The Washington herald., 1914-03-30
A Situation 0yerdrawn.

President Wilson will win his fight
for repeal of canal tolls exemption be-
cause his is a fight for the right and
for the honor of the nation. which our
statesmen will hold higher than consid-
erations of party politics.
As the debate progresses the correct
ness of the Presidents position is the
more fully revealed. The very fact that
he has changed his opinion and is stand
ing against a declaration in the Demo-
cratic platform adds immeasurably to his
strength. Scarcely anything has been
uttered by the opponents of his policy
that approaches convincing argument
against the claim that exemption is in
contravention of our treaty with Great
Britain and that repeal is just and
necessary for the maintenance of an hon.
orable position for the United States in
the family of nations.
Representative Underwood made a
mastery appeal from the standpoint of
utility. He pointed out very clearly that
it was to our material interest to ex-
empt our ships from payment of tolls.
There was harsh suggestion in his re-
marks that because il would be money in
our pockets, and because we were pow
erful enough to dictate we ought to ex-
empt our ships from the tolls provision.
The terms of the treaty, the right and
honor involved, received from Mr.. Un-
derwood, a mere passing reference, as
follows:
1T is manifest that under this claim
of the treaty we cannot exclude YES
sells of war and include vessels of COM
merce under our flag unless the words
all nations mean all nations other than
ourselves. as it manifestly does"
The four words "as it manifestly
does" fall very far short of disposing of
President Wilson's contention, and it
will be surprising if that contention
does not win and hold firmly many
times the number of adherents in Con-
gress and throughout the country. that
will accept Mr.. Underwood's doctrine
We are great and powerful; we can
afford to be just and generous, is Presi-
dent Wilson's view. We are great and
powerful; we can interpret treaties to
Our financial advantage, is MIR. Under
woods. 1t takes at least two to make
a treaty and if the Hay-Pauncefote
treaty ''manifestly does" mean all nations
other than ourselves, why does it not
'manifestly" mean all other nations
other than Great Britain.
1t is deplorable from the Democratic
standpoint that in striving for the right
the President was compelled to disrupt
his party, but in the heat of the first
clash, the possibilities of this feature of
the situation were exaggerated. The
breach at present seems quite capable of
being healed. The President, as was to
be expected. will cherish no animosity
or resentment against those Dcpocrats
who differ with him in opinion and in
good faith oppose the repeal. He makes
no claim as dictator or custodian of
mems consciences. There has been in
temperate denunciation of Speaker
Clark, which it may be safely as
serted Mr.. Wilson does not indorse.
Likewise, it has been suggested that
when he takes the floor to argue against
repeal the Speaker will indulge in in
vective. Nothing of the sort is called
for, in spite of violent talk on the side
lines. and it will be surprising if Mr. |
Clark goes beyond "a calm and dignifed
statement of the reasons against repeal, |
as he sees them. 1t is a new and start
ling theory that honestly expressed diff
ferences of opinion among the great
men of great party mean that party's |
hopeless disruption and the deposing of
its leaders.
The Presidents cause will triumph be-
cause it is right, and self-perservation
and common sense ought to find the way
to solidly reunite the party in power,