The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-03-28
SATURDAY. MARCH 2y. 1914
pass rnr EXEMPTION RrpEAn BILL,

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features IL gives ""'p' Ni0'''" "''0 ava '''0
play Of various interests both In practical ousl
ness matters and political dlaiectcs.
1t is both academic and economic II is oo'h
practical and political. Il Is both national ana
international.
Froga an academic standpoint, It would seem
very simple that the owner Of piece Of property
bought and improved with his own good money.
ought to BIZ able, without question or complica-
tion to give his own children any advantage he
may see+ih In the use Of IT, And any promise OF
ampartialts among his neighbors ought not
count when his own children are concerned
Whether expressed or not Il would certainly
seem natural that any agreement, guaranteeing
impartial treatment to all users, would not in"
clade the Numbers OF his own household
But on the other hand, II in the conventions
that guarded his purchase or acquisition OF the
property, and his rights to improve it. other
parties were concerned and had exacted certain
promises, then that fact gives to them the
right to 1nfefpret according 10 their understand
ang and interests
The very fact that the United States had to
enter into any agreement at all with other
powers, preliminary to the right to acquire the
right OF way in Panama, and build the canal.
was o. itself q limitation of our freedom in the
premises. ana perpetual obligation to consult
those powers in the general administration of
the trust. Whether the other nations had any
inherent right to exact any promises condi-
lions Of as, preliminary our building the canal
is aside the question. We recognized those
rights, then and there, in the HayPapncefote
Treaty.
And the moment we recognized their rights to
4 say in the PREMISES We bound ourselves ia con
sidor their interests and their opinions in the
future administrations of the canal affairs And
while We may claim that we did not mean to
surrender oar right to favor our own people, we
did not SO nominate it In the bond. Hence it
nov becomes a matter of Interpretation. And
when any question becomes a matter of inter
probation among neighbors, the neighbors have
as good right to put their Interpretation on
doubtful expression We have.
And that il precisely what they have done
They believe that the treaty guarantees them
she same privileges that it grants to our own
people And from their standpoint that Inter
probation liz quite as tenable as our own. If
they were 81 our position. they might see things
differently But they are not in our position
Now what shall be done? II the combined
aeighbors thnk that you have dealt unfairly or
dishonesty with them they can be very dis
Agreeable 10 You. 1t viii not do to say that
YOU are rich enough and strong enough to take
care. Of ss4lrsalf and ean afford 10 ignore the
opinions Of your neighbors. No man is rich
enough and strong enough 90 hold position Of
doubtful honesty among his neighbors. Neither
bic nor bis children can maintain their proper
selfrespect while the neighbors point at him
as dishonest or unfair
i man asa, hold himself AN "a q martyr n
some great cause and face the scorn of his