Salt Lake Tribune | 1910-12-03 | Page 6 | Fortifying the Canal

JORTIFYING- THE CANAL. . It is understood I hat Prcfidenl Taft Will, in his forthcoming message, ask an appropriation for the forfiticalini of the Panama canal. And we believe thai (he American people will approve (ho recommendation It is loo risky lo allow a work of such extent and cost as that to remain unprotected, subject-to subject-to enormous damage from any band of guerillas or marauders, or oven from a well-armed foe. The canal must not be left at tho mercy of the evil disposed, dis-posed, or of any warlike expedition from a nuliou with which wc might be at war. II has been suggested that by an agreement among civilized nations, the canal might be declared neutral, not subject to attack eveu in case of war. But if this Nation were at: wnr with nuothcr nation, -what could guarantee (bo safely of the caunl if it were left open to attack Tho history of guarantees guar-antees by the nations is one full of disastrous dis-astrous surprises for those who may consider that national guarantees aro either kept or enforced. Kvory nation disregards its guarantee when ita interests in-terests go counter to whnf the. guarantee guar-antee requires; and uew inducements or rotations always inako such guarantee guaran-tee an irlcsonio task which none will actually enforce. Aud thon. for this Nation, which is amply able lo fortify and tti defend, to ask the nations of the world to gun rn 11 tec It? domains from in Mack,, would bu a humiliating -ihow of weakness that is not in (ho least likely to -lie madej the more especially as such gun ra utro, when made, would 'amount to uothjng. ' President Taft should be, aud doubtless doubt-less will bo, fully btipportcd by Iho American people in his programme to make the Panama canal impregnable to attack. And we rould wish that he had not seen fit to make such an emphatic .anl complete disavowal of any intent on the part of this country to absorb the sealled republic of Panama. For, the grejt canal is not really anfo under tho general sovereignty of such a government. gov-ernment. The Panama people aro just as .likely as uot to unite with an3' foe with which this country might be at war and so bo themselves the greatest possible menace to tho eanal. We are of tho opinion now. as wc have been all along, that tho only permanent security se-curity for peace, order, and friendliness for the mugnilicent work which will cost the American people many hundreds of millions of dollars will bo found in wip-iug wip-iug out the bogus republican govcru-ment govcru-ment of Panama, tilb which wo have already had several difficulties more or less serious, and assuming complete sovereignty thoro ourselves.