The Irish standard., 1912-10-05
tinction between the government that

se<i the nations observing such
rutas co enjoy entire equality, one
with another. We are not bound b.;
the terms imposed upon others, ex-
cept to see that no discrimination
shall be practiced among those others
with respect to the use of the canal.
6. There can be no discrimination"
where there is no interference can be
no competition between our coastwise
shipping and foreign vessels; this isl
a result of our shipping laws CEN
tury old. And therefore, in that re-
spect alone, there will be no violation
of the treaty.
Z. If the government OF the Unitei
States be considered as embra ced
within the words "all nations" rher
these absurd and mischievous conse-
quences would follow: a. We must
pay ourselves tolls for the passage of
our own war vessels through our owa
canal; b. The rule against blockading
will apply to us, with the result that
the canal will be left open as a means
of transit for the war vessels of our
enemy bent upon doing destruction
upon our coasts; C. We cannot re-
victual or supply our vessels with
stores in the canal; d. We cannot
embark or disembark our troops Or
munitions Of war.
The senator was no less forcotul
and impressive in his treatment Of
the economic phase of the subject in
volved in the provision excluding from
the canal vessels owned by railroad
companies, his remarks possessing
just at this time a peculiar interest.
1--WE believe" said he, that fcee
tolls make for cheap food-for ulti-
mate benefit to the consumer. We
want through that canal the highest
and best development of competi-
ton. We are against the railroad
organizations Of this country placing
their hands upon that canal and
making it a part of their corporate
assets. We believe the canal is but
an extension Of our national nigh
way. Although we have spent as
! have said, upward of 10000, 600
in the construction of that canal, we
have spent much more than that
sum in the development of the wa
terways of this country during the
past fifty years. We have not bcen
taxed as citizens of the United
States for making use of the in
creased facilities of our national
highways. Unless there is some yea
son for abandoning that policy we
owners of American ships, to make
use of this extension of our coast
line without subjecting them to a
tax which would be entirely incon-
sistent with the policy of the govern
ment in the past"
That the distinguished speaker
entertained doubt of the bona fdes
of the British notes of protest, and,
to use a homely phrase, scented a
niger in the woodpile," is evident
from the following observations:
Il do not believe" said our sena-
tor, Great Britain is much con-
cerned as to whether we allow Amer
lean ships to go through the canal
without the payment Of toll or not
believe, however, that the rail-
roads of the United States have been
enabled to secure the corporation
of the British Foreign Office to en-
barrass this government in the at
tempt we are now making for whole
some legislation to keep railroad-con-
trolled ships off the canal, that COM
petition may live and thrive and that
this national enterprise shall not be
handed over to the railroad organiza-
tions of the United States"
A minor though not the least
notable, feature of Senator O'Gor-
mans participation in the moment
Gus debate was the unfailing cour-
tesy, composure and readiness of re-
tort with which the senator met the
many Interruptions and interroga-
tions with which his address was
punctuated by his colleagues on tho
floor Senator OGormans bearing
in this respect was more that of th-
seasoned veteran upon the national
field than of one but recently trans
lated from the judicial office. In the
event. as is now not unlikely, that the
issue between England and the United
States shall find it's way to The Hague,
it would seem imperative that the
Hon. James A. O'Gorman be designated
to represent the interests of this
country before that august tribunal.
He-DOes a woman when she's mar.