The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1914-04-17
HISTORY OF THE PANAMA
CANAL TOLLS
CONTROVERSY

More profound considerations are
involved in this canal controversy
than the mere exemption, or collec-
ton OF, tolls from American coast
wise Vessles. The economic phase OF
the question has been lost to sight
no longer do the disputants concern
themselves with debating the advant-
age or disadvantage of renting tolls
to our own merchant marine in the
local trade.
Whether we ought, or wish, to es-
tabllsh the exemption is not now an
issue; the strife has reached another
and more momentous battlefield. We
are deciding at Washington whether
we have the authority to provide that
exemption il we should wish to do
so; we are permanently determining,
tor today, tomorrow, and forever,
whether this stupendous American
enterprise shall remain under undis-
puted American control. Great Brit
ain, championed by President Wilson,
asserts this canal to be a great inter
national highway subject to the Gus
tomary usage of free navigation; Mr.
Wilson and His Majesty's govern
ment assume that the United States
gave this great boon to the world
just as the Almighty Himself opened
to mankind the great ocean lanes and
the highways of the salted seas, saws
the Salt Lake neutrality-suspicious..
1t is final judgment upon this grave
point that is being bitterly fought at
the national capital Anglomania UNI
der the tutelage Of President Of the
United States is pushing its outposts
further than it has ever attempted
since the second war for independence
the struggle of 18l2-was fought.
American sovereignty over the can
al cannot be challenged even by Great
Britain. The fundamental rights of
ownership, are individually ours. The
canal zone is our property, bought and
paid for; the waterway is our own,
planned and built, and financed By
American brains, energy and dollars;
our banner floats over it in token o
our political dominion, and it will be
maintained and operated, its upkeep
provided, from the United States
treasury. Every factor of ownership,
of control and of possession we hold,
unchallenged by anybody. >Why then,
are we asked by one of our own citi
zens, by the chief officer Of the re-
public, the defender of our institutions
and our liberties, to surrender that
which is ours?
Future at Stake.
Submission to Great Britain in this
matter of tolls forever stamps the
canal an international instead of an
American enterprise. Our only par
ticipation in its benefits would be
identical with that of other nations:
but to us alone is sardonically granted
the doubtful privilege of paying all
the expenses. Uncle Sam thus be-
comes an international Santa Claus.
garbed in the nondescript attire of
that generous patron saint, and the
subject for the illy-concealed gibes
of all the earth. When this exemp-
ton repeater is finally enacted, the
Monroe Doctrine, American pride and
prestige, and American advantage, will
be buried in a common and disgrace
full grave.
President Wilson's reasons for
seeking compliance with British de-
mands, and endurance Of British in
science, he has never frankly dis
closed. He spoke, it is true, OF the
economic mistake in tolls exemption,
but that is a purely domestic question
that has been eliminated; he declared
the exemption to be in plain con-
travention of the Hay-Pauncefote
treaty" a contention which Speaker
Clark easily demolished by citing a
recent supreme court decision that
awarded a similar issue in favor Of
the United States; he spoke of grave
and far-reaching questions" which
will be unfavorably affected if we per-
sist in the exemption, but he declined
to explain his intimation. Whether
his grape juice diplomacy has stupidity
involved us in an international diem
ma from which we can escape only by
deferring to England, one can but
conjecture; he did not say.
Complete Surrender.
Surrender in this instance means
surrender in all If the phrase in the
Hay Pauncefote treaty regarding
vessels Of all nations" is hereby CON
strued by Congress to include also the
vessels Of the United States, the canal
is lost to us forever. Economic adj
vantage, political sovereignty, the
pride of ownership will vanish only to
return in the guise of spectral ghosts
TO haunt American people as a bitter
memory Of their erring and cringing
weakness. The fertilization of the
canal zone, the employment of its
military availability in warfare, and
refusal of its use to battleships of
hostile nations all hinge Upon this
decision. No more significant issue
has confronted the republic since its
birth.
A neutral canal means neutral
canal zone; an international canal
zone-with Uncle Sam paying the bills
A neutral canal cannot deny its facili-
ties to any vessel, even that of an
enemy with anger in his heart and
arms in his hands. Repeal of this OK
emptiOn forever establishes the Drin-