The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1914-04-22
wilson DEFENDED
BRYAN REVIEWS DISCUSSION OF
REPEAL OF FREE TOLLS.
Two PLANKS Conflict

Plank Should Not Dominate the
Larger Anti-Subsidy Declaration
and the Party History.
Secretary Bryan in statement
made public Sunday lengthily re-
views the Panama tolls question, and
in the course Of the statement de-
clares that the repeal of the tolls ex-
emption in the Panama canal act
"can not be construed to be con-
struction of the Hay-Pauncefote
treaty." but is "simply refusal on
the part of the United States to raise
that question in that way"
Mr.. Bryan discusses various fea-
lures of the subject-the limiting Of
debate in the House Of Representa-
tives, the Baltimore platform and the
effect Of repeal on the treaty. Claim
ing that the opponents of the repeal
had seized upon the charge that the
president was "surrendering to Eng
land", Mr.. Bryan declared that the
opposition to the repeal had attempt
ed to appeal "tc prejudice rather than
reason.
"What has Great Britain done," he
asked, "to justify the accusation that
she is trying to dictate to this coun-
try? She has simply called attention
to the terms of the treaty, and ask
ed for arbitration of the question of
construction, in case this government
differs from the British government
| in the construction to be placed upon
the language. The very men who are
so insistent upon constituting the
treaty to permit free tolls delayed
| for months the ratification of the
treaty with Great Britain because Of
their opposition to any arbitration Of
| the subject? In other words, they
construed the treaty to permit dis
elimination, and then objected to al
lowing any international court to ex-
press an opinion on the subject.
eff, as a matter Of fact, the treaty
grants the rights which Great Britain
claims, is it surrender to Great
Britain for our nation to repeal a
law that raised that question? The
repeal of the law can not be con-
strued to be a construction Of the
treaty. It is simply refusal on the
part Of the United States to raise that
question in that way. In the con-
troversy over the Welland canal, Can
ada withdrew a discrimination which
she had made in favor of Canadian
ships, in order that no cause for fric-
ton with the United States authorl-
ties in regard to the matter should
exist
"Why can not the United States
withdraw a discrimination for the
same reason? When the treaty in
volved was before the Senate for rat
lifcation an attempt was made to so
amend it as to permit a discrimina-
ton in favor Of coastwise vessels, but
1t was voted down by a decided ma
jority. With this record to support
them, is it strange that foreign ma
tions question our right to make an
exception in favor of American YES
sels?"
Discussing the presidents right to
expect the support Of congress when
ne deals with international questions,
Secretary Bryan adds: "The chief
executive speaks for the nation in in
ternational affairs, and it is only fair
to assume that he speafs adViseuly
when he declares that intercourse
with other nations is seriously en-
barrassed by the free tolls low which
he seeks to repeal.
eve occupy to-day a proud posi-
tion among the nations; we are the
foremost advocate Of peace and arbi-
tration; we are becoming more and
more a moral factor throughout the
world. Con we afford to surrender
this position? Can We afford to be-
little the great enterprise which has
reached it's consummation at the 18TH
mus? If our nation desires to be
measured by intellectual and ethical
standards, how unworthy to brag of
our strength and to threaten to use
that strength. we are ready to fight
does not arouse the enthusiasm now
that it did few centuries ago. Brute
force is not the level upon which this
nation settles its controversies to-
day.
"The question is not what we can
do but what We ought to do. The
path Of history is strewn with the
wreck Of nations that boasted that
they were all powerful. This ques-
tion must be decided on moral princi-
pies and not by the counting Of our
regiments and battleships. What
shall it profit a nation if it conquers
the whole world and loses its faith in
the doctrine that Righteousness exalt-
eth a nation?"
Mr.. Bryan was a member Of the
resolutions committee Of the Balti-
moe convention and his observations
on the platform constitute his first
utterance on the subject. Mr.. Bryan
argues that there are two planks in
the Baltimore platform, pertient to
the discussion, one which declares
the belief Of the Democratic party in
the encouragement Of the merchant
marine but states that it should be
developed without imposing addi-
tional burdens upon the people and
without bounty or subsidies from the
public treasures, and second
plank declaring in favor Of the ex-
emption from tolls of American coast
wise ships. Mr.. Bryan declares that
the opposition to bounties is doc
trine "for which the Democratic
I.a,{,- hoe .{ooE frop, fi,po in, n, an, o