The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1912-10-05
AMERICAN vIG0R SCORES

After months and years Of more or
less lily disguised opposition. much dip
lomatic sword play and not little open
threatening, the powers Of Europe have
at last oapitulated and now agree that
the attitude Of the United States in it's
relation to the Panama canal not only
should, but does meet universal ap-
proval. American vigor is commended
in the European press for the success Of
the tremendous undertaking now near.
ing completion. Even the imposition
Of tolls and the regulation OF the passage
Of commerce and the navies of foreign
countries. is openly commended and ac-
quiesced In.
Time was, and not so very long ago,
when 1t looked as though the rights Of
the government Of the United States to
protect and prescribe rules for the use
OF its own property might be disputed
and an appeal taken to the arbitral court
at The Hague. Our friends across the
water. who had seen Uncle Sam delib-
erately and intelligently performing g
task which all the nations Of the world
had hoped some day to see accomplished.
became suddenly possessed OF desire
to share equally in all the benefits to be
derived. They began to realize that the
completion of the canal would necessi.
| tate greater notifications Of established
systems Of foreign commerce than were
forced by Suez. They realized that no
greater change could have taken place
had Nature shifted the course of her
trade winds.
One London journal refers to the
canal as the crowning achievement Of
American force and enterprise. 1t adds
this most significant paragraph: 1.-THE
best minds Of the British empire are
concentrating upon the commercial
revolution which is imminent, in order
that. irrespective OF the willingness of
Americans to arbitrate concerning tolls,
we may use the new waterway TO the
full and may begin to use IL the day II
is opened"
In the Senate of the United States,
few months ago. when the actual cri-
sis in the affairs Of the canal was
reached. q strong tendency was appar-
ent. voiced by the opponents of the ad-
ministration, to yield to the demand of
foreign nations regarding tolls and the
right to fortify. On July 10, Senator
W. A. Massey, Of Nevada. speaking
upon the bill providing for the opening.
maintenance. protection and operation
Of canal, took this sentiment as his text:
1--WE own the Panama canal and the
territory through which it Is con-
structed." 1t was Senator Massey's
maiden speech in the Senate, but in it
he struck the keynote and won many
warm words of commendatiou. The
final vote on the bill showed that HE
clear cut aud incisive argument had its
effect.
Senator Massey approached the sub.
ject from the standpoint Of a master of
international law. He showed himself
thoroughly familiar with past battles in
the framing and signing of Anglo.
American treaties. His mastery Of the
situation carried the force of conviction.
He dealt with the acumen Of trained
advocate with great Britian's effort to
seek protection behind the Hsy-Paunce.
fote and the Clayton. Bulwer conven
tions, establishing the unequivical con-
clusion that the great waterway as laid
out and constructed did not come within
the purvlew of any of the provisions of
either OF those compacts. Dealing with
the right of sovereignty. Senator Mas.
sey said:
"Now, just one word about sovereign
", SO far as the canal is concerned. l
have heard disputed upon the floor of
this chamber the character Of authority
that we have in Panama upon the line
of the canal. / call the attention Of the
Senate to the expressed words in the
treaty Wnicn are an aosoluto kians Va
power, and not only of power but of ter.
ritory, in so far as the strip Of country
included within the boundaries men.
toned in that treaty is concerned. Not
only that, but words OF exclusion were
used in one of the paragraphs Of that
treaty which intended to convey and
did convey 80 far as the authority OF the
American nation was concerned, sover'
eighty to the exclusion of Panama; and
there can be no limitation upon that
sovereignty In the treaty except such
limitations as would protect property
then held in private ownership and the
rights of citizens then upon the Isthmus
of Panama.