The times., 1897-03-21
beware of the Greeks.

In reporting the arbitration treaty TO
the Senate NJ Davis Of Minnesota Is
said to have held that all dangers to this
pountry could be eliminated by an amend
uert, proposed 10y the Foreign AffairsCom
nittee, and providing that questions in
tended TO lie a. bitrated upon should first
be submitted to the Senate for its action,
exactly as IN the case Of proposed treaties.
AS alternative to another proposed
amendment, providing for exclusion from
Ehe scope and operation OF the treaty all
questions affecting any application Of the
Monroe doctrine, or our right to build and
sontroI the Nicaragua Canal, the Davis
proposition does not strike Us as entirely
satisfactory, although little need be said
against it if it We're coupled with the
gther
Very fun admissions in the British press
ought TO convince anyone that tie Monroe
doctrine and the Nicaragua Canal were
very distinctly in the minds Of tie gentle
men who framed the original draft There
san be no reasonable doubt that it was in
tended TO place US in 4 ICsiticn where the
question Of the Clayton -BuIwer treaty
could be forced to settlement in tribunal
carefully constituted to enact the British
uew Of that natter There were other
concealed intentions we are quite sure,
but they do not pertain to the present point
That point is one which we wish par
hcuIarly to emphasize at this time. 1t
seems necessary to do SO, since our inter-
ssts in the Nicaragua Canal project and
prospect are Of such national Importance
that nothing should be left to chance in
The effort to protect them, either in the
ratification or this treaty or any other
connection. On this account the Senate
cannot be too careful, and if the Olney-
Pauncefote bait is to be swallowed at
all, it should not be without a specific and
binding declaration on the point IL ques-
lion.
II such action amounted 20 superfluous
protection it could do no harm. If it
should prove to be not superfIuous in the
future, the nation would have to thank
sbe provision Of the Senate, We consider
Senator Davis a good man and a good
citizen, but we should not like to trust
Dur chances OF ever building and con
trolling the Nicaragua Canal to his keep
Ing. He is not the kind Of leopard
that easily changes his spots, and for
years be has appeared before the country
as the able, bitter, and unrelenting foe
Of the Nicaragua Canal project With
out just reason the transcuntinentaI rail-
way power has vigorously opposed the
eanal from she dayit first was proposed
Transcontincntal railway interests are
potent political factors in the Northwest,
and it is additionally probable that the
people Of Minnesota and other interior
States, believe that the great Central
American waterway would divert the
Pacific commerce and transportation they
now share into u new channel We do
not believe such result would follow,
but that is not the question.
without any intention TO attack the
bona ffdes of Senator Davis personal
attitude in the matter, his position Of
record is one which would appear to
justify the view that he would not be
particularly sorry to witness the de
structiou OF the canal scheme 1t results
that he might not shed many tears if the
arbitration treaty should, by and by. hap
pen TO develop the opportunity and power
to crush the national ambition and pur-
pose in the same connection.