The Irish standard., 1903-12-19
TAKEN TO TASK,

We have been called to task by the
NORTHEAST Argus for a comment
which appeared in The Irish Standard
on December 5th. The comment had
reference to the Panama question and
was as follows:
There is no doubt that the people
Of this country are overwhelmingly in
favor of an isthmian canal. They have
for many years desired that the United
States take up the work. They will
not stop to consider the means by
which the administration secured the
right-of-way. We cannot convince
ourselves that the action of the United
States was justifiable, but we are firm
ly Of the belief that the people Of the
United States will acquiesce in the re-
suit. Perhaps we will get our pay
later on for the injustice done. 1t is
not at all certain that the Panama
route presents a feasible engineering
proposition. The French found it i'm
possible to construct masonry that
would withstand the rank vegetation.
Certain it is that IL great number of
lives and vast treasure will be sacri-
feed in the undertaking."
The criticism of the Argus is in part
as follows:
1--WE have always had great respect
for The Irish Standard Its editors
are young men for whom we have
great respect, believing them to be
honest. The above clipping from
that paper Of December 9Th shocks us.
1t doubtless was an oversight. 1t can
not be possible that the Standard
meaus to shy that the people Of this
country are so overwhelmingly in
favor of the isthmian canal that they
will submit to being bonded for it's
construction.
I'm the first place, Mr.. Standard,
you have no right to say that the con-
structi0n of the canal Is either de-
manded or desired by the people of the
United States, for the simple reason
that the question has never been be-
fore them for their discussion. We
have been voter and taken an active
part in every presidential campaign
since Zachary Taylor's election in
1913, and Of such an important issue,
as bonding them to the extent OF BIZ.
lion dollars to build about 100 miles OF
ship canal in a southern, malarial
foreign country, where no white man
can labor, had ever been before the
American people we certainly would
remember sHch a campaign. So the
Standard is mistaken.
| IF such an issue Is ever fairly pre-.
scented to the people they will vote II
down 10 to 1. Why? Because the
American people, outside of the trans
portation combines, trusts, bondhold
ers and bond manipulate are not
interested in the canal any more than
are the Russians, Chinese, or other
people Of the civilized world. The
proletary Of this country, or thei1
government do not own single com.
mercial ship-nor is the present system
of our government ever intended that
they will own commercial ship-to
sail through this canal"
We believe that our views and those
of the Argus are in the main the same
on the proposition in question. We did
not mean, nor do we believe, that the
language quoted can be fairly inter.
preted to mean that the Standard is
in favor of the methods used by the
administration to acquire right-of-
way. The methods used are tainted
with subterfuge and fraud. A strong
nation has unjustly deprived a weak
nation of its sovereignty over the ter
ritory in question. Neither do we
wish to be understood as believing
that the lend justifies the means" We