Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-04-16

r. the Editor of the Evening Star:
This is a very opportune time to
note some sentences contained in the
Monroe doctrine, which seem to have
been entirely lost sight of.
/. and to the defense of our own,
which has been achieved by the loss
mat,rred by the wisdom of their most
enlirhtened citizens, and under
which we have enjoyed uneXampled
felicity, this whole nation is de-
voted"
. "Our policy in regard to Europe.
which was adopted at an early stage
of the wars which have so long agi-
tated that quarter of the globe, never
theless remains the same, which IS
not to interfere in the internal con-
Germs of any of it's powers; to con-
slider government de facto as the
! legitimate government for us, meet
! ing in all instances the just claims or
every power, submitting to injuries
| from none"
II may also be interesting to your
readers TO know that the distin-
| euished senator from Massachusetts,
| Henry Cabot Lodge, whose main con-
tention in support of tolls exemption
repeal was "a decent regard for the
/ opinions of mankind" in his history
/ of Washington, published in 1893
writing of the hardly concealed in
science displayed by the English
government toward Gouveneur Nor
ris. the distinguished American,
who. though abroad in per
sonal capacity, undertook to
represent the United States
in some of its diplomatic relations
with England at the time. has TINS
to say: 1T was the fit beginning OF
the conduct by which England for
nearly a century has succeeded IN
alternating the good will of the people
of the United States. Such a policy
was neither generous or intelligent,
and politically it was a bunder."
| And the same distinguished SEN
ator. writing of the difficulties with
which President Washington in 1913,
in negotiating the JAY treaty, had TO
contend, argued thusly;
The exclusion of American vessels
from the trade of the British West
Indies was no doubt disagreeable
to us and deprived us OF profit. but II
! is difficult to see what right we had
to complain of it, for the ports of
the British West Indies belonged to
Great Britain, and IL she chose -
close them TO us or ANYBODY else she
was quite within her rights
Permit me to paraphrase that. APP
\ plying the paraphrase to the present
canal tolls controversy.
The exclusion of the coastwise YES
\ sells of the United States from the
| imposition of tolls for passage
through the Panama Canal is a mat
ter affecting the internal affairs of
the United States with which England
/ or any other European nation has no
concern whatever; and while it may
be disagreeable to England and de-
prive her of profit, ] fail to see what
right she or anybody else has to
complain of 1t, for the Panama Canal
was built. paid for and is owned by
these United States, and If we choose
to open 1t free to our coastwise ves-
sells we are quite within our rights.
Indeed, most of our statesmen of a
century or more ago were jealous vt
our right to govern our internal af
fairs without outside suggestion or
interference. John Quincy Adams,
while the treaty of Client was being
negotiated, declared that he was not
in favor of our giving ourselves any
concern whatever about the opinion
of any foreign power. adding: "If
i they do not hold us for Romans they
| will take us for Jews, and. of the
two, l would rather be charged witr