The independent., 1904-01-07

dents Panama Policy was discussed
at the Vine Street Congregational
church this evening by the pastor,
Herbert S. Bigelow. Mr.. Bigelow USED
as text two lines from Goethe's
Faust:
1T happens as it Mapped of old!
Still Naboth's vineyard we behold
These, said Mr.. Bigelow, are the
words of Mephistopheles.
Faust had turned reformer. He had
conceived the project of beneftlng
mankind by building dykes and ca
mails and thus making habitahle vast
regions hitherto overrun by the sea.
In this worthy enterprise he was
baked by an aged couple who refused
to sell their homestead. location
which Faust needed in his scheme OF
improvement.
This ancient pair looked with dis
trust upon Faust's innovations. They
dii not wish to give themselves the
pain OF new thoughts and new ways.
Faust became very impatient and con-
fessed to Mephistopheles that one
"Grows tired, at last, OF being just"
This was the DEVILS opportunity.
He suggested resort to force. Faust
replied: Then go, and clean them
out with speed"
A MODERN PARALLEL.
Now note a modern parallel The
scheme of Improvement today contem-
plates the cutting of canal across
the isthmus of Panama. But the Co
lOmbians did not wish to sell. 1t ap-
pears that Mephistopheles whispered
into the ear of the president the same
advice which he gave to Faust. II is
now known that when the Panama
revolution broke out the president had
written and was on the eve of pre-
senting to congress message in which
he proposed that since Colombia would
not sell the isthmus, we should go
down with troops and seize Ii. The
revolution changed things. But the
president was just about to say to the
army as Faust said to the devil:
Then go, and clean them out with
speed"
But we must say this for Faust tnat
he soon repented of his crime. When
the devil returned from this forclOie
election to tell his story of pillage and
murder, Faust repudiated the unholy
work, saying:
Exchange | meant, not robbery.
The inconsiderate, savage blow
curse! Bear we the guilt and go!'
THE PRESIDENTS DEFENSE.
But the presidents argument Is as
ingenious as any which Mephistoph-
eles could~have invented The onward
march of civilization requires that ca
nal. Virtually we are civilization. IL
tie Colombians reject our offer, shall
we permit them to stand in our
that is, in civilizations way? But lit
tie Colombia asks, what gives you
the right to speak for civllizaticn?"
The answer is, Our navy"
But says the president. ''it is TN
reasonable to allow these Colombians
to block the way to progress, because,
forsooth, the accident Of position has
placed them in control of the 18TH
mus"
SHALL. WE EVICT THE ASTORS?
Very we'll, Mr.. President; suppose
we take another case. Here is Man
haitian island. Like the isthmus it is
favored spot on the earth's surface,
because civilization has great need
of it, It's location and not its owners
has made it valuable. These owners
collect millions year in ground rents
as the tribute which they exact from
the inhabitants Of the island. Does
the president propose that we call out
the militia and evict the Astors? Hen
ry George proposed to evict them
peaceably by gradually saddling upon
their ground rents the total burden OF
taxation. Ii the president believed
in this single tax principle, If lie saw
the injustice of allowing toll-gates
any where on the highways of civiliza-
ton. we might find a KIND of brutal
consistency In his Panama policy. But
we cannot enthuse over that type of
statesman who rushes of in great
haste To force upon other people
principle which Is constitutlonally
violated at home. Suppose Colombia
were Russia. MIR, President?
You can find brave and generous
man here and there. but where In the