BoletiÌn mercantil de Puerto Rico. (San Juan, P.R.) 18??-1918, 1900-04-10
Ex-President Cleve-
land And The Nj
Caragua Canal.

. recent interview at his home in
Princeton, New Jersey clearly def
ned his position in regard to the Nj.
caragua Canal question, taxing
strong ground in favor of the Hay.
Pauncefote treaty and declaring that
the great waterway should be spec.
Oily constructed. He asserted that
the United States, in all her dealings
with other nations, should uphold
first and foremost an unselfish policy
applying the Golden Rule in all her
dealings with other nations.
The Philippines, he declared,
should be selt-governing, because
they we're Independent in the first
place. Puerto. Rico should be a self.
governing nation when her ability
for independence is shown. In the
meantime the Unltes States should
remain in the position of kind fat.
her, giving help and advice where
advice and help ere necessary
~ have always, said MIR. Cleve-
land, "been an enthusiastic supporter
of the furthement of the construction
of the Canal. My position has not
changed since my reference to it in
my first message, which has been re.
Gently quoted to a large extent. r
appreciate more than l can express
the Importance OF the project OF the
Nicaragua Canal. 1 am most hear.
tily in favor of its cOnsummatlon.
'EAny right minded man should
have NO esitation whatever in coming
out strong on the side of Mr.. Hay.
1t seems to me that the only debata,
BILE questions are the details relating
to the contamination of the Canal,
the subsequent management and the
general policy of the nations.
"To me it is most agreeable
and attractive sentiment that the
Unites States should occupy the
unique position among the nations
of the earth of being the altruistic
and unselfish brother of all countries. |
1t is specially fitting in view of the
ideals upon which our government
was founded, that the whole position
of the administration should be that
the canal is in the nature of a gift
to the world and a contribution to
advancing civilization"
Mr.. Cleveland said that he stood
upon the doctrine Of the German
philosopher Hegel-that ofunselfish-
ness and even handed justice to all, |
event to the lowest.
"Our natiOn", he said, ''is not to
be either land grabber or money
grabber. Our ideal must be to
bring about higher development of
the human race. The opening of the
canal to all nations could not help
but difuse spirit of unselishness
abroad over the world, along with
the commercial expansion resulting.
A beautiful sentiment of altruism
would be diffuse from this great
country as the light from a sun in
its celestial system.
s'I wish to emphasize this point. 1
understand the Hay PauncefOte trea-
ty to be modelled in accordance with
the general idea of absolute and
unalterable naturalization, which is
beyond all question essential to the
consummation of this great project
and that tconcomitant of civilization.
The United States must insist on a
policy OF disarmament. There must
be no Notifications. Everything
must be along the lines OF uniyer-
sal peace.
sour nation must better its poll.
tIcal life. Unless that commercial
Iism which is rampant in. American
politics at this hour is very soon
checked, and crushed under foot, the
future soill wrap the coils Of dark
ness around our cherished life, and
we will settle down to the same
dwarfed standards common among
the imperial nations Of the past be-
fore absolute desintegratiOn Occu
lrred."