The Detroit times., 1914-05-26

country have been aroused over what
may prove 20 be the surrender OF I'm
portant rights In the Panama canal
As purely economic matter. II is a
debatable question whether any
ships, foreign or domestic, should
pass through the Panama canal with
out paying TOLL The final settlement
OF this question may we'll be left 10
the verdict OF experience Should free
tolls for our coast-wlse ships fail TO
bring TO transportation the benefits
claimed, we can change this policy
az any time. But II We do change. the
change should be made for economic
and domestic reasons and not for the
reasons given by the president
The president came before con
gress and asked for the repeal OF the
free tolls provision I'm a iourminute
speech. He asked congress TO reverse
It's deliberate action OF two years ago
not for economic or domestic reasons
\ but because, as he said Everywhere
else the language of the treaty Is
given but one Interpretation and that
Interpretation precludes the exemp-
ton | am asking you 20 repeal
The president advised congress TO
reverse its action OF two years ago
out OF Difference TO the opinion OF
other nations. But other nations are
interested parties and would profit by
the English Interpretation OF the
! treaty.
But listen 10 what the president
said In this same speech little fur.
Their on. You can hardly imagine
such a sentiment coming from the
president OF the United States. He
said We ought 10 reverse our ac-
ton without raising the question
whether we were right or wrong. and
so once more deserve our reputation
for generosity
Can any blooded citizen or
Michigan give any reason why an i'm.
perial country like ours should re-
verse a former domestic policy OF our
government at the instance OF for
eign power without considering wheth-
er we were right or wrong?
The Mexican Situation.
THE policy OF the administration
in Mexico has undoubtedly brought
! its embarrassments We are in
volved In difficulties there from which
we Will not soon escape. The presi-
|
and whether IL is wise or unwise. the
country must stand by and see him
safely through whatever difficulties
must be encountered. Many people
ARE OF the opinion, however, that much
OF our trouble in Mexico has come
through our demand that President
Huerta must go. For many months
the two dominant figures in war-torn
| hQU A
Gen. villa. Gen. Huerta is said 10
have betrayed former President Ma
dero and then ordered or at least per-
mitted his execution. On this &C
count President Wilson refused 10
recognize the government OF which
Gen. Huerta became the head. Gen.
villa has been for Is years or more
an outlaw and highwayman, operat-
ing much after the fashion OF Jesse
James. A list OF his crimes covers
nearly page OF the Congressional
Record, and they run all the way
from cattle stealing to killing in all
its degrees. Whether IL was wise for
US to insist that President Huerta
must be eliminated from the situation
In Mexico, do not know. Time alone
can tell. But of one thing am con
WINGED and that is this--that in the
process Of eliminating President
Huerta this proud republic cannot az.
ford for single day to become the
ally Of Mexican outlaws and highway
men.
There is one other disquieting
thing about the situation in Mexico.
Growing out OF our policy there.
greatly fear that American citizen
ship may have lost some OF fits pres
f, tiee and because OF the failure OF our
government TO protect Americans in
Mexico, American life and American
property In other parts of the world
may be less secure. few days ago
500 American refugees arrived at New
Orleans from Tampico AS they sailed
into the harbor these 500 American
citizens cheered again and again the
Union Jack flying from the masthead
OF a passing British steamer They
cheered the British flag because in
Tampico IL had Afforded them protec-
ton which our own department OF
state had failed TO provide.
| Says Union viii Bring Victory.
81 want to say Just one thing more
before ! close. In 1912, for the sec
ond time in more than half a century,
our party was retired from power. IL
was not because the American people
preferred Democratic policies TO Re-
publican policies II was not because
there were more Democrats than Re-
publicans In the country. The trouble
IN 1912 was that We Republicans tried
to elect two presidents at once While
our party was strong IL could hardly
be expected to successfully perform
so remarkable a feat as that. BY di-
viding our forces we let the Demo
Gratis in. By uniting our forces we
will drive them out. This great con-
vention Is in itself a prophecy that
the Republican party will be speedily
returned TO power. Fifty years OF
achievement without parallel in the
history OF mankind Is our party's
guarantee for the future"
]