The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-12-27
no IT RIGHT.

An Isthmian Canal IS by no means a
/ now subject for discussion. When we
made The convention with Great Britain
some fifty years ago that goes by the
name Of the Clayton Bulwer treaty the
subject had even then assumed such
proportions that its possibility was as
sumed. and the treaty accordingly pro-
vided that neither country would dig
such a canal without the consent Of the
other. and that each should possess GER
tain rights in it, whichever one did the
actual work.
In recent years, since the construc-
ton of the Nicaraguan Canal has become
matter of such imminence, the lingo
element Of the population has found this
treaty TO be a sad embarrassment to
their scheme. and many have advocated
an open renunciation of it, and notice
to Great Britain that we would build
thu canal when we got ready without
regard 10 her wishes or views. The late
James G. Blaine who, perhaps. repre-
scented the lingo more completely than
any other public man we have ever had
wrote our Minister at London while
Secretary of State a letter to be shown
Lord Salisbury. in which, about as trucu-
IDENTIFY as we have ever known PROPOSE
ton to be couched, he minated to him
that this country would build the canal
upon its own terms when it got ready.
OF course. no canal would ever have
been built if that position had been Sc
riously taken and adhered to. England
would have fought us before she would
have submitted TO any such wilful tres
pass upon her rights. She had acquired
rights in the proposed canal by con-
cesslons based upon promises of other
advantages, her rights were absolute as
any rights depending on contract could
be. and for her to have submitted 10
the injury and more which the Blaine
character of statesmen threatened her
with. would have been for her 10 abdi-
cate her position Of a self-respecting ma
ton. and admit before the world that
she would no longer maintain her rights
when they were assaied
1t is q source of unmixed satisfaction
to The Times that the jingo statesman
appears 20 have retired I'm great measure
from the discussion Of this subject. and
that the dictates Of reason and common
sense seem to be now in the ascendant
It comes out from Washington that Mr.
Mckinley has had Lord Salisbury APP
preached TO know the terms upon which
Great Britain will concede 10 us the cX-
elusive right to construct the Nicaraguan
Canal. and that he has instructed Sir
Julian Pauncefote, the English Ambas-
sador at Washington TO enter upon negO-
tiauons with this Government with
view to according us the right which
We seek That is another evidence Of
Mr. McKinlcy's conservatism, good sense
and craftsmanship. There are plenty Of
successors TO James q. Blaine in his
party who are ready to enter upon
Blaine's line of policy and destroy the
good relations between us and England
by seeking to rob her Of what is her
own
Nor are such statesmen confined TO the
Republican party. The Washington Post
OF Saturday last quotes Senator Morgan,
Of Alabama as favoung the immediate
construction of the canal without any
reference to the treaty. His reasons are
that conference with Great Britain means
delay, and the present session Of Con-
gress may expire while the conference is
going on.
We agree with Senator Morgan that
it is very important that the present
session should pass the canal bin, and
that construction Of the canal should
be begun as soon as possible. But We
had better never have a canal impor-
tant-even necessary as it is-than TO
break our pliehted faith with another
nation. and especially with England,
whose fraternal relations with us as now
established are the most important factor
in the worlds existing status.
Let us build the canal, and as soon
as possible, but let it be done in the
right way.