The Washington herald., 1914-03-27
THE OPEN FORUM.
Herald Reader Expresses His Wiews
on Canal Tolls Question.


To the Editor: The authorization or
diploma Of this great commonwealth to
transact the policies and intentions Of
It's people to foreign powers involves the
highest responsibility and excuses no
errors The office of the State Depart
ment is not properly concerned I'm originat-
ing policy or action toward a foreign
people. but must evolve manifestations
arising altogether out of, and dependent
upon. the laws of the United States, In
Guiding as primary part, its treaties
with foreign countries Inadequate to
meet all situations. such a rule Of con-
duct must Tor steadfast and continuous
service, be under the control and guild
ance Of superior intelligence governed
by a conscience Of rare sensibility.
Otherwise the ship OF state would be
in a troubled sea, fiounderinx without
compass or rudder. at the mercy of waves
Of popular commotion excited by winds
rom selfish irresponsible sources. No
such result may be feared when the helm
Is controlled by a thoughtful. con-
scientious, and patriotic citizenship for
whom the highest ideal OF government
alone sufices. and In whom any form
Of chicane or hint of double dealing In the
trusted offices OF the State would work
regret and shame.
A morning report from a great center
of the West informs us that "the bust
ness interests especially the manufactu--
ers. the coal shippers. the merchants and
employees Of all these. throughout West
ern Pennsylvania. West Virginia, Ken
| lucky. Ohio. Indiana and illinois, all
desirous and expectant OF extending their
trade with the Pacific Coast States via
the Panama Canal. are decidedly hostile
to the administrations position on the
, subject" and so there has been aroused
a sentiment that is sweeping through
the cities. towns and rural districts with
resistless force. strongly opposed to con-
ceding to any foreign power the slightest
claim to Interference with our domestic
commerce in any degree or in any form"
To an earnest citizen there does not
appear in this matter Of the Panama
Canal tolls any claim on the part Of a
| foreign government to interfere. but
there is a very serious anxiety that his
own government be found in all respects
faithful to its agreements and duties
| Hereunder. and honorable in all its
claims. When the people Of the United
States undertook to facilitate commerce
| throughout the world by making a short
waterway connecting the Atlantic and
Pacific Oceans across the Isthmus Of
Panama. was their purpose a selfish one7
1t does not so appear. for the records
are otherwise. And 4 Is not easy to
| imagine how. with such purpose. We
\ could invite foreign nations TO combine
with US in a Jubilee thereover. Surely
/ the business interests of the Mississippi
| Valley. which now seek advantage over
! the traders Of other countries would
| have fortified their monopolistic purpose
/ by securing sound title to the water
way.
| Modern civilization Is trade. and as
such under present aspects has an ex-
/ tremely selfish appearance The E-issis-
! sippi and Gulf States would no doubt
I be benefited by toll exemption. But the
| Pacific Coast and Atlantic Coast States
would not have the same advantage
How would this be remedied? And how
are the trades people of other countries
to meet this world change in commercial
COnditions7 Do the traders of the Misss-
! sippi valley care?
| Perhaps not-at least not now But
| seIfishness is Numerically opposed to
that humanity which should be the char
acteristic Of civilization. and. particular
| ly. should appear in the actions of this
great home for all the oppressed of all
! the world. Otherwise-on any other basis
] than true-sentimental II you like-ad-
/ herence to principles which are right in
the humanitarian sense, the government
of this country is liable to develop do
mestic features showing by their weak
and incongruous nature. great changes
in its widespread populations-that they
are falling in their hitherto united pur-
poses. that a competent administration
Of their union will soon be impractical
a Democratic administration impossible.
| No one is better aware than our
Democrat President or his State Secre-
| tary that there are already in view
| signs of weakness. and so their deter
mined front TO recover to the govern
ment that wise and consistent, just and
| honorable character which alone can
promise endurance to the administration
| or secure satisfaction to the American
mind. The sacrifice OF the highest prin-
| ciple in one instance indicates the liza
bility TO similar weakness in every di
rection. and so one easily reads between
\ the lines.
/ EDWARD W. ANDERSON.