January 23, 1909.]
AMERICAN POLITICS!
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
SYSTEM.
(Daily Press, January 20th.)
63
but, without the knowledge that such a sys- have rushed to the conclusion, wholly un- | comfortrug assurance that progress towards tem as we have advocated would impart to warranted, that the state of the Republic is higher ideals in political life in the Unitedi members, the value to the community of much worse than that of the older States is being maintained. representation on the Sanitary Board does Kingdoms. appear to be exceedingly small. It rests largely with the unofficial members them- selves to increase the value of that repre- | sentation, and in this, we are sure, they will have the cordial sympathy and support of His Excellency the Governor. Mr. SHEL- TON HOOPER's eulogy of the activity and
Thatany such alteration in the constitution interest shown by Sir FREDERICK LUGARD
of the House of Lords as would be implied in all that has followed upon the pre-
by the acceptance of the programme of sentation of the Report of the Commission
"Reform" sketched out by Lord ROSEBERY'S: will, we are sure, be endorsed by everyone,
Committee would render the Upper House and most cordially by those best acquainted
the real governing body of the country, is with the vast amount of work entailed in so
felt do all hands and by none more than thorough an investigation as the Governor's
the Radical party who have brought the apeeches in Council showed that he had
House into such a position that some made into the whole position revealed in the
fundamental change has become a matter of Commissioners' Report. It was an exceed-
necessity. It yet is plain that, as with the ingly heavy task to fall upon a Governor Perhaps the most regrettable feature of army the necessity of superseding the who had just arrived and had yet to make the wordy warfare being waged in high present system of enlistment by some method himself acquainted with the whole adminis-political circles in the United States is that of compulsory military traiding, is rapidly trative organisation of the Colony. Appro- President ROOSEVELT bas allowed himself to being instilled into the mind of the nation at priate reference was made by Mr. HOOPER be drawn into the vortex and to be whirled large; so is growing the national conviction to the steps taken by His Excellency to put into all the contemptible squabbles which that the enlargement of the constituencies an end to the friction which had long existed have acquired undue prominence. It is to the extent that all private thought on between officials and unofficials on the Board indeed a pity that a man who has deserved the part of the voters has beed extinguished, and we hope the good feeling which is now so well of his country, who for a longer Has reduced the status of the House of evidenced on the Board may long endure and period than many of his predecessors has Commons to that of a mere machine for that the usefulness of the unofficial members enjoyed the confidence of the people, should enregistering the views of a tew wire-pullers; on it will be increasingly demonstrated. allow the closing days of a brilliant tenure and in consequence all confidence in the of office to be darkened with controversies ability of the Lower Chamber to manage which besmirch the reputation of the once the complicated affairs of a great nation bas.. popular THEODORE ROOSEVELT and belittle been dissipated. Conscious of its inability (Daily Press, January 19th.)
the dignity of the Presidency. Into the to tackle questions of high policy, the American politics are under the gaze merits of the various quarrels it is not for us House has practically cease to discuss the of the world at present to a greater to enter. It is enough to know that his foreign relations of the State, which are as extent than they have been for some treatment of Congress is not such as its implicitly placed in the hands of the time. It is not merely that the various status demanded. He may have been Foreign Office as in any of the more nations are watching the success of the sincere in his convictions that all was not especially monarchical governments of the Panama Canal undertaking, world import- well in that legislative assembly, but it was Continent; while the affairs of the Army ant as it is. That would perhaps account not for the President to insult the honourable and Navy are rapidly falling into the hands to some degree for the interest manifested body. One American journal which seems
of the Ministers of the day. In little better in the country's affairs, but the prominence to disregard the trivialities of political life, condition are the financial affairs of the which its politics enjoy, or rather obtain, is expresses the opinion that whatever Mr. nation, which have ceased to be discussed due more to the strenuous and obtrusive ROOSEVELT may or may not have done in on grounds, and are only regarded personality of leaders than to political other respects, "he has certainly robbed from the narrowest of merely party experiments which excite the interest of the presidency of something of that dignified platforms, or as a means of stirring up onlookers. It is very commonly asserted and almost reverent character which came socialistic dissensious, and setting class that greater corruption and more malprac to it by inheritance from the days of the against class. In such a disorganised con- tices are to be found in American municipal fathers, and which prior to eight years ago dition nature in the long rau is sure to and political life than in any of the other had been fairly sustained.. If our ideas of the provide a reme ly; but the remedy is pretty great civilised countries, of the world, but 'presidency and of the dignities and manners
Bure to bear as hardly as the disease. while hesitating to accept a theory so gene- which ought to hedge it in have somewhat Whenever disorder has gone so far as to rally held outside of the United States, we declined, the source of that decline will gain the upper hand, affairs are bound to may perhaps be pardoned if we express the easily be identified by those who make return to the law of the stronger; it may be belief that no country has freer institutions permanent history in the character and the stronger physically or the more able or higher civic and national ideals than doing of Mr. ROOSEVELT. Those, who by mentally, but the law itself cannot beevaded, America; and that though personal spleen taste or temperament like the slip-dash and is bound to return on those who have and party bitterness may occasionally lead manner in the White House will commend provoked it. The extreme Radicals were to exposures, it is the desire to achieve these Mr. ROOSEVELT; those who believe that thus quite right when they cried out in ideals which leads to the ventilation of the virtus and the value of the pre- their distress that Lord LANDOWNE, ani a so many scandale. The path to polisidential office would best be sustained | few others had the other day taken in hand tical parity is not strewn with roses nor by a more reserved and signified bearing the salvation of the country; but they for scented with fragrance. No, it leads will feel that something has been got that it was they alone who had forced through sinks of iniquity, through treach- lost through Mr. RooSEVELT, and will the necessity of action on them. Hal, in erous bogs of deceit and duplicity, over hope for the day of its restoration. the particular case in question, the House rough and rocky roads bestrewn with Though the recent presidential campaign of Commons been made to feel that in obstacles to a sweet resting place where few has witnessed a distinct decline of old time passing the foolish act in question have hitherto sojourned. Still its joys are ideas of propriety on the part of candidates, they were really flying in the face of not unknown and it is the prospect of due perhaps to the strenuousness attributa- their own constituents, there would have realising these that buvy men up with ble to both Mr. ROOSEVELT and Mr. BRYAN been no occasion nor opportunity for the hope in their struggle to reach the goal it has also to be noted that there has been meeting called by Lord LANSDOWNE. The which so many nations have in view. a distinct moral gain in the attitude of simple fact was that, wise in their own con- America is not lagging on the way to e candidates towards each other. The ceit, certain incompetent ministers sought to political purity. The consciousness of its spectacle of both Mr. TAFT and Mr. take advantage of a flying start to impose people has been quickene), and, though | BRYAN present at the same board ad by force on the nation at large certain crack- shauseful exposures are occasionally made, we each contributing to the gainty of u brained fads of the r own imagination. The must not let our eyes rest on the evils made civi: fans was dis inctly pleasant, and a 8 quel to the affair was its mos. instructive. public, but rather let us gaze at the forces cheerful prospect is unfolded when candi-part. So far from a deeply injured people operating for good which brought them to dates so respect each other an ench respect light. Other countries have their scandals, himself that friendly meetings and greetings but the Press does not throw such a fierce even in the height of the campaign are light upon them, nor is public opinion so possible Therefore, unsavoury as the pre- fpcussed as in Americs, and careless thinkers sent squables may be, there is always the
These remarks are occasioned by the perusal of newspaper comments on recent THE BRITISH PARLIAMENTARY happenings in the United States. Disquiet. ing statements regarding the Panama Canal have been made. Charges of corruption, and inefficiency have been levelled at officials and gloomy prognostications of failure bave not been lacking. Naturally these charges warranted investigation, and, though in- quiries have been made, the matter does not seem any nearer settlement. "Fake sensa tions," as they are described, are still being made regarding the Canal, but all the irregularities and crimes that may be disclosed need not shake our faith in the American Republic, and its capacity to accomplish great undertakings.
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resenting the decision of Lord Lansdowne's meeting, there was a general sigh o relief that at the last moment someone had been found to save them from the consequence of their own folly,
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