68 PANAMA CANAL AND AMERICAN COMMERCE. 
vast proportions. ‘To students of the Strategy of Trade it is apparent that 
had we our own plant, and world-wide trade connections we once had, 
that our foreign trade would be far greater than it is now. ‘The doctrine 
of being satisfied with half a loaf when you can get loaves should not appeal 
to progressive Americans. 
The doctrine of live and let live is altruistic but when a nation ceases 
to progress or grow it dies. 
A boy may be strong and powerful as a youth but once grown to mature 
manhood and strength a shrinking back to youthful stature would indeed 
be pitiful. 
We neglect the commercial pillar although the proportion of exports 
which consists of foodstuffs and staples that foreign countries must have to 
feed their people and their factories is falling, while the proportion of manu- 
factured commodities in which we have to meet the competition of the world 
is increasing. 
Reliance upon the sophistry that the reason others carry our goods 
is that they can do it cheaper than we can, means the gradual coming of 
hopeless and entire dependence upon others to do our work. Charges are 
always all the service will bear. 
A country without the will or capacity to look out for its own interests 
will soon have no interests worth looking after. 
I need not point out here how large a factor ocean transportation is in 
the sum total of national prosperity, nor do I wish to discuss here the means 
for a revival of our merchant marine to a tonnage in the foreign trade 
adequate to our needs. 
What this Society probably wants to know is, Are there means by which 
the vast sum spent for the Panama Canal can be of help to the varied interests 
of this country instead of furnishing issues of bonds with which to aid the 
continuance of our present currency system, the existence of which is as 
much a tax upon us as is the non-existence of a merchant marine? 
Several of the European nations rebate the toll charges of the Suez 
Canal to the vessels flying their respective flags. 
But they did not build the Suez Canal even though they may have 
shares init. But we built the Panama Canal with our own money through 
our own territory. 
The great bug-a-boo of the present day that is dangled before the Amer- 
ican public is that a treaty forbids whenever something must be done to 
protect our interests. 
Why a self-respecting country could ever sign the Webster-Ashburton 
treaty I am at a loss to understand but though supplanted in its provisions 
a 
