The Washington herald., 1914-03-30
TOLLS DECISION
SHOWS COURAGE
Presidents Stand on Ques-
ton Defended by John
B. Henderson.
PLANK WAS PREMATURE
Treaties Had Not Been Studied Stuff
GENTLY by Democratic Platform
Makers, He Declares.
PLANK WAS PREMATURE

To the Editor: II is unfortunate that
any question of international relations
should become so confused and compii-
Gated by considerations Of party or do
mestic policies as has happened in the
now going on in Congress we hear far
more about party platforms and pledges
than we do about the real merits OF the
case
This is not a party question at ali. It
is purely a legal one, involving the in
terpreta ton OF treaty solemnly entered
upon and presumably in good faith. with
a foreign nation. II has nothing TO DO
with the question of whether or not the
remission Of tolls upon American vessels
is a good policy. 1t is not question as
to whether or not our country has an
inherent right to control our own water
way. II is a far more important ques-
tion than any of these because II pri-
-narily involves our national integrity,
and il should be approached in the most
calm and judicial spirit OF inquiry, un-
colored by any political necessities ana
quite irrespective of what this or that
public man may have said about II OF
thought about It.
To altar ones opinion Is usually PROOF
Of study and thought and to admit
and careful consideration is mark OF
courage and independence, and such cour-
age and Independence is the surest sign
of greatness.
Change Is Natural.
The nIank in the Democratic platform
calling for repeal of the tolls on Amerl-
can vessels is an expression OF oelle1
on an economic question. 1t was framed
by men who in this instance likely hao
not had occasion well to consider our
foreign contractural relations TINS Is
hut natural as at that time little Thought
on the part Of the public bad been d.
rected to the terms of the Hay-Paunce-
fote treaty.
The party leaders in Baltimore merely
thought that it was inadvisable to tax
American shipping for the support of
the canal, and they framed a plank so
stating It would have been wiser, or
at least more considerate, to have made
a proviso calling first for an interpreta-
tion of the treaty. The plank was not
so rounded of because there was prob
ably lack of understanding as to just
what the situation really was. Now 1t
appears that a feeling Of loyalty to a
principle set forth in a platform made |
without a proper consideration of the |
whole matter is causing many men to |
to it might do a great wrong to another |
nation.
Treaties Are Sacred.
After the elections are over the admin
istration finds that there are some very
valid reasons why We should proceed
with caution in seeking to carry out q
policy that may violate seriously our
promises made and given to another ma
tion and set forth in a treaty with that
nation. Possibly the idea is all wrong
and there is no violation-but on the
other hand. there is room for doubt
about II, and the President has the cour-
age to say SO and insist upon a more
careful investigation before proceeding
further. He is right No nation. however
great and strong. can afford to trifie with
its treaties. The world opinion is far
more important than armies and navies.
When We make a treaty with another
power we must at least be fair in our
OF its provisions and es-
pecially when we discover that they be-
gin to pinch us. In this particular treaty
we agree with England
in the matter of regulation of tolls to
adopt a scheme of equality applying to
all nations. The two little words-"all
nations" Do they include the United
States or do they mean all other ma
lions except the United States?
Arbitration Suggested.
New the Interpretation of any contract b;
when its phraseology is vague or open to
iouble meaning must necessarily be
,ased upon the circumstances surround {
gn its making. What was the position {
# the parties one TO the other before
he contract was made? What con- !
iderations were involved? Il
To determine all this in this instance {
We must go back TO the Clayton-Bulwar I
reaty which the latter treaty superseded. {
Possibly even a period before the making
4 that earlier treaty must be inves- '
igated. Let us see what considerations,
any. We received from England to in /
uce US to charge our ships as We do our J
le1ghbors for the use of the canal? Did