The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-05-08
SPEECH IN
SENATE OPENS The
CANAL TOLLS FIGHT
Senator O'Gorman Attacks Ad-
ministration, Declaring 1t
Was the Breaking Of Party
Pledges.

WASHINGTON. May TT should
prefer to stand with the president but
I have never bolted a Democratic can
didate, nor a Democratic platform
and | do not intend now 10 take my
place with the regulators of parte
pledges. a platform pledge is either
the plighted word of men of honor, or
a shifting. dishonest pretense to- mis-
lead A confidinE electorate
These were the words Of Senator
O'Gorman. chairman Of the inter-
oceanic canal committee. in summing
r1trt5tt-t-- I! = "a
tolls repeal bill in the senate today,
Mr.. o'Gorman spoke f2r three hours
and his address was acknowledged
even by the supporters OF the bill, ta
have been one of the a best heard in
the senate in long time
Senator Rristow described il ON the
floor as speech that would rank WITH
any made in the senate in years.
When we talk of national honor
said Mr.. O'Gorman, IN the course Of
his address. we may he suspected af
insincerity if we do net recognize that
violated party pledge is the rankest
kind Of political perddity We surely
owe at least the same good faith tn
the American people that NE profess
20 feel Tor foreign nation
Ni~con~true Offiec,
Those who say we must act be-
cause the president so advises have an
erroneous conception ~ the senatorial
office They forget our powers and
responsibilities as we'll as the hnita-
ton imposed by the constitution on
the executive. We are too important
a branch of the government Ia allow
our action to be controlled by the re-
quest. caprice or iictation of any ether
branch OF the governments The piesl-
dent is discharging his duty as III sees
IT, He has his duties 70 perform under
the constitution and ! have mine
at is said that our national honor
is affected. and that right or wrong.
we should accept the claim Of Great
Britain. Since when haze We become
SO weak that we dare not assert our
national rights?
Are we to abandon the Monroe
doctrine when every sentiment Of the
American people calls for lts main
tenancea Must we cover before the
mailed fist and give the first Manifesto
ton Of national decline No Hattan
can respect another that does not re-
speet itself When have we become so
feeble that we cannot retain adNan-
tages of our own Have we NOT the
same right that England has TO place
our own Interpretation on the treaty
and support il by reason and pre-
wrong we should submit Whence
came these standards in the affairs
Of nations England has never az
piled them IN herself.
Il know there is a vague suspicion
that diplomatic reasons require this
national abase ment. but my judgment,
matureIy formed. and based upon spch
information as is available Is that the
gravity of our international relations
has been grossly. though unconscious
ly. exaggerated. The American people
want peace, but they fear no power
on earth. Shadows cannot disturb a
brave man They should not alarm
brave and intrepid people. A ma
ton worthy the respect az the wofla
cannot reiin9Hish sovereign rights
under threat from = foreign power,
"Subservience and shame Will never
elevate a nation, or win her respect
National safety cen he secured Only
hy firnness and dignity Yield once
to unjust demands and you will he
called upon tex resist fresh eNactlonS'