Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-03-31
Tuesday, March 81, 1914.
A National Humiliation.


gress is likely to give enactment to a
British diplomatic Interpretation of the
Hay Pauncefote treaty. If this act
were not surrending, for all time,
rights vitality affecting this nation
without attempt to settle through
diplomatic channels; if it were not ac-
cepting the selfish Interpretation of
British commercial interests in the
face of contrary analysis and conclu-
sion by the London Law Review, the
highest authority in legal affairs in
the United Kingdom; if it were not
following the turning over by tariff
enactment the prosperity of this coun-
try-were It not for all these great
considerations, Americans would stilf
feel that they had a right to control
the property which they had bought
and developed.
Americans would still feel that they
should not be obliged to pay tribute
to the subsidized shipping of foreign
lands.
Americans would still feel that they
should not be obliged to submit to
makeup in cross country railway
rates corresponding to the amount OF
tolls which our coastwise shipping is
obliged to pay.
Americans would still feel that their
executive should not act as spokesman
for foreign interests.
Americans would still feel that
their rights should not have been sur
rendered, Internationally, as result
of foreign pressure.
The first great Illuminating fact
which Americans face is that THE
BRITISH PROTEST WAS IN
sPIRED BY CANADIAN RAIL
ROADS. The second is that if tolls
are imposed the AMOUNT WILL BE
ADDED to the freight rate and
eventually PAID BY THE AMERI-
CAN CONSUMER.
To every intelligent American it is
evident that the levying of Panama
canal tolls on coastwise shipping
would prove subsidy to the rail-
roads.
To every intelligent American it is
apparent that the exemption OF
American ships from tolls is not in
violation of treaty rights, BECAUSE
1T RELATES SOLELY TO TRAFFIC
WITHIN OUR OWN BORDERS.
The Panama canal is in American
territory, paid for with American
money, and was intended to be con-
trolled by the American people. A
States should not be allowed to turn
such American rights over to foreign
interests.
We have referred to the London
Law Review which, in November 1913,
issue, volume SO, pages l to "a, gives
5000 word analysis of the Hay
Pauncefote treaty. 1t sums up in
these words:
To sum UP. it is reasonably argu-
able:
(a)That the United States can sup
port its action on the precise words
of the material articles of the treaty,
that its case is strengthened by refer
ence to the preamble and context, and
That Its Case Is Difficult to Challenge
on Grounds of General Justice.
(b) There is no international oblf-
cation to submit the construction of
its legislative act by any process of
arbitration; and
(c) That any aggrieved party has
an appropriate and impartial and
competent tribunal in the Supreme
Court of the United States.
Let us reinforce this British legal
conclusion with the words of no less a
parsonage than Hon. Woodrow Wilson
at Washington Park in 1912. He said:
'One of the bills pending-passed, 1
believe, yesterday by the Senate as it
had passed the House-provides for
free toll for American ships through
the Panama Canal. We want water
carriage to compete with land car
MSge, so as to be perfectly sure that
you S-s going to get better rates
around The Canal than you would
across the Continent. Our platform
is not molasses to catch flies. 1t
means what it says. 1t is the utter
ance of earnest and honest men,"
Now the same gentleman repudiates
the Democratic platform and his own
utterances because Il shall not know
how to deal with other matters of
even greater delieacy and conse-
auence If you do not grant it TO me-"
There is your evidence of pressure
Britain responding to Canadian rail-
ways and taking advantage Of watch
full waiting"
Good Enounhi