The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-04-22
srxRxT OF Tnn PRESS.
Editorial Opinions Of the Leading Journals
upon Current Topics Compiled Every
Day for the Evening Telegraph.
THE DARIEN SHIP CANAL PROJECT
BRITISH INTERFERENCE.
Proyr the N. Y, HeraLd.


and selfish character where the progress and
great national interests of the United States
are concerned than the leopard his spots or
the Ethiopian his skin. Indeed she is and
has always been very jealous of commercial
rivals though more particularly so of this
country. History abounds with facts to show
this The latest example of her jealousy and
selfshness, according to our Washington
news is in the case of the Darien ship canal
project. The first despatch from Washing
ton to the New York press intimated that the
British Minister, Mr. Thornton, would remon-
strate with our Government against the exclu-
sive privileges granted to the United States by
New Granada and the independent action of
this country in the matter OF a ship canal
across the Isthmus of Darien. The despatch
which we published yesterday from Wash
ington gave milder phase TO the question
of British interference, but it seems probable
that Great Britain is about to interpose in
some way. In despatch published Wednesday
this interposition Is put in mild diplomatic
style The words are:-"It is, nevertheless,
probable that some discussion will occur be-
tween The United States and Great Britain as
to the right of the former to make treaty
for exclusive privileges with any of the Cen
trail American powers.
It is intmated that Great Britain may claim
chat, under the Clayton-Bulwer convention of
the 10Th of April, 1850, all projects for the
constructions of a ship canal across the isthmus
which connects North and South America
should be under the control OF both powers.
That convention, it will he remembered, was
made with special reference To the Nicaragua
route, and provided that neither of the powers
should exercise exclusive control over any
canal that might be made there, and that
neither should coloniZe, fortify, or exercise
any exclusive dominion over Nicaragua,
Costa Ripa tha Mnanuitn coast mart
of Central America. 1t is said that the
eighth article Of this convention is the one
upon which Great Britain relies particularly
for establishing her claim to an equal control
over and participation ill any canal or railway
across the isthmus connecting South and
North America That article says the two
governments, ''to accomplish a particular
object and to establish Il general principle
agree to extend their protection by treaty
stipulation to any other practicable communi-
cations than the Nicaragua route, whether by
canal or railway, across the isthmus which
connects North and South America, aud espe-
cially to the interoceanlc communications,
should the same prove to be practicable,
which are now proposed to be established by
the way of Tehuantepec or Panama" Ex-
cluding the circumlocution of diplomatic Ian
guage and details in the rest of the eighth
article and the convention generally, this is
tLb RlbL anu SuDSJhuC6 VI tuo ludtboE.
1t is question whether Darien, which po-
itically belongs to New Granada and to South
America, comes within the meeting of the
convention, which only covers Central Ame-
rica. This might be question for great
deal of diplomatic palaver. Nor do we care to
enter into it here. If the convention can be
construed to give England an equal control
over the work and management of a Darien
canal with the United States, or to place her
,Ny,litinol or nta al foOtinu u
with this country in American affairs, the
sooner that convention is abrogated the better.
The making of it was stupid piece of busi-
ness on our part, and shows how far superior
British statesmen and diplomats were to our
own. 1t recognized a principle which we
should never have acknowledged. 1t put
Great Britain, which is an European power,
andswhich has but limited interests compare
lively in this hemisphere, on footing with
the American republic, which has peculiar
and far greater interests, both political and
commercial, in all the countries of America.
More than that, the opening of ship canal
through Central America is necessary to con-
meet the commerce of one portion of the
United States-the Pacific States-with the
other portion on the Atlantic side. There
was not and is not any equality IN the condi-
tions or interests of the two nations con-
nected with ship canal across any part OF
in accordance with the broad and liberal
policy it always pursues in international
matters, will, of course, offer every
facility to England and all other nations
should it make a ship canal across the isthmus
but we should never admit that any of the
European powers are on an equality with this
country in questions pertaining to America
The Clayton-Bulwer treaty was blunder,
therefore, and the time has come when this
great Republic should shake off its swaddlins
clothes and assert the policy of America fol
the Americans. If Great Britain demurs tC
this, or attempts to interfere in the grea
work we have commenced to survey and hav'
made treaty with New Granada for-th'
cutting of ship canal across the lsthmus o
Darien-the Government should at once Civ
notice to abrogate the Clayton-Bulwe con
vention, or any other that may stand in tn
way of this work or of our control over Anne
can affairs.
1t is hard, we know, for England to give II
her assumption and that patronizing affecte
superiority with which she has been accus
toned to treat the United States. 1t too
her long time to learn that this country wa
an independent nation, equal in rights an
privileges to herself. She has always been di
posed to treat the United States as q pareI
does his offspring. Many years after our ind
pendence we had to go to war with her
assert our equality. Even yet she is jealor
of our growth, power, and influence. ST
never loses an opportunity to checkmate III
Under the pretense of friendship, and with
patronizing air, she exhibits her jealousy an
selfshness whenever a question concernir
the progress or power of this republic com,
up This has been seen in our late war,
the Mexican question, in the Cuban and s
Domingo questions, and at other time