Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1914-04-15

yours. But however much one may admire
the individual and respect the Office, no one
but the bhndest partisan, or one who has
given the matter no thought, can have the
slightest respect for the foreign policy of his
administration - especially in Mexico. In
deed it can't be properly called policy at all,
because ii is unintelligible and aimless.
The Mexican policy of the administration
has excited the surprise and contempt of
European countries. We have lost respect
in the family of nations. We are now drifting
without sail or rudder. England won't stand
another outrage like the killing of Benton
and will take the matter in her own hands.
Then where are WEI 1t looks in Washington
as if England had our administration in
hole. Apparently she has taken advantage
OF the situation, and said to the President,
KINDLY have your Congress reverse Its action,
giving your coastwise vessels a right to go
| through the Panama canal free, and we will
keep out of Mexico"
PANAMA CANAL TOLLS.
1t is pitiful when President comes to Con-
gress and pleads for the giving up of rights
in a ditch we dug with our own money-soO
million dollars Of it on our own land, and
says if you don't do it, boys shall not know
what to do about some foreign complications
that are bothering me. This sounds like
in the House followed him like sheep. 1t
! looked to me that most of them had their
| eyes fixed on the pie-knife instead of on the
| flag.
| when the democrats put in their platform
/ that bold and patriotic plank favoring free
/ lOIls lOr AutrlChu SHIPS III our own Gtnals
that we would have an administration and
majority party in Congress, which would de-
| liberately go hack on their own platform and
surrender our right to England for fear that
| she would interfere with our policy in
Mexico, which is so rctten that it smells to
| Heaven in every civilized country In the
! world?
| Congressman Peters went at length into
ths' canal tolls discussion, quoting the
clause from the HayPauncefort treaty,
under which the claim of England is set
| up, and giving authorities on both sides in
the controversy. Continuing, he said:
| Admit that the scales are about evenly bal
| anced as to authorities. Put 1t this way
| which no one Questions-that there great
| authorities on both sides of the question of
4 Interpretation. What is the layman, what is
| the ordinary citizen, what is the average con-
| scientious member of Congress, going to do?
| answer that he has splendid opportunity,
| justi6able right and solemn duty to vote
| for the American side of the question.
! The President is an idealist. He is great
scholar and writes beautiful English, but he
| is not rough and tumble enough He would
| be sure to be cheated in a horse trade. These
! English diplomats have taken advantage of
him. They have played upon his high sense
| of honor and certain lack of horse sense,
| and unduly used him for their own advantage.
PROGRESSIVE PRINCIPLES.
| As the progressive party stands with the
| republicans in opposition to theories in ma
| tional legislation held by the democrats, it
| is up TO their leaders and their candidates to
show the voters why they should have sepa-
| rate candidates for representatives to Com
| gress, as the obvious result may be to elect
| men who are not truly representative of the
sentiment Of the people.
Speaking for the moment of national issues,
| If voters who think alike are asked to divide
| their strength and vote for different candi-
dates, they are entitled to a good reason to go
| with the request-not fanciful reason, not
vituperatlop, but a sound, serviceable, day
light reason, that you can understand the
first time you read it and that will standaalone
without being propped up by capital letters.
thew
| actlonary, stationary and not progressive.
That is perfectly good reason, if it is true.
After the great problems following the war
were settled, we came twenty years ago, to a
period OF great industrial advance The re-
| viyal and expansion of business brought with
| it new problems for solution. What attitude
has the republican party taken? Referring
only to few of the great measures, passed by
the republican party to meet the new condi-
! tions and protect the rights of the people, we
| remember the Interstate Commerce commits
sion, and laws on the same subject, which
| marked new point OF advance in legislation
distinctly for the people as against the powe r
| of corporations. The Sherman antitrust law,
! which is praised by President Wilson. The
| laws against rebates and the law providing
for the physical valuation of railroads Laws
in the interest of social and industrial Justice,
like the safety appliance law, the law limit
ing the hours of service of train employees,
the e1ght-hour law upon public works, the
| child-labor law for the District OF Columbia,
and the creation of the childrens bureau.
| Laws bringing the government closer to the
people, like the amendment providing for
| election of United States senators by the
people, and the law compelling publicity of
campaign funds and limiting the amount.
Poetal savings banks and parcel post repre-
| sent the most advanced legislation.
These are all practical laws for the better
ment OF the people. The party was alive to
| new conditions and proceeded in a sober bust
ness-like way to meet them. These laws have
| stood the test of time. They not only repre-
| sent progressive ideas, but they are sound.
In the multitude of propositions put mp to