On Thursday President Wilson read a remarkable Message to Congress
in which he begged for the repeal of the clause in the Panama Canal Act exempting American coastwise trade from tolls. He said that exemption was not only a mistaken policy on economic grounds, but was "in plain contravention of the Treaty [of 1901j with Great Britain." Everywhere but
in the United States, the Treaty was interpreted as forbidding exemption. Mr. Wilson went on "The large thing to do is the only thing we can afford to do—voluntary withdrawal from a position everywhere questioned and misunderstood." If bin request were not granted he would not know how to deal with other matters of even greater delicacy and nearer consequence. The Message was received with much applauee. No one will be able to read Mr. Wilson's words without admiration for hie enthusiasm for honourable behaviour. We only wish that his single-minded love of right-doing were always so fortunate in its applications. In Mexico, we fear, it is very unfortunate. We have written of that subject elsewhere.
