The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-01-08
That Nio,raVus canal treaty.

I
The publication OF q treaty negotiated dur
ing P esident Arthur's administration, aud
signed by him, binding this country and
/ Nicaragua to construct the Nicaragua
/ canal, appears to have created a genuine
sensation in Washington. Our dispatches
I yesterday contai ed two articles Of the
treaty and a brief synopsis OF the others;
also the main points Of a message which
/ President Arthur sent to the Senate with
the treaty,
The Senate did not ratify this treaty-at
least, there is no evidence that it did-and
1t did not, apparently, give it serious con-
sideration. II it had considered It at all,
the fact OF the existence Of the treaty would,
in all probability. have reached the public
long ago. The treaty was made over FIVE
years ego, and remained a profound secret
in the Senate until last Tuesday, when it
was made public during the discussion Of
the complications between Nicaragua and
Costa Rics. growing out Of the boundary
dispute affecting the concession made to the
Nicaragua Canal Company.
The treaty is valuable now only 10 the
extent of showing that the Arthur admin
tTation was willing to put the burden Of
buildit g the canal upon this country. And
there was a eat money making scheme,
doubtless, connected with the treaty in some
way, though, Of course, that is only m ~
ter Of conjecture. That it would have zen
wise in this country to have undertaken to
build the canal is very doubtful. 1t would
have been extremely difficult, if not
impossible, for thIs government to have got
along harmonionsly with the government
of Nicaragua and the governments Of other
Central American republics. 1t is not i'm
probable that obstacles would have been
thrown In the way Of the construction of
the canal constantly. with the view of ex-
torting money from the government. and in
that case force might have been necessary
to maintain our rights.A
And the governments OF Europe would
have regarded the ownership of the canal by
this country with jealous eye, aud. per-
hsps. would have been active in influencing
the Nicaraguans and Costa Ricans to raise
frivolous objections to the building of the
canal. The Senate, therefore. exercised
good judgment in not ratifying the treaty
But there are good reasons for thinking
that the canal will be constructed. The
canal company is pushing forward the
work vigorously, if reports from the scene
of operations are to be relied upon. 1t is
not improbable. however. that tnere may
be some difficulty in getting the money
needed to carry on the work. The COM
pany seems to have enough money now,
but how long will it lastl 1t would not be at
all surprising if the government should be
called upon for assistance in the near future
And if there should be such a call there
would be a pretty strong sentiment
among congress nen ia favor OF re-
spending to it favorably. There would
be big lobby on hand and no effort would
be spared to create public opinion favor
able to giving the undertaking government
aid 1t is questionable, however. whether
it would be wise for the government to give
any additional assistance 1t has already
given it all the encouragement that could
be reasonably asked.