The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1907-1917, 1912-10-10

Canal Act. The Berlin press
seem willing that England should
fight her own controversial battles
and pull her own cbestnuts out Of
the fire. Germany is not bound to
ethe United States by any Hay
Pauncefote Treaty and is not in
clined to challenge us to a CONNER
cial rivalry. Germany's real com
petftor in the Pacific is England, but
their competition can not be fnfiu-
enced by the rate of Panama tools.
Nevertheless the Vossische Zeitung
(Berlin), while acknowledge this,
feels bound, as an organ of respecta-
bic bourgeoisie, to preface the re-
mark that ''this is wolly Englands's
affair." by flying into a rage against
the United States. This is that petu-
lance which sometimes appears in
the columns of demure organ, and
has earned for it the name of
"Aunty Vcss.' While it is stated in
the London press and in British poll
tical circles, according to this paper,
that Lord Grey will demand that the
question be referred to the Hague
Tribunal, and while the rumor is
"coolly'' received by the United
States, which, we are told, "will re-
fuse to place the question before the
Arbitration Board" the Vossische
Zeitung remarks:
This procedure harmonizes in all
its unrighteous brutality with the
usual practise and proceeding OF that
American policy of which it is the
logical outcome. This policy is based
on might, not right, and extends to
the business methods of financial
and trust magnates, while it is es-
pecially exhibited in American deal
ings with foreign nations. The I'm
ion in this matter is led merely by
self-interest which, treaty or no trea-
ty, demands the safeguarding Of her
water communications from one
home port to another against the
overwhelming competition of foreign
companies. Then, it is averred, the
interest of the immense sum sunk in
the canal is by no means trifing,
while the canal must be looked upon
as not only convenience for trade,
but has been built also as a bulwark
of strength to the State. Americans
will endure the consequences of this
attitude with serenity, and they pro-
coed to say that times have very
much changed since the conclusion
of the Hay-Pauncefote Treaty, that
at present the largest part of Span
ish Central America has become a
sphere of United States influence
and the rapid development of things
is tending to the establishment of a
single political domination over the
unbroken coast-line from the Panama
Zone to the frontier of the United
States. This means, whatever house
you enter you have a right to call
your own"
Looked at from a point of view in
which right and wrong are kept out
of sight, this is excellent, ironically
declares the Vossiche, which goes on:
"This was not always the way in
which these matters were regarded,
especially a year ago, when the craze
for an arbitration tribunal seized
upon the nations. 1t was then that
at the prompting of Taft and Knox
a beautiful scheme was Matched, by
which all disputes between England
and America should be decided at
The Hague. AS is well
known, this fuit of Paradise has not
been destined to attain ripeness as
yet. In the first important differ
ence between the two Anglo-Saxon
nations every one acknowledges the
one-sideL4e of the American atti-
tude. 1t is boldly proclaimed,
4