The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1914-03-19
resident Wilson's
Canal Tolls Speech.
0mnents by >ir. George kustis of Wash
naton, D. c.

0mmen.s by NJ George kustis of Wash
inaton, D. c.
7s5ju, iron he Washington Post, March 7.
1914
EDITOR POST: President Wilson's
e.ssge. Thich ne read to Congress yes
rf5y. Is most sentimental COMMUNE
u0l. i, which the President assumes
At he IS Speaking for the American
mn. nor 80 much in their personal in
rests aut as regards their honor and in
grjy He states that he has no inten-
N to urge his personal views,' but
a he o7ly wishes to put forth a fact
A 3 stuationl The "fact" probably
sanrg that a treaty was made, but the
itlau9n IS that the meaning of the
satg rot ye. been fully decided on
the American people at large. Ger
n.y theig representatives are at vari-
&c or the interlreta ton of this treaty.
rme p ST. lent Taft, Mr.. Knox, Mr..
amber Anderson, and Mr.. Huntington
lls9o ~ th- asst administration were on
g silt IS opposed to Mr.. Root and Mr..
dgs DR. the other. In the present ad-
nis,TstIon We see the Democrats equal
div Il, and therefore it is only fair to
sur -1gt the question is not, and has
4 BEEN b. any means settled as to its
gr,s III wrongs, if we leave out senti-
.tr President Wilson states that
49, roo big, 100 powerful, too self
sg-etiag nation TO interpret with too
.aa5 ~ roo refined reading the
]r.s o. eJt own promises, just because
sbava poHer trough to give US leave
re them as We please"
BEGGING THE QUESTION.
Tfs statement II the Presidents begs
2 question entirely, as it has absolutely
MN 1 10 with the merits OF the case
ID Is sim..y IN appeal to what he Is
easel ~ caa our sense of Justice. ~
nay be njerprated, 100. as feeling
weakness on his part and the knowl-
gs that IT, nos a bad case, especially
her II is coupled with the end of his
essay, n which he asks Congress fer
ltF tor me support of the foreign
,1cy If tie administration and goes on
say ha, If they do not give him support
tals matter he will not know how to
"a with matters of greater delicacy
ID nearer consequence that may arise
the future This is all very remark
DE English, and as before stated, ex
emeIy stntimer tai. But what has it to
with the case? Is the President afraid
lat the British government will force
L HAND In Mexico if he doesn't support
he repeal of the free toll bill, or is he
lfa1 that if the free toll passage is al.
wed to stand the British government
VII enforce their demands? AS to Mexi-
=, the President. and his able assistant,
n Bryan, should know more about it
lsA any one else OH account o. their
ne conference with Sir Lionel Garden
na Inc British Ambassador.
PUBLIC APPARENTLY NOT AFRAID.
But the public at large does not seem
: be afraid of English Intervention in
asI quarter. AS to the Panama Canal
" British government stated particu-
MY that it would not 'insist" on the
'tpeal of that provision of the Panama
ana act Of August "a, 1912, which ex-
@lplS vessels engaged in coastwise trade
~ IAe United States from payment of
yls foT the reason that the Panama
ANA is American territory, thus &C.
= nowledgng that while they did not like
" Tree toll bill they saw no sufficient
Jason Why they should do more than
'TIa !. object to it.
II Is very evident that.th whole ques-
~ %a Dolls itself down to the fact as to
sDelhef or not the Isthmus of Panama
bo Dola hue American territory, and the
'uoye statemet of the British govern
Lsl't and toe statement of the President
ff'lpr'sed IL the words "coastwise trade
I, 'ne United States" seems to settle
nv nv a'Jef most definitely. Every coun-
H. H. noIh lime immemorial-when it had
rso po"er-has regulated its coastwise
fsra ae ana mas never allowed any inter-
, lasoee herewith, and for that reason
StstG. II would appear that the United
Ia d;.' would not wish to allow any nation
i b o to her about the management
nao rei own private affairs. 1t is hardly
TO add that since the treaty OF
bs u,ela N Is, 1901, was made conditions
'nafged considerably.
n, BONA FIDE CoAsTwIsE TRADE.
sO aaf property concerned is now &C.
h. TTITeaged to be, by the President of
srnm on.'ea States and the British gov
lss MEN, e' American territory. A canal
! n pSeh quilt with American money and
,assi ,usf American control, and a ship
POrt through this canal from New
~ y u touching at any foreign port, would
WIKI aged in bona fide coastwise traffic,
gorlS d u ' not concern any nation in the
ern uhiess that nation wishes to con-
uerself In the matter. The British
her. n n stated from the first that
an sh would be no objection to Ameri-
anal H. y passing through the Panama
'e'hg subsidized BY the govern