The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1914-04-14
FREE TOLLS WRONG,
DECLARES MR.. BRYAN
Secretary of Sat Ably Defe nds
Wilson'S Canal Policy
NOT CATERING TO ]. BULL.
says IL Nation Arrays Itself Against
World 1t Should Consider Well
the Cost.

Bryan, in statement made public
today lengthily reviews the Panama
tolls question, and in the course of
the statement declares Lblt the re-
peal of the tolls exemption iu the
Panama Canal Act cannot he con-
structed to be a construction 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-
dves, the Baltimore platform and
the effect of repeal on the treaty.
Claiming that the opponents of
the repeal had seized upon the
charge that the President was sur
rendering to England" Mr. Rryan
declared that the opposition to the
repeal had attempted to appeal to
prejudice raSher than to REASON"
MOT Altering TO BRITAIN.
What has Great Britain done" he
asked, Ito justly the accusation that
she is trying to dictate to this coun-
try? She has simply called attention
10 the terms of the treaty, and asked
for arbitration Of the question of con
struction, in case this Government
differs fro mthe British Government
n the constructor to be placed upon
the language upon constrTCtrE the
treaty to permit free tolls DELAYED
for months the ratification OF the
treaty with Great Briti3n because OF
their opposition to any arbitration NJ
the subject. In othe' words, they
constructed the treaty 20 permit a. s.
elimination, and then objected TO al
lowing any international court to ex-
press an opinion on the subject If.
as matter of fact, the treaty grants
the rights which Great Britain
claims, is 1t surrender to Great
Britain for our nation to repeal
law that raised that question? The
repeal OF the law cannot be construct
ed to be construction of the treaty.
1t Is simply a refusal on the part Of
the United States to raise that qLes-
ton In that way. In the controversy
Ger the Velland Canal Canada with
drew discrimination which she
had made In favor Of Canadian ships
In order that no cause for friction
with the United States authorities in
regard to the matter should exist
-. WHAT IS THE BARRIER.
Why cannot the United States
withdraw discrimination for the
same reaon? When the treaty invol-
ved-was before the Senate for ra Ii
fcation an attempt was made to so
amend 1t as to permit a discrimina-
tion in favor of coastwise vessels but
it was voted down by a decided major
ity. With this record to support
them, is it strange That foreign ma
tons question our right TO make an
exception in favor of American
vessels?"
Discussing the Presidents right to
expect the support of Congress " hen
he deals with international questions
Secretary Bryan adds:
THE Chief Executive speaks sor
the nation International affairs and
1t is only fair to assume that he
speaks advisedly when he declares
that intercourse with other nations
is seriously embarrassed by the free
tolls law, which he seeks to repeal
A PROUD POSITION.
We occupy today a proud position
among the Lailons we are tho fore
most advocate of peace and arbitra-
ton we are becoming more and more
a moral factor throughout the worlC.
Can we afford TO surrender this posi-
ton? Can we afford 70 believe the
great enterprise which has reached
its consummation at the Isthmus? III
our nation desires to be meaAured
by intellectual and ethical standards.
how unworthy to brag OF our streng-
tn and to threaten to use that streng-
tn. We are ready to tight, does not
arouse the enthusiasm now that IL
did few centuries ago. Brute force
Is not the level upon which this ma
ton settles its controversies today.
The question is not what we can do.
what we ought TO do. The path CT
history is strewn with the wreck Cf
nations that boasted that they were
all-powerful. This question must
be decided on moral principles, and
not by the counting of our regi-
ments and battleships. What shall
1t profit a nation IL II conuuers the
whole world and loses its faith ia the
doctrine thai righteouness eXa eth
a nation?"
MEMBERS OF THE COMMIT TEE.
Mr. Bryan was a member nf the res
olutions committee of the Baltimore
Convention and his obsecyeticaS on
the platform constitute his frst ut
terance on the subject .dr. rrNan ar
CUES that there are two planks in the
Baltimore platform, pertinent 10 the
discussion, one which declares the
belief of the Democratic party I'm
the encouragement of the merchant
marine, but states that IL should be
developed without Imposing a1dit-
ional burdens upon the people ard
without bounty or subsidies from the
public treasures" and second
plank declaring in favor of the ex-
emption from tolls of American