Omaha daily bee., 1897-01-23

oliherAtely in the United States senate and
t demands an answer"
Raising his right hand, Mr. Morgan
brought II down with res Jtindlng force on
he desk. and added: THAT answer must be
given before there Is any ratification OF
his new arbitration trC1ty."
Mr.. Morgan said that It was an unusual
thing that the minister Of this new republic
should send such a communication. IL
these governments desired to forfeit any
concessions they should DO Il, and then the
American congress would determine II there
had been a violation OF contract rights
given to American citizens"
Mr.. Hale interposed the suggestion that
Minister Roderiguez's letter seemed TO raise
a grave question as to whether the measure
under consideration could proceed. Whc.her
this could be explained away or not he wa7
not able to say but he asked Mr.. Morgan. In
charge of the bill as to the status since the
presentation Of this letter
Other senators interposed questions, and
intense interest was shown in the presence
OF the unexpected letter. Senatoro Davis,
! Brce and others gathered around Mr.. Gray's
desk and took turns In reading the minis
| ter's letter. Mr.. White asked II there was
a minister from Nicaragua. Mr.. Morgan eX-
planned the diplomatic status, and then de-
clared with emphasis: This Is an imperti-
nent intrusion, thrust in our face while the
senate Is seeking 10 deal Win lne lSthiiidi
question"
Mr.. Morgan favored making Nicaragua
live up to her contract and concessions
Until lately she had favored American
construction CT the canal And yet sc comes
here with two other Central American coun-
tries and raises objections which, II held
to be good would end the prospect OF Ameri-
can control of the Nicaraguan canal The
American people would not quietly give up
the right to control that great waterway,
whatever clamor may be raised for peace
treaty with Great Britain. The presentation
of this letter coming from the secretary OF
state meant that the president OF the United
States had determined that the pending
Nicaraguan canal bill was not to be allowed
to pass. That was a remarkable threat ana
yet 1t was so in line with previous executive
action that Mr. Morgan said he felt quite
prepared for the interference.
Mr. White, democrat OF California, sug-
gested that the latter had been sent by
the secretary of state to the committee on
foreign relations for its private lnforma-
ton, and the chairman (Mr. Sherman) had
undertaken to make 1t public in the senate.
Mr.. Morgan said the real cause for the
appearance of this Rodriguez letter was
that 1t proposed a renewal of the Freling-
huysen- -Savi,la treaty, by which we were
to pay Nicaragua $i,0OOOOO
"Does Nicaragua wish to handle that
"a. 900, ,OOO?" inquired Mr. Morgan. suggest
lively. The senator believed this was the
real motive for the appearance OF the let
ter. Let this minister send that state
ment back to his government" exclaimed
Mr. Morgan
Mr.. Morgan referred to the position Of
Mr. Sherman as to treaties affecting the
canal
Il will say" interjected Mr.. Sherman
that / favor the Nicaraguan canal"
Mr.. Morgan said the letter of Mr.. Rod
eriguez was in effect a notice to the senate
not to pass the Nicaraguan canal bill
With this threat "louted in our faces" and
the AngloA American treaty standing ahead
of us, the United States senate might as
well close its work and surrender it's func-
tions as to accept the views OF this minister
about whom the senate knows nothing.
Mr.. Hale insisted that the minister's pro-
ject was Of the gravest consequence. Pro-
ceeding. Mr.. Morgan said 1t was regrettable
that senators were under such contempt
from the president that they were not in
formed as to the circumstances OF Mr..
Roderiguez's recognition But the senate
was in such a humiliating position that the
president gave 1t no information as to this
important question. The entire plan of
building the canal might as well be aban-
doned II this threat from Mr.. Rodriguez
was needed. Would the next step be to
ratify a treaty which further hedged and
protected Great Britain? That might satisfy
some gentlemen who liked foreign titles
and decorations and arlsocracy, but it did
not suit him, and he would not approve It.
why has Nicaragua come In at the last
hour, just as the bill is about to pass?"
asked Mr.. Morgan. at Is because she has
some strong power standing behind her."
He said this was a serious moment in
the senate. It was being rendered "a
halter" with which to hang itself for at least
five years. The United States had stood
by silently while the British occupied Cor
rinto. And now this proposition of black
mail was presented, which threatened to de-
stroy the bill. He expected and awaited a
motion to recommit the bill.
Mr.. Hale felt the word "blackmail" was i'll
chosen, and that Nicaraguas motives were
not open to such insinuations.
The subject was laid aside temporarily to
receive two messages from the president, one
a veto to the bill relative to judicial dis
tricts in Texas, and the other submitting a
list OF Cuban claims, in accordance with a
resolution of the senate calling for informa-
ti0n.
Returning to the Nicaragua canal debate
Mr.. Villas said the communication from the
minister of a friendly power had dealt a
deathblow to the pending canal bill The
senator paid a high tribute to the Central
american states, and severely criticised the
statement that "blackmail" was implied by
the communication just presented.
A motion by Mr.. Daniel, democrat of Vr-
ginia that when the senate adjourn it be
until Monday, developed the absence of a
quorum and the senate at 445 p. m. ad-