The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1910-11-26
GUNS AND coMMoN.sENsE

Having decided that the line OF the
Panama canal must be fortified and
provided with an effective garrison,
President Taft has made long jour
flNF 70 provide compromise under
#iich ah. independent republic can
llA transformed into government
Iwseryation--he has discovered that
Roosevelt omitted to provide for this
scheme Of defence ii the creation Of
10 state to whose autonomy we pledg-
ed our national honor i.et MS as.
sumo that certain cilizensi of this re-
public can be induced" 10 sacrifice
their country to the needs of anotl-
or; is il entirely decent that we,
who have been. talking national and
International morality and decency so
loudly, are justified in atailing our
selves OF such means? How will this
pacification differ from the sup
preston Of Poland?
After we have arranged matters
with Arosemena and his faction and
after we have fortified the line Of the
canal aa contemplated by the presi-
dent al an expense OF some hundreds
OF millions, will il be safer than the
line Of the Suez canal which is de-
Tended only by a declaration cf neu-
trality and police force? Practical.
Iv il is admitted that it viii not when
we are told that an army would be
insufficient to guard the long line
watch could be broken bN one man
with ten pounds OF dynamite
After the war Of 1912 when British
and Ameriyan fleets struggled for tne
possession of the great lakes on this
continent the saner statesmen OF an
other generation solved a very grave
problem by signing declaration
that neither government should main
itain a naval force on those waters
more dangerous than customs tend
ers, and experience has proved the
plan entirely efficient Why have
not other nations followed the exam.
/ ple2 In Europe they are copying our
form of government but we are copy.
ling their practices in military mat
tiers; why not hold to our own and
ask that they lift themselves TO our
level in this regard?
/ That old agreement as to tie mu-
/ tual use of the lakes has been eX-
/ tended along the boundary line across
continent between the United
states and Canada. can there be OBJ
( jections to this? Fortresses on each
side with millions Of men behind the
ramparts and the guns defend tie
boundary between Germany and
France and Germany and Russia; are
these boundaries safer than the long
4 line between us and Canada2 Now
many millions have been saved to in
1 dustfy and production by the simple
agreement between these Kindred ma
tions if We may Judge OF the posi-
bic cost by the sums expended II
Europe as substitute for this
pledge? Since this pledge has work
ed well in this instance why not con
tinue its use instead of adopting the
opposite one which has not workee
we'll unless It be wise TO spend a.
much as nossible for the impoyerish
/ ment OF the Industrial classes?
Hitherto the American people aayi
preferred eommon-sense TO guns am
! soldiers and have every reason to b.
satisfied with the result: why drop !
+ good thing TO follow those who al
ready admit their inability to g
i further in support of a contrary pol
& icy? ForFify tie canal-fortily TIN
Philippines and fortify the islands o
the Pacific; when shall we be aske'
TO r;aintain a fleet on the great lake
land huild forts along the Cana'lial
] hnnndarN2