The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1903-11-14
AN IMMORAL ACT.

On moral grounds there is no jllsti-
fication for the attitude of our govern
ment in the Panama trouble. Inter-
national law gives hut little support
therefor. But the American people
want II canal and will doubtless ac.
uuieScr in the action taken. Nations
like individuals are not Ovrr-Scr,lpll-
lou> when they want anything real
badly. 1t will he useless for Congress
t" ln''k" amy great amount of trouble
about the matter. The administration
did not succeed in making Il deal Will,
Columbia for the right to build the
canal. and it has promised the aid ana
support of this government to insur-
rcrtiOniStS who have declared their
Independence of the l.oyuta govern
lnpnt. The Whole and simple truth is
that we could not ON our own terms
make II deal With Colombia. therefore
we help Panama to steal the land in
question in consideration that Panama
will @iv" us what We want. We had
no right to make war OH Colombia. but
we rnrnuraa" others to do so. and as
soon as the first hand is raised
against the Colombian government by
the ScccdcrS we not only recognize the
Sccrtlers as helligcrents. but we recog.
lizr their independence. There will lie
Il n.'W treaty now. and Panama will
30 paid for its part in the information
III illnglin2. One coed result may fo'-
snw: W" HAY get the canal in time
i!lt rs to til" means l.y which ii will
10 acquired we must say nothing. we
are patriotic. Americans and tliit will
Is" relied upon as sufficient to blunt
Ullr moral ScI,Sihilitirs. II the nations
had lern as hasty in recognizing tn"
indrprndrnc" of the seeding Southern
states in lSi;l. great injury would
Lave resulted !hiS country. 1t might
have resulted in the disruption of the
Union. The Republican party at that
time fought against secession. and
that is the only political asset the par
ty ever had. \ Republican admins
tration now appears in the role of the
supporter of secession. and the OppO-
nent of the rightful sovereignty OF
tOlOmbia The immediate results may
be good. but ultimately such immoral
acts as that perpetr;lted against Col
ombia will react upon ourselves. We
have no doubt, however. but the Amcr-
lean peopl" will support the admin
istration in it's act. AS Il nation. we
are already feeling the effects of the
recent departure of this government
from it's foundation principles. We
have already entered into the land
grabbing business. and consequently
we will approve the trckcry by which
Panama has been established. just as
the English approved and aloried in
their own theft of the S,lsZ canal.
The Chicago tlronicle. cummcntin.
on this phase Of the subject. says:
There is Il striking parallel between
the manner in which IL monarchical
power Of Europe acquired control of
the Surz canal and the apparent pro-
rrrdinS by which Secretary Hay has
made the government OF the United
States responsible for anything which
may happen ut the lstlmus of Pana-
ma.
"'l'le story is written by an eminent
British puhlicist. ii. ID. Trail. in Il
volume entitled England. Egypt and
the Soud:n.' The compact binding
the powers interested in til" SueA
canal WAS in force. hut. with Il moral
dullnrSS which need not le comment
cd upon. Trail says. Great Britain as
the owner of three-fOurths of the
shipping passing through a canal
mainly owned by Il French proprie-
tory. yet of vital Importance to British
commercial and territorial interests,
had every right to seize the first op.
portlnity of obtaining proprietorial
representation on its administrative
board, not to add of acquiring II right
to participate in the profits to which
her own flag so largely contributed.
I'm accordance with this extraordin-
AIRY view of morality as applied be
tween nations British politicians re-
solved upon destruction Of the treaty
and seizure of the canal without re-
gard to the rights of any other nation.
AS to the restrictions which had been
agreed to by the powers concerned