The herald., 1894-12-24
ENGLAND AND THE BIG CANAL,
Britain's Interest Causes Some,
Speculation.
Secretary Gresham's Work for Peace
in the Orient.
Rstirtng Members Of Congress who WIN
Return to Law Prsctics-stsn-
ford aud the Pages.

WASHINGTON, Dec. Z5.-In6 1eto OF
the Nicaragua canal bill still hangs in
the balance, and is likely to remain
doubtful up to ths very hour of taking
the vote. The great difficulty in the
way is the Clayton-Bulwer treaty. By
the provisions Of this it is impossible for
the United states to acquire any interest
in or control over the canal, except in
purely financial way, that does not also
accrue to Great Britain. The United
States cannot forsify the mouth of the
canal, or take any special rights or priv
ileges az . nation in its control, without
granting exactly the same privileges to
England. II is this fact. more than any
other, that has caused delay in the sem
ste, snl may cause it in the house. al
though that body il understood to be
favorable to the bill.
The government has been trying to
persuade England to relinquish these
rights, and recently rumor has pres
vailed that she has done go. The prin-
cipal authority for the report seems to
have been . ststement made by Senator
Morgan, chairman of the foreign rela>
tions COMMITTEES, that England would
not interfere with the building of the
canal by the United States" This may
be true, and yet that country may rigidly
stick to her demand for her pound OF
flesh. People who know her ways best
are very slow to believe that she means
to surrender any right she may possess
without an excellent quid pro quo, and
il is not easy to see just what the United
States has to offer her.
THE ORIENTAL WAR.
The stste department is somewhat
worried over the situation in China
nowadays. II the negotiations now pend.
ing result in fair terms of peace being
brought about through the assistance of
the United States, it will be q great
feather in Secretary Gresham's cap. If
they fail there will be more or less per.
scnal humiliation for him. In no case
will the standing of the United States be
injured, % tie negotiations have been
conducted with much care. In spite of
tho torrents of abuse that have been
poured out upon Mr.. Gresham by the
New York Herald and other papers that
foam at the mouth whenever the United
States takes tho least action in regard
10 foreign affairs. it 10 safe to say
that when the Jspansse correspondence
"a made public it will show that Uncle
~am's course has been dignified and
..umane throughout.
There is unquss tionably very strong
interest at work to prevent the ratifica-
Ton OF the Japanese treaty, and there
teems to be no doubt that the prime
movers in it are English merchants.
l-fn -. u
thereby destroy the great influence of
ARE this country's trade with her. A
thrt of this conspiracy consists in the
,rvamping in Toxic of the stories about
Japanese atrocities at Port Arthur and
tns cabling of them to this country.
ine:s stories were promptly met and
exploded, but have been brought up
gain and again. and always conclude by
some remark about the ratification of
the treaty. The plot lie not likely to
succeed. The almost universal opinion
here is that the "Japs didn't do it, and
they we're perfectly justi6able il they
did"
BACK TO THE LAW.
Inquiry into the intentions OF the
msmbers of congress whose terms ex-
IRE with this session, as to their future
ORR, elbows that most OF them will re-
urn to the practice OF law. OF the Cali
lornia members, two, Geary and Cami-
netti, will resume court work English
will wait awhile for something to turn
mp. and Cannon will cultivate his farm
and the Farmsrs' alliance. Mr.. Sweet
Of Idaho 10 cunning for Senator shoup's
place. If he does not get it he, too, will
practice lay. Mr.. Wilson of Washing-
ton also has his eyes fixed On the senate.
The senate pages mies the late Sena-
tor Stanford this year. During his life
here he used always to remember them
at Christmas in one way or another.
His usual gilt to them was IS apiece,
and good dinner at his house. In adj
dition he would often give them come
little article OF jewelry. such aa q scarf
pin, or pair oil uf-buttons. or soms-
thing Of the sort. On one occas ion be
gave each q handsome watch. The
boys fairly worshiped him. and would
do anything to serve him. Other soma
tors usually give the boys something.
but few, even in that rich mans
club" can afford to be as open.hands cd
as was Senator Stanford.