Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-08-19
The Panama Canal Is the
Property of the United States
A Democratic Congress Should Not Permit
England to Dictate How We Shall Con-
troll Our Domestic Possessions.

right of England to interfere entirely
money ENTIRELY IN OUR TERRITORY.
provisions of the conference report the Canal
bill passed Friday by the WELL notably
First The granting American coastwse vessels of
ton from tolls
Second Admitting to American registry foregn-bui
owned by Americans.
Third Prohibiting raway-owned steamships of
canal.
Forbdding of canal by vessels engaged in trade
in violation of the Sherman law
But in the main thing, which is the recognition of the Amer
right control American canal the house has failed
terly.
American engaged foreign denied
free tolls by the house puy few. The difference in the
would slight such ships admitted free As
business it trifng. AS PATRIOTISM 1T IS MOMENTOUS
The Democrats had already denied the country
navy they surrender the countrys right its pos
policy of abandoning the abandoning the Philip
pines abandoning the Panama canal abandoning everything
the political jobs that its adherens have managed policy
of poor patriotism and small Americansm
The question of right operate the canal that been
dug by American money through territory much American soil
Alaska New York great the Venezuela question which
Cleveands splendid patriotic action such for all
his faults his history great
American Presidents
The canal domestic possession In his message of De
cember 81 1911 President Taft points 1--WE the
money right charge tolls
for its use And Mr. Taft be it said to his credit has from
contended that the for Americans
should he found to give American ships whether in the
other trade the right the from
weak knees by dead and abandoned treaty the Democrats
have taken action utterly unworthy of pledged
carry out the will of patriotic people.
The Cayton-Bulwer treaty, the argument used o
brighten the house weakngs by the British British lobby at
Washington of questionable value, exhibit in
And the Hay Pauncefote treaty in stead
expressly oms the the Cayon-Bulwer agreement
which restricted the right of Americans deal
then still to be dug-as they chose
When this treaty pending Mr. Hearst fearing that an
attempt would be made to interfere with the rights of the United
the House of Representatives permitted them
to be nterferd wthsen to Washington corps correspon
for the the Objectionable
clauses The fight made The clauses And
years later dead and dried treaty dragged from muv
pigeonhoe cited argument Britain should
have the rights canal built by the American people as
the American people themselves!
Tamely submit this kind the rights of Amer
citizens wholly This newspaper begun and
WILL CONTINUE persistent fight for the in the bill
of the clause admitting all American vessels ofree
In the meantime write to your Congressman be he a
Republican. Tell him that you American and
you want him be least, like Tell him
YOUR paid for the canal and you ships flying YOUR
flag to use it,
persistent about it. and perhaps YOU can
persuade him that American sentiment important
far he Is concerned than British and the argu
that advanced by socaed American interests
that controlled by British sentiments.
is worthy of note that in the of the canal in
the matter of bateshps, the acted bravey wisely
The Republican president the United advocacy
free tolls set an example for Democratic house which would
have done better to follow But though every possible argument
only from patriotic but from point of view
has been laid before the house at the
close of the session has been the elimination of series political
mistakes which justify the cynical opinion President Grant
pressed of the party years
ions On the side the American people foreign
which has sought to be the every quarter
the globe and which has succeeded whenever might right
and met with weaker nation
The canal is our domestic possession It has been b,i OK
cluvey by The negotiations that led up possession of
which the canal runs was bought by the United States and can
will