Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-11-24
The Presidents Trip to Panama.

The Charleston News and Courier, q
rec hot Democratic, but honest and
patriotic newspaper, in welcoming
President Taft to Charleston, where
the President boarded vessel for his
recent trip to Panama, said
We welcome you especially because
We are genuinely attached to you. The
,-armth of the reception which ever
awaits you by the people of Charles
ton but reflects the honest liking that
is in their hearts. Your coming. at
W natcyer time and upon whatever
mission, cannot prove other than Il
pleasure to us, ard our only regret
upon this occasion is that Your stay
is to be SO brief"
That was an honest, manly tribute
of a political enemy. and contrasts
most favorably Will: the attitude OF
certain Republican statesmen who are
breathing defiance of the President and
declare their intention of fighting
Taft from the start to finish. These
Republicans. and others with whom
the public is well acquainted (and we
are hot called upon to mention, might
take a lesson in good manners, pa
triotism and party fealty from this
warm Southern welcome.
n aY
Taft did god deal of work at Pana-
ma. He went over the whole field
covered by the canal builders, learned
the needs of the canal in the way of
legislation, sent a special envoy to as
sure Nicaragua's new president. Es-
trada. that the United States would
aid him all it could In his work OF re-
storing order in that country, and, on
his visit to the president Of Panama,
Pre- sident Taft told that functionary
that there was no truth in the tales
that the United States intended to an
mex the Isthnian republic.
President Taft was surprised at the
great amount of work that had been
accomplished since his visit ii few
weeks before his inauguration in 1909.
Undoubtedly much of the information
that nc obtained on this trip Will be
used in his annual message at the
opening Of Congress, and, moreover
L.. l, of hr Situation
at Panama to indicate that Colonel
Cocktails is safe in his predictions
that the canal will be ready for open
ing Jan. !. 1915.
Involving as it does, an expenditure
which coula not have been undertaken
by any other government, the Panama
canal will be one of the great achieve
ments Of tho Republican party. While
the project is not partisan, and the
votes on the various phases aSsOciat-
ed with it have disclosed no party
divisions. the work was projected and
carried to completion during Republic
can administrations. The country
would be glad to think that the engi-
neers' estimates of $S75OO0,0 900 would
cover the entire cost, but the country
is committed to the task of building
a waterway that will meet all the re-
quirements of the next century, so far
as most advanced engineers are able
to foresee and the most eXtravagant
optinists are willing to predict. and
an expenditure of a few millions in
excess of that sum will not arouse
opposition. 1t will be a magnificent
and standing advertisement of the
foresight the enterprise and the re-
sources of the United States.
That part of Mr.. Taft's message to
Congress on Dec. g. pertaining to the
big ditch will be read with especial
interest by the American people.