The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1911-01-16
FOSTER AeAINsTFoRTIFicArloN
Vermont Congressman Would Teach
World a Lesson with the Canal "

New York, Jan. 15.-Congressman
David j. Foster of Vermont, chairman
.of the committee on foreign affairs,
addressed a mass meeting in Cooper
Union Friday night on the right of
the United States to fortify the Pan.
ANA canal. He opposed fertilization.
The meeting was held under the aus
pieces of the New York Peace society.
of which Andrew Carnegie is presl-
dent. Mr.. Foster closed his speech
as follows:
I'VE have passed beyond the stage
OF the dreamer, idealist, the Utopian
advocate of peace. The world is ad-
dressing itself to the very practical
question OF the improvement of the
international relations. Staggering
under the folly the waste, the dis.
grace of almost two billion dollars an
nually devoted to war budgets the
peoples of the earth are calling upon
their constructive statesmen to de-
wise practical methods for their be-
lief Their leader has appeared In
the person Of President Taft. Ration
al and practical and statesmanlike, he
proclaims the common sense doc
trine that in all essentials national
honor does not differ from individual
honor, national boundaries from pri.
vate boundaries, national claims Of
whatever sort from private claims of
whatever sort, and that just as the
private Individual throughout the civ.
ilized world has learned to submit to
judicial adjudication all his claims
and differences albeit they involve his
honor, his fair name and all that he
holds most dear, so nations must
abide the adjudication OF an interna-
tional arbitral court in every issue
which cannot be settled by negotia-
tons. AS the Jay treaty ushered in
the modern era of international ar.
bitration so President Taft heralds
the dawn of the day of the judicial
adjudication of all international diff.
ferences.
II Is our duty as we'll as our high
privilege as nation to show at this
time our faith in the movement, our
sincere desire for its success our pro
found confidence In our leader and
our absolute approval OF his brave
declaration. II is our opportunity Il
give Irresistible momentum to the
movement by showing our unalterablC
belief in the invioability of treaty oh
legations In this Goth century. It Is
our opportunity to aid In the creation
OF world public opinion so stronf
that Il will dominate the next Hague
conference and compel united actor
upon this momentous subject II Il
our opportunity to promote the estab
llshment OF international right, inter
national Justice, international equal
d ity and thereby to hasten the lastinl
peace OF God. We have neutrallzet
the great interoceanic highway nov
approaching completion, Let us b.
our action show our sister natlon
that We did so in the confident assur
ance that agreeing TO the just AM
d reasonable and already tried rule
therefore they would outlaw that ma
ton which should disregard the obi
cation thus imposed upon t. The
b. the word will Join hands for It's pre-
!. lection; its safety will be guarar
}. teed forever and forevermore. AM
as the first ship passes through tn
great highway Of peace, all the ma
lions, congratulatlng us upon our sue
\ cessful achievement and expressln
their appreciation OF our contribute
{ to commerce and to civilization wi
}. exclaim.
,. The canal, make way;
Make way for the canal.