The age-herald., 1900-02-23
sHREwD WORK OF THE ENEMY

From the Galveston News.
 Senator Morgan's position is the position for democrats to occupy in regard to the isthmian canal. It should be an open way for the ships of all nations, at a fair and equal charge for use Unless it is such it may be converted into means of ''protec- tion" for the millionaire shipbuilders of this country, by which they will be enabled to take half bale of cotton for carrying the other half to China To make the canal neutral is to promote free commerce. In this way only can shippers be invited and compelled to compete for American busi- ness Then the little nations through which it is run have some rights As a means of self protection they certainly have a right to put this one fair condition into the compact. There is another matter to be considered. Unless this canal is construct ed on a broad basis of freedom and fair dealing if the project is tied up over the matter now in dispute, Trance will proceed to complete the Panama canal, and open 1t to the trade of the commercial world. Un- der such circumstances we, in order to gratify our whooping jingoes, will be left with the privilege of getting on without any waterway or of owing one devoted exclusively to our battleships, and to half dozen of our millionaire shipowners with a license to rob their own people going and coming. The right to own the waterway, to protect it, to collect the tolls to main tain it's neutrality, and thus to preserve it as a means of civilization would be all that a people given to the arts of peace and to the means and methods of progress should ola A ator Morgan seems to be equal to the con viction that the United States could, if called upon to do so, whip any invading enemy without fortifying the Nicaragua canal says an exchange. Nobody with a thimblefuH of brains can have the least doubt as to the ability of the United States to look after its own interests under an arrangement by which this nation is to be in full charge of the improvement. The New York Sun and other opponents of the canal publish as a means of discrediting the treaty, alleged telegrams from the prin- cipal maritime powers of the world, eX- pressing satisfaction over the neutrality feature of the compact. They proceed on the idea that the American people are so foolish and vicious that they cannot be persuaded to do anything that the people of other countries might approve. As the New York Post sees 1t, it is quite in order TO draw other nations closer to us in the bonds of amity and good will. It is this feature of the treaty which makes it a great monument of civilization, and it Is this which has excited the ire of the jingo politicians and newspapers, and set them to shaking their fists and foaming in double-leaded editorials" This, however, is not the main 'cause'' which moves the leading opponents of the new compact. The main inspiration comes from the trunk line railroads of the north, from the great eastern cities, from owenrs of stock in the Panama venture, from the greedy oppo- nents of any change bgS which the com- merce of the south might be diverted from their banks, factories, warehouses, ports. These have the ardent assistance of cross- eyed partisians who are ready to sacrifice even the prosperity of their country in or- der to score telling point against the other side. All advocates of the canal friends of the south, apostles of civiMza. ton and peace can do Is to serve timely warning on the interruptions issue hunt CTS and thoughtless hobheads who are now presenting themselves to the opponents of this great work for use in defeating 1t, and thus darkening again one of the brightest hopes of the south.