The Daily News. FRIDAY, MARCH 20, 1914. PANAMA CANAL TOLLS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 223, 20 March 1914, Page 4

The Daily News. FRIDAY, MARCH 20, 1914. PANAMA CANAL TOLLS.

It is a grim battle when one has to contend against that species of patriotism that is based upon the sordid interests of a nation. As Robert Burns has said:

"When Self the wavering balance holds, 'Tis rarely right adjusted";

and the balance can only be restored to true equilibrium after a good deal of agitation, combined with patience. Our cable messages show that President Wilson is meeting wth sonic opposition in his crusade to repeal the law exempting American shipping from the Panama Canal tolls; but there are hopeful indications that he will succeed in his effort to recall the American people to the principles of national honor and self-reliance, as well as of international obligation. The appeal to the people's pride may succeed when other means fail. The Chicago Tribune, an influential journal, has made a semi-humorous appeal to history and to the Americans' sense of superiority. In an article in its issue of February 8 it said: About the time of the year in 17fio the peruquiers of London carried a petition to the foot of the throne of George 111. and mesought his gracious Majesty to restore to his augtfst head the becoming locks which they and ftot nature could supply. A serious national disaster was impending. An industry was being ruined, like Samson, by the taking of hair from the head. The King was besought to halt this havoc by wearing a wig again. Then his loyal subjects everywhere would clap the peruke on their heads, the peruquiers would return to work, and their wives, their children and their dependents would sing with joy, a crisis would be averted, and the nation saved. If some person of low wit had not petitioned the King to wear a wooden leg iri_ order that the "body carpenters" might find prosperity in the increased sale of timber legs to the nobility and to persons of fashion, the *ig-makers might have persuaded their Sovereign to rescue their business by devoting- his own august head to their affairs. The low timber-leg person, however, undid all the good work, and the peruquiers had to take their chances with the unfathomable laws of fashion and the unmerciful law of demand.

Then the Tribune proceeded to enforce the moral of this story by pointing out how Americans of the present day are frequently found "asking the GovernIment to wear a wooden leg" in order 'that some particular interest should not suffer: .One example of this is cited in the opposition of public carriers to the parcel post system, which for years served to keep Congress from enacting a law that has proved most beneficial. And now, it is pointed out, "the coastwise shipping trade would like to have the Government continue wearing the wooden leg of the exemption of Panama Canal tolls." Satire of this effective 'kind must appeal to the common sens" | of the American people; and in spite of all the "graft," real or imagined, that may be behind the attempt to bolster up American shipping at the cost of national honor, we are hopeful that Congress will adopt the President's proposal to abolish the preference to American ships, and will not perpetuate a l.v.V that expresses the triumph of selfishness over right principle. .