The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-12-27
THE CLAYT0N-BULwER TREATY.

To what extent the New York World will
influence Democratic House is as yet a
matter for conjecture. We regret TO see,
however, that this influence will be cast
against the Nicaragua canal. In a late issue
the " orld said:
The proposal Is one OF subsidy, pure and
simple though under he disguise OF loan.
secured by a mortgage upon Ihe canal as Mr.
Rayn- r OF Maryland has pointed out. the mort
gage is one which could never be foTeclosed.
because under the Clayton Buiwer treaty our
Government is forbidden To own or control
Nicaragua canal.
The Ciayton-Bulw treaty is now about
forty years old. 1t has been allowed to
exist all this time for the reason that early
in its life it fell into a condition Of innoc-
uous desueiude. 1t was well-meant eff
fort to adjust difficulties that had not
arisen, and when something like these
ANTICIPATED difficulties did show themselves
the conditions around them were so differ
emf from what had been expected that the
agree ment did not apply with sufficient
force TO warrant either party TO the treaty
in making An appeal to it. 1t has been a
long time, if ever. since its provisions have
been much considered in shaping national
| policy. In a certain vague way the treaty
| has been regarded as a surrender by the
United States of a national right to do
things necessary for its own protection.
But if this ancient treaty were as vital as
its authors intended it to be. there is no
clause in it which provides that it shall last
forever.
1t may be amended or abrogated at any
time in the usual way. No one really sup
poses that ii VIII be allowed to stand in the
way of policy the United States de-
IN foil W al
treaty was passed what commerce there
was between the Atlantic and Pacific
coasts had become accustomed to the Cape
Horn route. There was no Suez canal
which shortened the distance from Europe
to Asia and thus made an American short
route an absolute necessity. There were no
railroads across the continent, no steam
vessels Of war TO hover on either coast and
strike where blow would be most effective
In short, the Clayton Bulwer treaty only ap-
piled to a project of constructing a canal to
connect the Atlantic and Pacific oceans on
general principles. The fundamental idea
| of the treaty is that neither party to il
should do anything TO strengthen its position
without the consent of the other How
radically unSOund this idea is nay be in
| feTred from the fact that the United States
was tying its own hands so far as measures
or self-defense were concerned, while Eng
land was only providing for the govern
ment of distant provinces. Now that there
are productive American States on the
Pacific Coast the ACCESSIBILITY of opening up
the shortest route between the two coasts
becomes apparent. The imperative neces-
sity of controlling this shortest route is
equally apparent. The route opened and in
the hands Of an enemy would be a source Of
weakness instead Of strength. Tie World
says that the 500. goo. 600 the canal will cost
is the peoples money. So is the S5.O00.000 a
modern warship costs. So is the 500. OOO0 600
| or $500, 600 that the Government might
expend in preparing for a war that the
possession Of the canal would avert. The
duty of Government is to spend the peO-
pies money, as much Of it as may be neces-
sary, 10 promote the Interests Of the people