Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1904-02-23

lfone nation blocks the only highway
for all nations. may there not well be 4
right OF eminent domain in nations to
compel free passages What petty con-
trivance Of names and forms should
avail TO defeat this rights
Columbia could not obstruct our COM
merce on the sea, by what casulstry has
she gained the right to obstruct il at this
spot that she herself holds by conquest,
first from the aborigi~es and next from
Spains Her refusal after she had enter
ed upon long negotiations with us for
the right-ofway across the isthmus, I'M
less we would comply with her very last
exaction, her heaped-up measures of ex-
tortion and blackmail, was an unfriend-
~ act, and should be so regarded in the
code Of nations. We assert il to be an
unfriendly act for a European nation to
acquire territory on this continents here
is an act on the part of Columbia. of
treble unfriendliness
What is there in the attitude of Co
lombia that should now make rs pause
and tremble before the specter of ma
tional aggressions This specter is raised
by those who would compel MS to fritter
away golden opportunity for poor
shadow. If we can, with not so much
reason, face the prospect of war with
our best friend and customer, can we
not go half as far for the sake of infin-
itely dearer considerations and coeree
stupid little despotism into granting
this right-of-way to the world. We
should be unworthy of our country if
we now allowed a bubble of words to
deter US from this, the greatest enter
prise of modern times.
The earth belongs to the peoble and
the laws of nature has decreed that this
highway should not be closed. Dig this
canal and you make another link TO
bind nations together; you make one
mart of all the great seas where nation
may meet nation in friendly commerce.
Commerce is the great civilizer. Burden
and restrict commerce and you burden
and restrict civilization. Build this ca
nal and our resources of national de-
Tense are doubled.
After speaking of the mistakes of na-
tions Mr.. Brown took up the Philippine
question saying:
We are confronted by an unfamiliar
policy upon subject that should never
stitution in word and spirit. This
policy leaves to the dominant political
party the right to determine what
guarantees of the constitution shall ex-
tend to our newly acquired territory
1t seems that today we may give this
territory territorial government and all
the projections of the constitution; to-
morrow a political accident occurs, and
all this protection is Withdrawn. 1t
almost impairs ones loyalty to be judi
cially and politically informed, as we
have been of late, that the name United
States does not always and as to all
things apply to all parts of this republic.
Our territories may then be bond or
free as points the political weathercock
The pseudo statesman, who loves to
govern overmuch, views the situation
complacently, but if | do not mistake
the conscience of the American people
it has already condemned this paltering
Juggling policy, and decreed that il can
not come to good.
For another example we have our
deadly navigation laws, the quintes,
Sence of restriction and artitice, which
have swept our merchant navy from
the seas. In Nineteenth century
biography of certain statesmen bigOts,
who have not statecraft, will be found
no mention of this tragedy, for it places
no laurels on their Straitened foreheads;
but the verdict of impartial history will
surely be that this great industry of
building and sailing ships, the grandest
that ever engaged the energies of mar,
has been killed by too much govern
ment.
In our own state an attempt is now
made to have the state practically in
corporate political parties, and pre-
scribe how and when and where they
shall hold their deliberations, and de,
clare their policies, not allowing
them the voluntary choice which fol
lows free debate and free assembly, Z
step towards evil paternalism which /
trust we shall not take.