The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-01-23
THE SITUATION SEEMS TO BE IN
PROVING.

The way in which the resolutions Of
the Senate Committee on Foreign Analrs
regarding the Monroe doctrine have been
received by the Senate and by the couh-
try gives strong reason for hoping that
the sober second thought has set H.
and that the country is going, at least
10 treat this case i'm that common-sense
sort of way that the people Of the United
states usually get 10, however much the
oxcitable and thoughtless amongst them
may appear 10 take the lead al the De-
ginning. When 1t was announced that.
the committee had almost unanimously
resolved TO report Senator Davis reso-
buttons We supposed. OF course, that
they would promptly pass the Senate
with almost the same unanmity as they
secured in the committee. But they
struck a snag when they reached the
Senate. Instead of being promptly
nassed they went to the calendar where
they may sleep forever. They will nn-
doubtedly be called up from time TO
time that senators may use them ior
text upon which to hang speech TO
circulate amongst their constituents, but
the best of opinion at Washington Is
that they will never be brought TO
vote and will never pass the Senate il
they are. Nor should they. They have
no more relation to the doctrine that
Mr.. Monroe put out TO the world in 1923
than they have 10 the Japanese Constitu-
ton. and they mean neither more nor
less than that this Government proposes
10 establish a protectorate over the
Spanish-American countries TO the South
of US. so far. az least as 10 fight al
their battles for them. whether IL as
sumes their liabilities or not. AIR. Mon
roe and the statesmen OF his day had no
more idea of putting out such doctrine
as that than they had Of asking the Car of
Russia 10 become sovereign of the United
States. 1t is doctrine which we cannot
adopt too. without deliberately agreeing
beforehand TO be at perpetual war with
all the rest OF the world for there is
10 insult or injury the petty States of
South America will not put upon Euro
pean powers if they are given to under
stand the United States will stand be-
tween them and harm. and fight their
battles for them when they are called
10 account.
There is. outside Of the general scope Of
these resolutions. one that has particu-
lar significance. which requires that it
shall be consider upon its own merits
before II Is adopted II in effect de-
clares that this country VIII not, allow
Great Britain 10 have any share OF part
in the construction of the Nicaragua
Canal. But We agreed with England. by
the Clayton-B ulwer treaty that that
canal. when constructed. should be under
the joint control Of England and America
and II that treaty binds MS to-day. we
we do no, see how this country can. with
any sort Of regard for its pighted word
declare that England shall have no
voice in controlling il when II is built
We have looked carefully into this ques-
ton. and We can find no ground upon
which IL can be said that the Clayton
Bulwer treaty Is not binding in this coun-
try. This resolution should therefore. be
separated from the others. in any event.
and be made 10 stand or fall according
10 It's own merits.
We were very much struck yesterday
by the cable report from London that The
American correspondent OF the London
Times had cabled that paper that he had
personal knowledge that both Mr.. Cleye-
land and Secretary Olney have a strong
and most cordial wish for an early and
complete settlement OF the dispute with
Great Briiain-one that viii involve no
discred.t 10 either government--and hint
Ing at the existence Of belief in those
quarters that such a settlement may be
speedily reached. In the name OF COM
mon sense. then. why did these two gen.
uemen get up this row? Nothing would