The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1914-05-13
O o Q Q o O Q Q Q q Q Q Q Q Q Q O
0 BRYAN ON CANAL TOLLS 9
@ QUESTION. O
G O O Q Q @ Q Q Q Q Q Q Q o Q
(By w. J. Bryan.)


contained within itself a complete
refutation of the position taken by
the advocates of free tolls, the Pres
ident would have been justified in
the position that he took by the
changed conditions which confront
ed him A platform is a pledge and
is as binding upon an official as the
command of military officer is
upon q subordinate-the statement
cannot be made stronger.
Such change has taken place
since the Baltimore platform was
adopted. Had the Democrats in
convention assembled been con-
fronted by the condition which now
exists and had they known what
those now know who voted for re-
peal, no such plank would ever have
been placed in the platform. The
conventions attention was not even
brought to the fact that a majority
of the Democrats in the House had
voted against the free tolls meas
ure. and that it had, in fact. been
passed by a combination of mi
nority of the Democrats and ma
jority of the Republicans. The
platform plank which is now being
worshipped as If it were the only
plank in the platform, was in reali-
ty rebuke to the Democrats in
Congress when the convention had
reason to suppose that it was in
dorsing the action of majority of
the Democrats when it Endorsed the
action of Congress. 1t was more
than that; it was, in fact, though
not upon its face, an Endorsement
of the doctrine of subsidy which the
party had taken pains to denounce
in the same platform.
The President, knowing that ev-
cry commercial nation except our
own constructs the treaty as pledge
of equal treatment, would have been
recreant to his trust had he failed
to point out to the American people
that our diplomatic relations would
be seriously disturbed by the carry
ing out of the free tolls policy.
The friends of free tolls gave con-
elusive proof that they were con-
scious of the weakness of their po-
sitions when. in opposing the repeal
of free tolls. they attempted to ap-
peal to prejudice rather than to rea-
son. They charged with a vehe-
mence that increased as the case grew
more desperate that the President
was "surrendering to England
What has Great Britain done to
Justify the accusation that she is
trying to dictate to this country?
She has simply called attention to
the terms of the treaty and asked
for arbitration of the question of
construction in case this Govern
ment dicers from the British Gov
eminent in the construction to be
placed upon the language
In the past the Democratic party
has been able to consistently oppose
every form of Governmental favor,
because it has stood for equal rights
to all and special privilege to none.
Suppose it now turns its back upon
that principle and enbarks upon the
subs idi7ing of few vessels, where
can It draw the line? II We are to
give bounties to coastwise vessels
for cne reason. We will be asked to
give bounties to some other corpo-
rations for reasons equally as good,
and the party's power to protect the
public treasury will be paralyzed.
The Chief Executive speaks for
the nation in international affairs,
and ii is only fair to assume that he
speaks advisedly when he declares
that intercourse with other nations
is seriously embarrassed by the Free
Tolls law which he seeks to repeal.