The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1903-03-14
THE PANAMA CANAL.

have the canal built at Panama. But
he does not like the terms of the
Colombian treaty. He thinks thu
rental charge outrageous and believes
that there are too many loose ends
likely to entsngle us in trouble here.
after
Senator Morgan is an old fashioned
man. He has not learned the first
lesson in imperialist diplomacy. He
has not learned that indefinite pro-
visions in treaties always accrue to
the advantage of the stronger nation .
And We are the stronger nation. Does
the senator not remember our treaty
with England 10 which, among dozens
Of other provisions, that country
agreed to remove the forts on cur
western frontier but forgot to say
when? Does not Senator Morgan
remember the terms of purchase by
which England acquired possession Of
Cape Town and "the surrounding
country. by au elastic Interpretation
OF which England claimed the land
of the Beers long afterwards explored
and conquered by them? There is
nothing but the lack Of power to
prevent England from interpreting
the terms Of the purchase to include
the Sahara Desert and the Mediter.
ranean sea.
1t is really doubtful whether an
isthmian canal would result in any
special benefit to this country except
from the standpoint of naval advan-
tage to US as a world power. If the
canal should 10 the future come to be
of any very great commercial i'm
p%ortance, the advantage of it would
accrue equally to the other COM
mercial nations of the world and
would result in a corresponding dis
advantage Of our trans-continental
lines of railway, The railroads are
here. They help to pay our taxes;
use our coal, iron and wood; employ
our labor; and distribute among us
vast fortunes in wages, salaries and
dividends The canal when con
pleted will be only a ditch, to be
guarded by soldiers who produce
nothing. The ends Of it will be
watched by naval squadrons which
cost more than the canal.
But it does not cost much to dig
the ditch-not more than we pay 10
pensions every eighteen months; not
as much as the tribute we pay to the
iron manufacturers in the way of
protective tariff every twelve months.
Besides if we don't build it some other
nation will. 1t is best for us to have
it If we mean ostand by the Monroe
Doctrine.
And If we mean to stand by the
Monroe Doctrine as Roosevelt inter-
prets it, We will need all The navy we
can get anyhow. Nor need we, in
that case, bother about the terms of
the Colombian treaty we can change
that when we please. If we re'going
to adopt Roosevelt's Interpretation of
the Monroe Doctrine, the sooner we
get into trouble with Colombia the
better. 1t is as good a place to make
a start as any.
Senator Morgan belongs to the anti.
bellum type of statesman He wants
a treaty that says what it means and
means what it says. He wants a
canal that will serve our commercial
interests with South America. He
does mo- want TO get into any trouble
with Colombia of any other South
American state. But no matter what
Senator Morgan prefers, this country
is practically committed to a career
Of colonialism and conquest. 1t has
been committed to such a career by
the protective tariff which has built
up our manufacturing industries to a
point far beyond our domestic needs.
We will henceforth be found seeking
exclusive or preferential trade Iela,
tions and conquests. The isthmian
canal is the first and most important
step 10 the process. Naval armament
follows as a corollary and the caual
will be held back until the navy is in
proper condition.
THE STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.