The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-04-13
Says Repeal Can't Be Con- strued to Be Construction
 of Hay-PauncefOte Treaty
DISCUSSES VARIOUS
 FEATURES OF SUBJECT
Declares Opposition Had Attempted to Appeal to Prejudice Rather Than Reason-Says Two Big
 Questions to Be Decided

Washington, April t2-secretary Bryan in a statement made public today length fly reviews the Panama tolls question, and in the course of the statement de- olares that the repeal of the tolls ex- emption in the Panama canal act cannot be construed to be construction of the Hay -Pauncrfote treaty" but is simply a refusal on the part of the United States to raise that question in that way"
 MT Bryan discusses various features Of the suhject--the limiting of debates in the House of Representatives. the Baltimore platform, and the effect of repeal on the treaty.
 Claiming that the opponents of tho re- neal had seized upon the charge that the President was "surrendcring 10 Eng land" Mir. Bryan declarSl that ths op- position to the repeal had attempted to appeal "to prejudice rather than to rea- son.
 What has Great Britain done9a he asked "to Justify the accusation that she is trying to dictate to this country. She has simply called attention to the terms of the treaty, and asked for arbitration of the question of construction, in case this government differs from the British government in the construction 10 be placed upon the language. The very men who are SO insistcnt upon construing the treaty to Ssrmit free tolls. delayed for months the ratification of the treaty with Great Britain because of their oppos- tion to any arbitration of the subiee.? In other words they construed the treaty to permit discrimination. and then ob- iected to allowing any international curt to express an opinion on the subject. IT. as matter of fact the treaty grants the rights which Great Britain claims, Is il surrender to Great Britain for our nation to repeal a law that raised that question? The repeal of the law cannot be construed to he oonstrnc- ton of the treaty. It s simply < re- fusal on the part of l'e United Statea to | raise that question in that way. In the con,roNery over the Nenand cauat ean= ada withdrew a discrimination 4whlsn sise 1 had made Tn favor of Canadian ships n order that ro cause for friction with the nited states authorities in regard to the matter should exist.
 As to COastwise Vessels
 Why cannot the United States with- draw a discrimination for the same req son? When the treaty involved was be- fore the Senate for ratification an at tempt was made to 50 amend 1t as to per init discrimination in favor of enast- wise vessels but 1t was voted down by # decided majority. With this record to support them, Is 1t strange that foreign nations question our rights to make m exception in favor of American vessels?'
 Discussing the Presidents right to ex- rect the support of Congress when he deals with international questions, Secre- tary Bryan adds
 ''rhe chief executive speaks for tho nation in international affairs. and It is only fair to assume that he speaks ad- Visedly when he declares that intercourse with other rations IS seriously embar- rassed by the free tolls law which he seeks to repeal
 We occupy today proud position among the nations; we are the foremost advocate of peace and arbitration; we are becoming more and more a moral faetor throughout the world. Can we afford to surrender tlhs position? Can We afford to bellttle Ne great enterprise which has reached its consummation at the isthmus? If our nation desires to be measured hv intellectual and ethical standards, how unworthy to brag cf our strength and to threaten to use that strength We are ready to fight does not arouse the en- thusiasm new that it did few sentn- res ago. Brute force is not the level upon which this nation settles its con- troversies today. The question Is not what we ,an do but what We ought to do The path of history is strewn with the wreck of nations that boasted that they were all powerful. This question must be decided on moral principles and not by the counting of our regiments and hattleships, What shall il profit a na- world loses its faith In the doctrine that right eousness exalteth a nation?'
 Two Planks in Platform
 Mir. Bryan was a member of the resolu- tons committee of the Baltimore conven- ton and his observations on the platform constitute his first utterance on the sub jecl, Mir Bryan argues that there are two blanks in the Baltimore platform.a pertinent to the discussion. one which de- clares the belief of the democratic party in the encouragement of the merchant veloped without imposing additional burdens upon the people and without bounty or subsidies from the public treas urles." and second plank declaring In favor of the exemption from tolls of American eoastwise ships. Mir. Bryan declares that the opposition to bounties is a doctrine for which the democratic party has stood from time lmmemoral." He refers to the exemption plank as a
 
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