The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-12-24
Eetters to tl,e editor
Shall We Build an Isthmian canalp

snail We Build an 1sthmian Caralp Editor Tho Advertiser:
 ,x It now appears that the present build ing or an tsthmian canal will under the leadership of Senator German be defeat ed by Southern Senators.
 AS in the building of an isthmian canal the future progress and development of tue South Is at stalxe. we ought not to presume 2 wrong has been done nor be defiected from our best interest either by sentiment SC ntl. or the hope of some temporary Oregon from the far East to Santiago. the American people have realized the neces- sity for and been resolved to build this
 The English speaking peop,e have ever found 2 reason to justify acts done to accomplish the end sought, and nave zp- proved of the man who brought results: so 1t would appear thas the Democrats ing the canal And as Senator Drrn n has been accused of having an alliance with the trans-continentaI ia lroads. and these the % reads gre known to be hostile to who vote to sustain him will be under the suspicion of being used to their sec- tion3 detriment. True 1t Is. no man snc sncu,d nsa,n n,ng away his convictions ei,h.r ing of such. convictions brings suspicion upon him: but 1t would seem. that he ought to be very sure he is right before 1t is human, if not right. to resove ali reasonable doubts in favor of his constit- uents best interest.
 The issue in this case is. that we have subjects to revolt, who were un Ter actual obedience; under color of a generous as- slstance. to consummate projects of ambi- ton and dominion. If this Is true, no Generals Pettus and Morgan, to approve or our government actions in the prem ises; but: the trouble seems to be that Gensral Morgan has so ardently advoce t. ed the Nicaragua route he cannot get his consent to consider another route while general Pettus can see no good to come out of the Roosevelt admlnistrati tion.
 ,,,.,,, Lne Iact IS; 1t Is to the interest of the nal; and 1t Is a vital necessity to the Uni- ted States not only to have a canal but to nave such dominion over countries south breeding places for yellow fever, boil weeYil and every other menace to our health and prosperity, into a source of profit. With such condition confront ing us, we ought, with care. to consider under what circumstances one nation can intervene in the internal affairs of anoth- CT. There Is no fixed test as to when one government can so intervene In the affairs or another government.
 General Washington said: "No govern- ment ought to interfere with the internal concerns or another, except for the secu- ny of what Is due to themselves" Cham AS ll6HI OA iHtcfNSu- ton exists when impending danger re- quires 1t" The English government has laid down the rule "that governments nave a right to intervene when their own security or essential interests are seriou = ly endangered by internal transactions of another State; that the exercise of the right oi intervention was an exception to general principles of the greatest value and importance, and as one that only properly grows out of the circumstances or tho special case, and which c mot be reduced to rule so as to be incorporat d into the ordinary diplomacy of States, or into the institutes of the law of nations"
 We humbly submit that the law of nuisanc as applied in private law fur nishes something like unto a test when one government can intervene in the in- ternal affairs of another. In private law, whatsoever worketh an obstruction or irl- Jury to right of another, or of the pub lic, and producing material annoyance discomfort or hurt. Is a nuisance. As the Colombian government stands as a men ace to our health, our commerce and Worketn material annoyance, tnconVen- lence. discomfort and hurt to the civilz q world, 1t would appear we have a right of intervention in this canal matter to the end that we build the canal to the well being of Colombia together with the we'll being Of all mankind It Is a question of the man with one talent burying it and charging the giver thereof with being an nara master. From him that hath not snail be taken even that which he hath.
 H. L. McElderry