The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1914-05-16

in opposition to the repeal of the
free tolls law, and no speech yet de-
livered on that side. of the question
has received such close attention.
The galleries were filled to overflow
ing. and numbers of members of the
House of Representatives came over
to hear the address.
The New York senator's promi-
nence In the controversy is based
upon several things. He is chairman
of the committee of interoceanic ca
nails. is on other questions in cordial
agreement with the president and at
Baltimore was an influential men,
Der Of the platform committee which
reported to the democratic national
convention the plank favoring the
exemption of American coastwise
shipping from canal tolls. Moreover
he is one of the ablest men in the
senate-and good fighter.
Mr.. O'Gorman discovered no
ground in international law which
would forbid exemption of Ameri-
can coastwise ships from toll pay
ment, saw behind the repeal move
ment the hand of the railroads, and
declared that a failure to impose a
tax could not be called subsidy.
The senator said: I'VE owe no
debt Of gratitude to England. We
exist as nation not because of her
friendship, but in spite of her hostil-
ity. If we owe her any expression of
gratitude it is that which liberty
owes to tyranny fos opportunity
the opportunity to wiring from op-
preston permanent separation and
a glorious independence.
This bill is misnamed. 1t should
be entitled "A bill to exalt British
commerce and destroy American
shipping or "A bill to expand the
glory of the British empire and hu-
initiate the United States Senators.
when think of the greatness Of this
nation, of it's vast natural resources.
its plains and valleys golden with
the harvests that feed the world, it's
tremendous commercial and indus
trail centers, its ore-ribbed noun
tains, and, above all, its mighty army
of liberty-loving people. and when 1
contemplate what its genius and its
sacrifices have done for The enlight-
eminent of mankind. am not sur
prised that the American people
stand aghast at the proposal that we
yield supine obedience to mon
archy beyond the sea.
IF the congress of the United
States is to vote blindly with regard
to great public questions. trusting
alone to the executive. and acting
on his judgment, whether right or
wrong, we invite danger which
may involve this great country In
grave peril. and which may at any
time produce national catastrophe.
I'm a contest between my country
and a foreign government I shall
take my place with my own people.
l shall be just to them before l be-
come generous to those who would
invade our national rights. We are
sent here to protect American rights
and not to sustain foreign agrees
sions. We have no mandate to bar
ter away national rights.
THE treaty." said he. must stand
or fall as whole. Under the doc
trine recognized by the British gov
eminent, the treaty is imperative as
to the newly acquired territory OF
the United States. and the canal con-
cructed on American territory at
Panama is no more affected by the
Hay-Pauncefote treaty than would
be a canal built across any other
mart offthe soil of the United States.
The senator, in conclusion. declared
that the provision of the treaty that
the canal shall be free and open TO
the vessels of commerce and war OF
all nations" cannot be interpreted TO
include coastwise ships, because YES
sells of commerce have been defined
as those engaged in international
trade"