They can have been induced by
nothing save their conviction that we are the possessors of sound
political ideals and a great moral force.
"In other words, they do not want us to fight for them, but they do want
us to approve of them. They want us to pass judgment upon the humanity
and the legality of their acts, because they feel that our judgment
will be the judgment of history. There is a lesson in this.
"If we had not repealed the Panama Canal Tolls Exemption act last June
they would not have come to us as they are doing now. Who would have
cared for our opinion in the matter of a treaty violation if, for mere
financial interest or from sheer vanity, we ourselves had violated a
solemn treaty?
"When Congress repealed the Panama Canal Tolls Exemption act it marked
an epoch in the history of the United States. This did more than the
Spanish war, than the building of the Panama Canal, or than anything
else I think of, to make us a true world power.
"As a nation we have kept our word when sorely tempted to break it. We
made Cuba independent, we have not exploited the Philippines, we have
stood by our word as to Panama Canal tolls.
Pages:
472
473
474
475
476
477
478
479
480
481
482
483
484
485
486
487
488
489
490
491
492
493
494
495
496