The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1914-05-15
HONOR AND THE FLAG.

While the West Virginia delegation
In Congress have set their faces
against the repeal OF the act granting
free tolls through the Panama Canal
for the coastwise vessels OF the United
States. The Intelligencer has seen no
reason to change its first views on
this question. which hinges entirely on
the reading given the Hay-Pauncefotc
treaty. which. in national honor. com
pels = recession from the letter OF the
act granting privileges to certain
class OF vessels clearly debarred by
the provisions OF that convention.
However. the West Virginia members
of the House of Representatives have
viewed the question from an entirely
different angle. together with another
large element In that body. without
connecting Il with strict party afhIia-
lion.
Senator Nathan Con has taken the
same stand In the Senate. and gave
his reasons for his opposition to the
repeal bill. In his usual lucid manner.
in a speech he delivered before the
Senate last week. and which has Just
appeared in the Record in full. The
Intelligencer has no quarrel with these
representatives. for IL is in just as
goodly company as they are. Senator
COTS speech is remarkable for its
closing phrases in tribute TO "Old
Glory" and The lntelligencer gives
herewith the peroration OF his argu-
ment, because II so happily breathes
OF that loyalty and patriotism we all
can subscribe TO. Senator Con said:
Last summer. Mr.. President I found
myself In Naples, that beautiful. busy
port or the Mediterranean. I gazed
upon apparently n countless number OF
nags. floating from ships loading and
unloading wonderful cargoes. l saw
thousands OF men toiling In the work
that goes on day and night season In
and season out. I went. here. there. and
everywhere looking FOR nag that my
eyes were longing for but were not per-
United TO gaze upon, for I found 80 not
In all that multitudinous array OF ships
ana nags did not see vessel that car
But during one OF my visits along the
coast line OF that wonderful harbor. sd-
miring those magnificent quays where
the commerce OF the world Is landed and
exchanged. realized that something
was profoundly moving that great het-
erogeneous multitude. toiling that those
composing IL might live / did not un-
derstand u. could see nothing that
would account for q. At last / under
stood II. Work ceased. whistles blew
positions controliine a View 81 the S aIisy
harbor. OF the Mediterranean Sea a
great steamer II approaching. looked
my soul with joy. FOR IL was aItogetber
BEAUTIFUL and fair TO gaze upon. High
n an5 heating proudly. representing
our Union. the starry banner OF our
country, the nag among nags, the one
] had heard that flag cheered before.
but never. Nc. President, with wilder
enthusiasm than that motley crowd gava
az e. they shrieked at 81. they threw
Kisses at II they were deeply moved.
Mr.. President under such circum-
stances ones heart beats very loud and
ms pulses ore apt 20 run wild. such
tribute 20 his nag. such honor TO his
country. such recognition OF its great
ness and Its business Indicated that in
sll lands there H. Appreciation OF the
iact that among all nationalities ours
Is the hope OF civilization. and that there
one hag-your fiag. Mr.. President. our
nag my naE-that stands FOR All that
S worth living FOR. that speaks for Ali
mat y grand o. human thought and ali
that Vs. great o. human action. Glorious
? fNl.A NfHAl iI-AlUus u fnNN nag
the only flag Mr. President that
should control the destiny OF the grand
est grit that since God said. Let there
he light and there was light a nation
"a ever given 60 the nations OF the
world-the Panama Canal
No one disputes American control OF
the destiny OF the canal. None OF
the advocates Of repeal has ever sug.
sested the clouding OF our title Of
sovereignty over that magnificent en-.
terprise. The 1nteIligencer believes
that IN acknowledging our treaty obi
Eations our authority would be
strengthened instead OF weakened
We talk of the valor honor and glory
that the flag stands for. but are we