The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-02-22
HOPE FOR THE CANAL.

If there is nothing more effective to be
said against the Nicaragua Canal than was
contained in Senator Vests speech on Fri
day. it will not fail through want of faith
in its usefulness. The Senator from Missouri
referred to the Clayton Bulwer treaty, and
affected TO believe that the construction of
the canal would involve us in war with
England. Mr.. Vest appears to have been
induging in 4 Rip Van Wrinkle sleep.
The Clayton Bulwer treaty, which was
concluded forty-one years ago, was the out
come OF an absurd and impossible condition
of affairs. under which England claimed the
right of colonization in Central America
in opposition to the Monroe doctriue. BY
way of practical assertion of this preposter-
Gus claim, England effected settlement
near Belza, in Honduras, aud actually
recognized a native. who was cOStumed in
dress Goa; and spurs, as King of a strip Of
littOral known as the Mosquito Coast.
Against this flrca the United States pro-
tested. and the British statesmen of the day,
in a lucid interval, admitted that it was
farce. The upshOt was the conclusion of
treaty, which received much more commen-
dation than it deserved, and by which both
nations bound themselves not TO annex ter
ritory in Central America. So far as the
United States were concerned, the COW
enant, being what the lawyers call a medium
pactum. was void; but as this country never
had any intention of anneXing Central
American territory it could not suffer by re
nOunclng right which it was never going
to exercise, and the treaty was allowed 10
stand because it tied the hands Of Great
Britain.
Senator Vest now imagines that the Brit
ish Government may invoke the treaty
against Federal aid to the Nicaragua Canal.
So it may. But It most certainly won't.
Next to the United States Great Britain is
the power which will benefit most by the
construction of the canal II would shorten
the distance between Liverpool and the
British colonies of Australasia aud Hong
Kong by thousands of miles and a dozen or
more days. Instead of opposing such an
Improvement England could afford t. pay
money to hasten it.
Senator Vest appears to belong to that
Bourbon set which does not realize that the
world has moved since 1850. The construc-
ton of the Panama Canal by Frenchmen
with French money was Hat defiance of
the Monroe doctrine. But the practical ad-
vantageS Which this country was certain to
derive from the construction of the canal
prevented any American protest against
tile work. So now, whatever spleen British
Tories may indulge in in view of the Ameri-
canizat0n of Central America by the con-
struction Of the Nicaragua Canal would give
way in view OF the benefits it would confer
on British shipping.
There are few days OF the session left.
Time presses. If the Canal Bill is to pass
not day should be wasted in bringing it to
vote. If the bill goes over, another year
will be wasted, and the opening of tie canal
may be deferred to the beginning of the
next century. 1t seems extraordinary, in
view of the palpabe interest which every
section of the country has in seeing the
canal built. that any statesman should im-
peril his influence by opposing it.