The times., 1899-07-29
spoolss of Trcnty Rights.

SpoOlSs of Treaty Rights.
In its desperate search for arguments
to support the opposition of the transcon-
tinental railroad interests to the isthmian
canal enterprise, the New York Evening
Post" points to the fact that the Mic
araguan Government, which really is no
Government at all, is bound up in treaties
with Great Britain, Spain, Italy, France,
and Belgium, which our contemporary
characterizes as lions" in the path of our
efforts. Editor Godkin, of course, thinks
he has discovered mares nest which will
frighten Uncle Sam. But he will find that
this will act no more as damper upon
the national determination to unite the
waters of the Atlantic and Pacific by a
ship channel across Nicaragua than will
the other lurid outcries' of the canal op-
position. +.,7-
The Clayton Bulwer treaty, which has
been the only thing presented by the enc
mics of national progress as the insuper
able obstacle in the way, is proof posi-
tive of the himsiness of treaties with
Spain. Italy. France. and Belgium as pre-
texts against the diplomatic practical
sent arguments along this line, the claim
could rlghtfully be madesthat the Clayton
Bulwer instrument. being the last to which
the bauble Government of Nicaragua sub
scribed, nullified all the other numerous
conventions on the subject; and as Great
Britain had violated her obligation by
planting colony on Che tabooed terri
bYJ Cd
and abandoned. But no genuine friend of
the project goes so far afield as this in
search of arguments TO support our tight
to construct and control for all time the
canal. Our right is based upon principle
that mounts high above all technical con-
siderations. Ii is that We are the masters
of the New World. the custodian of en-
lightened liberty and progress, and that
no old forms and obsolete conventions
shall block our course In the develop
ment of the national purpose the Nicaragua
Canal has become a necessity. and this na-
| tion is going to construct and control 1t.
II makes no more difference what Euro
pean or any other nations may say about
it than what shortsIghted craftsmanship.
consciously or unconsciously in the employ
| of transcontinental railroad interests, may
! say or do. Their claims are all alike-mere
cobwebs across the path Of American prog
ress. Even if Nicaragua should object we
would not longer halt in our advance than
would be required to locate the proper ex-
cuse for brushing aside that obstacle by
| elevating the stars and Stripes on every
mast now supporting the Nicaraguan Cag.
! OF course. we shall look for the palterers
in Congress and out to make great ado
over Editor Godkin's mares nest 1t is
their business to shy off at every spook in
the hope of the country following them
from its path of destiny. But these OBJ
structors will be driven out OF public life
when the people find them out and will be
execrated, just as Clayton is now exc
Grated for the betrayal of the sacred in
terests entrusted to him in former rego-
tiations on the subject of the isthmian
canal.
For the benefit OF Editor Codkin and ev-
erybody like him, it may be well to repeat
that this nation is going reconstruct and
control the Nicaraguan Canal, in defiance
alike of all supposititious treaty rights
and obligations and of the opposition Of
transcontinental railroad interests. The
enemies of the project would as we'll make
up their minds to the inevitable.