Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-03-19

fNi " responsibility would pc rnettnihs-
less as a power for good.
English wine and English waInuts work.
Ing upon American Ambassador Page may
thoroughly have helped oounteract the
effects of English diplomacy in connec-
tion with the Panama canal tolls situa-
ton, just as American grape Juice work
ing ON an English representative in the
person Of Sir Lionel Sackville-West once
upon time contributed to the temper
airy disadvantage and humiliation Of the
English nation.
Our older read ars will recall that In
october, 1888, Lord sackville, then British
minister at Washington, received let
ter from one Charles Murcheson, repre-
senting the latter to be naturalized cit
izen Of English birth. and asking the
minister how he should vote In the i'm
pending contest between Cleveland and
Harrison. Lord S1ckvile openly advised
ICleveland's support, as favorable to Brit
ish trade and British interests; and as
result of the Indignation following the
disclosure sackville's recall was demand
ed and his passports sent him.
The first advlces concerning Ambassa-
dor Pages attempted revision of the
Monroe doctrine purported to give only
the gist of the speech. and in extenua-
ton of the faux pas various explanations
were given. At first it was said Mr..
Page had spoken in humorous vein
When this explanation was found not to
be acceptable, it was stated that Pages
utterance had suffered from "condensa-
ton" The ambassadors words are now
suffering from verifcation.
Moved by the importance of tho Mon
roe doctrines Interpretation in this age
and the bearing of that policy on our
international relations, especially as af-
fecting the Panama canal, the enterpris-
Ing American press has secured by cable
the full stenographic report OF Pages
speech; and instead of affording pallia-
ton or easement, tho complete state
n ent aggravates his offence.
1t now transplres that Ambassador Page
discussed not only the Monroe doctrine
and the Panama canal. but also the open
ing of our markets to English made
goods
Concerning the Panama canal Ambassa-
dor Page Is shown to have said: 'I will
not say that we have constructed the
Panama canal for YOU for I am speak
ing with great franl<ness and not with
what is sometimes called diplomatic in
direction but 1 Will say most truly that
it adds greatly to the pleasure Of build
ing that great work that it is you who
will most profit by it."
In view Of the fact that leading Euro
pean governments will grant rebates to
their ships for all tolls paid in passing
through the Panama canal. while they
want Uncle Sam to force even Ameri-
can ships passing from one American
port to another to pay heavy tolls, thus
killing off what little merchant marine
he has, 1t is easy to understand why
Ambassador Page should expect Great
Britain. the mistress OF the seas, to most
profit by the Panama canal. He con-
tinued:
IT can say similar thing about the
recent lowering Of our tariff. We did
not lower it in order to please you; it
was for purposes that we considered eco
nomically sound for ourselves. Never
theless it added the pleasure of doing
that to reflect that thereby we should re-
ceve more trade from you"
More trade" in this instance means
more American imports from England
and an American ambassador who can
speak of his pleasure in seeing British
goods displace American products in our
own markets can be tortured into moth
ing except an un-American representa-
tive
Mr.. Page seems to have put the cap
sheaf on his diplomatic indiscretion. how
ever, when he came to speak of the Mon
roe doctrine:
The Monroe doctrine, YOU know, meant
only this That the United States would
prefer that no European government
should gain more land in the New
World"
Compare this revision by an admins
tration with which revision" seems to
have become n mania, with the Monroe
doctrine itself. -.eferrns to the proposed
intervention If European powers In the