The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1885-04-12
THE IsTHMIAN QUESTION.
The Clayton. Bulver Convention and the Nicaragua

exchanged July 4, 1850, and the treaty was promu
gated July s. 1850. John NJ. Clayton was the secre-
tary OF state and the minister on the part OF the
United States and the Right Honorable sir Henry |
Lytton Duwer, member OF the Most Honorable Privy
Council. Knight Commander OF the Most Honorable |
order OF the Bath, and Envoy Extraordinary and
Minister rlenpotenary Of her Britannia Majesty to
the United states, on the part OF England At the
time this convention was concudedthc people OF the
two nations had not fully recovered from the irrlta-
tions of 1si2 of the northwest and northeast
boundaries, and many other Keeping sore their
mutual pride and jealousy. But the statesmen who
constructed and ratified this instrument seem to us
now to have had prophetic inspirations TO guide them
through the difficulties OF their time. There was alb
solutey nothing existing to call for any action look
to the future converging lines OF policy between the
two countries. This convention was the result OF n
comprehensive and farreaching intuition as to future
growth and evolution. and Its purpose was TO lay the
foundations OF principles aud to clear the way for
mighty events to come In the history of the world
That time has now come, and we are brought face
to face with questions magnitude oboth countries
IL not to the civilized nations Of the globe, either for
good or i'll. 1t Is most fortunate for us that few
men OF thought and Judgment from each political
party are found who can hesitate 10 plunge their
country into sea OF schemes which must Involve
the graves results, without giving due reelection
and consideration to them.
have had the courage to halt aud consider. Neither
senator Bayard nor Senator sherman are " afraid of
England as certain newspapers nlppantly write
them down, but, like all true statesmen, they are
very much afraid OF committing their country to
step of unwlslom, II not OF wanton mcanness aud
truculcncy subjecting 1t to the Just charge Of cow
ardcc. They are very much afraid 10 permit this
Government 10 violate an existing treaty by ratify-
ing another In hostility to 1t aud In conravcnton
Of II.
There Is an honorable way known to nations and
to International law to ubrogdte treaty or n con.
vention; there Is no honorable way To evadc one
To nullify or violate one. II the Clayton. pulwer
Convention is not good instrument, let 1t he abro-
gated with i'rmncss and with that dignity which nave
become historical in our foreign relations.
Read and study this Clayton-BulwCr treaty, aud 1,
reveals much intention and possibility for the two
peoples which 1t may be well and u,iful to consider
with greatest wisdom AMI care. Thu, instrument
surely looks to time TO csme when the two great
nations shall not only he In alliance In language
literature, science social lifc In law ami justice, In
Congress and Parliament, hut in political alliance
So far as this Western Hemisphere and its mighty
interests to mankind are concerned.
1t is well worthy OF note that the word alliance is
expressly used in Article vi of this treaty, perhaps
for the first time in any 0cial paper the sigma
lures Of the ministers OF the two governments.
Article VI states:
That the contracting parties in this convention en-
gage to invite every state with which both or either
have friendly Intercourse 10 enter into stpulations
with them similar to those which they have entered
into with each other to the end that a other States
may share IN the honor and advantage of having
! contributed to work OF such general interest and
| Importance as the canal herein contemplated. And
the contracting parties likewise agree that each shall
enter into treaty stipulations with such of the Cen
trail American states as they may deem advisable for
| the purpose of more eiIectuay carrying ont the
great design of this convention, namely, that OF
structtng and maintaining the said canal n ship
communication between the two oceans, for the
benefit OF mankind equal terms to ALL and of pro.
tectng the same; and they also agree that the good
| offices OF either shall he employed when requested
by the other In aiding and assisting the negotiation
of such treaty stipulaons, and, should any differ
ences arise as to right property the territory
through which the said canal shall pass between the
states or governments OF Central America, and suc,
differences should in any way impede or 0bsiruc
the execution Of said canal, the governments Of the
| United States and Great Britain will their good
| offices to settle such such differences in the manner
best suited to promote the interests OF the said canal
| and to strengthen the bonds of friendship and ALI
| ance which exist between the contracting parties.
These words were well studledand weighed by the
distinguished statesmen who used them, and they
looked to the future and to present possibilities
1t is no secret that men of high position in England
| and those most near to the heart of the English
people, have hoped and onged for the time to come
when such language should be translated into acts. 4
| few years ago the writer stood upon the Mole a
| Naples, watching the sundown divisions of boati
from the different squadrons at anchor in the bay
with an English ollccr at his side, though stranger
to him. 1t was observed that English and American
divisions of boats pulled in and out from the Mole
always side by side with Colors flying. There was
natural gravitation which brought them Away
together. They pulled the same stroke ut the oars
their officers gave the same orders to their crews
they tossed the bow oars-tossed of al-boated thei
oars, showed of and let fall precisely they wer
under the same nag, for they were under the SAM
Il frnl nj bnhi pnnt md st,1in
a gentle wave of the arm the English Office
| exclaimed passionately: "Put those tro tags 10
| getter and they 'rW control The lrOiid.n And We
the American and the Englishman were entir
| strangers to each other.
] Mr.. John Bright, who is doubtless nearer to tn
heart of all Englishmen than any other man Il
l England quite lately used this languagcto grea
throng assembedat Birmingham: I" He felt sanguln
| there would be gradual movement in America Il
| the right direction" "'rhe time would come" h
said, "when England and America would be on
| people and one in commerce."
The ran MdU Gazette hut yesterday called for n
alliance between the two peoples. 1t says:
The Republic will ere long claim Ambulance int
| the European Areopagus whenever dealing wit
questions pertaining to interests outside the hounds
| rcs of the European continent. Englands duty
. | to make the most of this great fact. Blood
| thicker than water. The United States is England
! natural ally. After the federation Of the Brts
| Empire there will remain for British statesmen n
task comparable in importance to thai OF the conclr
l sion of an alliance between Great Britain and IN
| great Republic which sprung from English lOns.
The English people are already holding out the
arms to us and asking us to join in alliance. Bt
the ties which gradually, but surely drawing til
two peoples into one are stronger AMI more stout
fibre than race and language, trade or commerc
| II we examine the progress of modern laws, the ~
vance in jurisprudence of both peoples, the institute
and institutions Of Justice and the higher principle
I | of international law, we hnd them nearly or quit
united In n common sense of rights and duties. S
Edward Crcasey's recent work on the 4" First Pla
form OF international Law" abounds In citation
from our late precedcnts and our prize courts dec
sions and quotations from the writings of our int
| national jurists. Story, Kent, Wheaton, Wolscle
and IIaleck are the men whose opinions and wri
ings he gladly follows and holds up 30 his goverl
ment for reference to English opinion. And 1t mt
be said with unlnXcd pride that our America
jurists have always been foremost In cnlghtent
, discussions on the rights and duties Of neutrals NJ
be!igerents In war and national obligations in tint
| of peace. There mas been race Of progress
Parliament and Congress to create anObler, a bette
y and "A higher civilization.
No American can nor should listen to any propos
tions from any foreign state looking to an entan
ling alliance" But an alliance which guarante
! and secures the cardinal doctrines we az matte
have for nearly or quite century maintained Ii n
y one OF these. Before we leap into "yeasty sea +"
J schemes like this OF budp. an ner-oceanc shi
way between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans
should ask ourselves few questions, and lnterroga
| our own resources ana abilities. Our financial 20
dltion to say the least, Is neither stable nor does
promise stability II gives no assurance Of futu
Il | security. We have yet a tremendous national dei
although the country seems to he fast forgetting
u amount. We have pension debt of enormous pr
: portions which swells year by year and session
r session into greater magnitude. And pension II
o once granted It can never be rescinded or becou
:, bankrupt. We have become used 10 enormous e.
penditures for what is called "rivers and harb0rs
4 and still they grow. We have the public building
bill heaping mp vast palaces and gorgeous cdices
every city and town worthy of the nation 10 sw,
II the annual extravaganza. As the population Il
interests increase all over the globe, and Il
| Diplomatic and Consular BIZ Is heavy weight
Is quite true that we have mercantile marine al
yet we are afraid to shake OF the letters which tax
| ton has riyited upon shipping interests. Our se
a | coast cities lie naked to the world, and sudd'
, | furry of foreign trouble would cause many sleepe
:, nights and much feyerish anxiety 10 citizens al
:, Government. We have no navy, and yet we ha
~ | over twelve thousand miles Of sea-cOast 10 guar
" We have no guns and no factories for building thel
: | We have no plant or tools for constructing guns
: ships, and there s a reasonable doubt that shi
, | wrghts may be found In case ofneed Ship-build
I, has well.nlgh become a lost art and mechanics a
| wanting.