The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1908-03-21
THE ISSUES.

The Republican party simply can
not turn back from the vigorous pros
ecution of Roosevelts policies and
win. Those policies are progressive
and not yet fulfilled. The reforma-
ton of the army. and the consistent
development of the navy, together
with the overhauling and moderniz-
ing of all government bureaus have
been going on for six years, and are
| not yet completed. Considerable
quantities of dirt and scandal have
been stirred up by the government
house cleaning. but the result is al
ready shown to be a betterment of
service. We are getting something
for our money at Washington now
The internal policies include dig
ging the Panama canal, developing in
thermal waterways to their full carry
ing capacity and extending them. re-
lforestration of water sheds, preserya-
ton of the national timber supply and
grazing and ore lands. reclamation of
arid acres for cultivation to increase
the food supply. and the enforcement
of federal laws to perpetuate compe-
tition and protect the workingmen in
their right to "hfe, liberty and the
pursuit of happiness"
The state department has under
taken the cultivation and mainten-
ance of friendly relations with South
America and Asia, where our future
foreign customers reside. by acting
fairly toward them; by improving our
consular service. and by building up
our merchant marine. that American
boats may carry American products.
Many of these projects are as yet
in their incipiency Especially in the
matter of internal Improvements il
has been necessary actually to pave
the way by a course of popular in
structions to enlist the support of the
public. as in the case of the forestry
associations. Private interests. which
saw graft or snap torn from their
fingers, fought the federal executive
on the plea that he was entrenching
on state rights and hampering private
enterprise. Even lumber companies,
that now acknowledge their annua,
output is not limited, while they eau
make sure of a future supply by fol-
lowing the government experts sug
gestions. were hot against interior
ence at the outset. The same situa
ton was met in regard to preserving
mineral, fuel and grazing lands. Only
in the matter of reclamation or arid
lands and deepening the waterways
was the government encouraged, anG
that was because they carried an ap-
preparation.
The merchant marine project Is an
other one, which requires consumate
tact and patience, On the one side
are interests, which hope for graft
and on the other a suspicious people
The merchant marine can only be
built up by an administration in which
the people have as much confidenc,
as they have in Roosevelt's.
Our foreign relations were never In
better condition. This government
stands high in the diplomatic world.
No more brilliant galaxy of states
men can be found than the corps
headed by Elihu Root. South Ameri-
cans for the first time in decades have
confidence in American honesty. Cen
trail American states have been
brought into harmony. and even
China, whose coolies have been barred
from our western coast, turns to the
United States as her next friend
against Japan. The advice of Amer
can diplomats a few days ago settled
the disturbance between the yellow
empires. Besides offering an unlimited
market for the future, China vii,
make an excellent foil in preserving