The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-01-25
AMERICANS MUST KEEP FAITH
ROOT DECLARES NATION PLEDG-
ED TO ARBITRATION.
New York Senator Claims United
States Is on Trial on This Canal
Question.

Washington, Jan. 21.-"Shall we in
form the world that the United States
is false to its agreements; false to it's
pledged word? Shall we have it made
known the world over that you must
look out for the United States or it
will get advantage Of you, that it Is a
state, cunning, slippery?"
With these vigorous denunciations
OF the attitude Of this country in the
Panama canal controversy with Great
Britain Senator Elihu Root closed a
two-hour speech in the senate today
with an appeal for the submission Of
the Panama question to arbitration
OF the repeal Of that section Of the
canal law that would give it free pas
sage to American coastwise ships.
Spueaking from the experience Of
n member Of President Roosevelt's
cabinet when the Panama canal zone
was purchased, and when over rs
American treaties were made with
foreign nations, Senator Root deliver
ed the most vigorous speech that has
been heard in the senate for some
time.
tor Brandegee will call a meeting
few days to take up Senator Roots
amendment Led by Senator'S Root
and Brandegee, both Of whom opposed
the original passage Of this provision,
a determined effort will be made at
this session Of congress to change the
law before it goes into effect at the
canal, so that the cause Of dispute
with Great Britain will be removed.
Senator Root declared the United
States would violate all it's pledges
and promises to the world; would be
guilty of false pretenses" in its ad-
vocacy Of arbitration and would pro-
claim itself Indifferent to national
honor and integrity If it refused to
submit to arbitration.
He declared free coastwise tolls to
American ships were illegal, unless
the same concessions were made to
foreign ships. The claim that the
United States had domestic rights over
the canal because it owned the canal
zone, constituted a violation Of the
express guarantee Of the United States
to Great Britain, he said
1T is not our territory except in
trust" he declared. Treaty or no
treaty we have long asserted that the
nations Of Central America had no
right to debar the world from it's
rights OF passage across the isthmus.
Upon that we based the justice Of our
entire action, which resulted in our
having the canal zone"
The United States had preached ar
bitration for years, Senator Root de-
clared. and had besought the nations
Of the world, in season and out of
season, to enter into arbitration agree
'A>AS iOA ehC ScllicIilcnl VI ali us
putes."
Are we Pharisees?" he cried. Have
we been false? Have we been pre-
tending in all long years of declara-
ton? Are we ready to admit now
that our country through it's presi-
dents and congress has been guilty of
false pretenses, Of humbug, Of talking
to the galleries to secure applause?
Because Of the interests do we propose
to falsify every declaration, every
promise. by the arrogant insistence
that we alone can determine the in
depreciation Of this treaty; that we
will refuse to abide by the treaty?
And is the game worth the can
uie! Is 1t worth our while to re-
main in position, to maintain which
we may be driven to repudiate our
principles, our profession and our
agreements for the purpose Of con-
ferring money benefit at the expense
OF the treasury of the United States
on the most highly and absolutely pro-
tected special industry in us-or coast
wise shipping?"