mr.
RoosEvELT's account of his travels and
studies on the Isthmus is this:
a badge is 10 be given 10 every American cit-
zen who for a speclned time has taken part in this
work: for participation In II will hereafter be held
to reflect honor upon the man participating. Just
as IL reflects honor upon soldier TO have belonged
TO a mighty army In a great war for righteousness.
our fellow countrymen on tho Isthmus are working
for our interest and for the national renown in
the sane spirit and with the same efficiency that
the men OF the army and navy work in time of war
II behooves us in our turn TO do all we 10 hold
up their hands Shd aid them in every TO bring
their great work toA triumphant conclusion"
Some observant sociologists believe
that the Americans, being under a dem
ocratic government, are carried by a
natural but not unhumorous reaction
to be fonder than any other men of but
tons, badges, ribbons, regalia, uniform,
pompous titles and all attainable ex-
terror distinctions and ornaments JON
ATTAIN dearly loves trimmings and
handles TO his name; and the easy and
generous American temperament bre-
vets, promotes and befrogs everybody
fond of such adornment There is
nothing dangerous and there is much
that is amusing in these self-made aris-
tocracies Everybody can order his star
and garter. Cockades are within the
reach of the poorest. This is a nation
of "joiners.
The genesis OF the Panama Canal
badge notion in Mr. RoosEvELT's in
tellectuals or emotionals is not rightly
to be attributed TO any participation Of
his in the eager desire to button, bedeck
and bedrape us in brilliant togs and
reRalia. Nor can IL be justly ascribed,
as we were inclined TO think at first, TO
"Y" or "P" or III" on the sweaters Of the
lords of football. Such letters of mark
are granted only to the chosen few. The
Panama badge is to go to every Ameri-
can citizen who works on the canal for
a certain time 1t will connotate a
democratic nobility. Libraries could
be written on the power of symbols
and symbolism upon the human imagi-
nation and affairs. Mr. ROOSEVELT, who
combines the enthusiasm of the roman
ticist with the most practical realism,
must propose the canal badge as the
symbol of the international meaning
Of the marriage of the seas, and Of
the dreams, the ardors and difficulties
of the great enterprise. The incision
Of that narrow neck OF land is dan
gerous, especially on account Of the
mosquito. Otherwise there would seem
to be no reason why the Hon. JOE BISHOP,
for instance, should have a badge while
the chest of the Hon. LESLIE MORTIER
SHAW goes badgeless Yet the immi-
nence of peril cannot be the sole reason,
for a railway mail clerk would seem more
familiar with dangers than a canal en-
ployee, and Mr.. ROOSEVELT has not sug-
gested that the railway mail clerks be
decorated. An order OF merit, and not
of danger, is to be founded. Mr.. RoosE-
WELT takes special interest in the canal.
Anything that will hasten its completion
or cheer the hearts of the Americans at
work on it will have his approval Nat
urally the canal official who has won
and worn the canal badge will bequeath
il as a rich legacy unto his issue; and Mr..
RoosEvELTs zeal for posterity is appre-
ciated by all.
The form Of the badge is yet 10 be
determined A shovel, or, on n mos
quito, 'gules, would be acceptable, we
think, but we are ready to be satisfied
with any more appropriate device. The