The Washington herald., 1914-03-09
THE OPEN FORUM.
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vision Ia not required TO see the dificuis
| work ahead Of the administration in jts
foreign relations Three hundred years
OF education In plundering and violencs
by foreign governments, and consequent
want OF confidence In human good feel
Ing led to the plan OF the Democrats
party. through President Monroe, to give
the South and Central American peoples,
which had just freed themselves from
the control Of European governments. a
chance to recover their neighboriy bal
ance. But in the last 100 years the
spirit Of exploitation and conquest has
not abated. Its form has changed. but
the spirit has been rather intensified by
the increase of populations in powerful
countries requiring outlet. II Is not the
policy Of a strong government to en-
courage its citizens to become subjects
of a foreign government, and IL has
been the custom to utilize the activities
OF its citizens In countries OF less popula-
tion, proferring their protection In such
wise as often to control the financial
functions of government in the country
Of emigration-establish protectorates.
ETC.. of indefinite extent.
When the present State Department
formulated the idea that a citizen Of the
United States establishing himself in
business In a foreign country. becomes
to all economic interests and purposes a
subject Of the government of that coun-
try. required to take his chances with
the citizens thereof. the time-honored
doctrine of the protectorate or financial
control Of such country was put in great
danger II is in serious danger. and
because Of foreign opposition. il will re-
quire all the self-control and moral
strength of the Democratic party to
maintain the advanced idea OF our State
Department even In the case Of a citizen
CT the United States who chooses to
exploit himself or his money in another
country.
But the time will come for every great
country to abandon the role Of the cUn-
quistadore in any form and give full ap-
probation to the international rights aid
equities Of a small or weak or scarcely
populated State in the control of all per-
sons or interests involved in the enjoy
ment of its privileges Or the exploitation
Of its resources, and 50 a long step Will
be taken toward the peace OF the world.
That day is not yet.
And because it is not yet. We have the
imbroglic in Mexico and in Panama. ;he
causes Of which can be traced back 30
years 10 Panama. and the murderous
plundering expeditions of Spain and other
European countries of ability in the wCy
Of graft and gunpowder Ia the time Of
Columbus and since.
Shall we find in Panama, where It be-
gan. means to end this bedevilment u
these weak countries through a cOrOllsry
Of the Monroe Doctrine. which recognizes
the right of every country to use tire
Panama Strait on equal terms. The peO-
pie OF the United states built the canal.
but il is well known to the world that il
was not justified in the initiative. With
what grace can the Democratic party de-
msnd a toll from a foreign country for
right in the canal. the ground for which
was practically canquistadored. Tie only
excuse for this act is that il was for t5e
benefit Of all the people OF the world.
Otherwise the Panama Canal and AL
rights thereon should be turned over To
Colombia. the original owner of the land
The extraordinary power of the UnItel
States for making war is not appreciated
by our people. II would not he jifnClIit
to conquer the iIl-guided. povcrty-striC,len
and uneducsted peoples Of the distracted
commonwealth of Mexico. and the war
would not be unpopular with many BI%
not only would il be cowsrdty and wrong
in itself. but also WOULD IT be opposed T."
the principles of international equity. FOR
how could the Democratic party expect
great foreign States to continue TO r =
frain from exploiting this unhappy re-
public or any republic OF South or Cc1-
trail America. while il is itself acting tn
part Of an expIoiter and conquistadore a
Panama.
EPEyAnD EyM W, ANDERSON,
To the Editor: There is serious
problem facing the citizens OF this re-
ublic, which is. and by every possible
means should be a beacon light. and
controlling guide to every nation on the
globe. But to maintain and conserve this
distinction. requires positive halt IN
administering some of the propositions in
troduCed into Congress. and courts "i
Justice. and careful enaCting new laws.
and reconstructing statutory laws State
and nation. such as will benefit all the
people. affordinE equal opportunity.
liberty. peace and prosperity in pursuit
of happiness to all people.
All greed for graft. and spirit of mo-
nopoly in money power, and opposing. or
depressing the poor and unfortunate
shall cease to 4 large extent God made
us all freemen. character makes the
worthy poor equal to the rich man. All
honest conscientious. men rich or poor.
should refrain from bigotry. and un-
seIfishIy consider his brother his equal.
not esteeminG a man by attainments Of
wealth. position. but mis- manhood.
Our tax system needs reforming. The
holder OF mortgage only should pay
the tax, that is. the man owning IN"
property should only be assessed for his
equity. otherwise il is a double tax. il
becomes a burden and is not just.
We elect our Lawmakers to Congress
and State delegates to enact Just laws
to protect the common people as whole
and not to favor monopolies to seltishly
manipulate schemes to corner and con-
troll the markets of manufacturing cor
rorations. and trade to cause hardships to
the producer and consumer. These specu-
Iative schemes are not just: also our law
give pensions to rich widows of deceased
government officials, army and navy Of
fcers ut seems to be craze to
give large pensions 10 rich widows
who have an abundance), while
they are no better than thousands OF
widows and offspring OF privates who
gave their lives. and who also suffered
great deprivation. and are still suffering
Why pension the government clerks
They get good salaries. and II frugal can
Law Up sufficient to carry them through
life. 1t is not brotherly to give to the
rich and ignore the poor.
Our tax laws should be reconstructed
so as to give a tax on all churches
private, and seCtarian schools. II will
distribute and provide a lower and in
that it will give millions of dollars in
crease Of revenue. and reduce manv
individual burdens, also there should he
a law stipulating that no person should
own more land than they can and will