The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-11-25
SUNDAY. NOVEMBER %, 1900.
Observation-Disclosures,

Senator Elkins, of West Virginia, talked
to a reporter in Washington a day or SO
back, and, In the course Of his talk, ne
made the following statement:
..The Nicaragua Canal bill is the great
es+ thing besore this Congress- said Sen
ator Elkins. with great emphasis. yester-
day. as he discussed the programme OF
legislation. 1T is to be an American en-
terprise in every sense OF the Woro, oulit
by American brains and American money,
and must be controlled by the United
States
How about the Hay-Pauncefote trea-
typ o.,.
The canal bill should be passed, treaty
or no treaty. My personal opinion is that
the treaty cannot be passed IN the form
in which it was sant to the senate 90
not believe that it is the sense OIL Inc
American people that we shall SURRENDER
our control of the canal. If We build the
canal with our money, we must controi
it in any and every Way that we desire.
If We want Qualifications, we must be al
lowed to build them without asking the
consent of Great Britain consulting
with that country in any degree, 1t is
possible that In the future We Shall want
to make the canal wholly neutral, but
that is for future, Congresses to decide.
FOR the present, the canal must be Amerl-
can in every sense of the word. re-
peat, therefore, that l would like to see
the canal bill speedily passed. and Meth
er the treaty nor the attitude of any Eu-
ropean Government ought to be an obsta-
Gle. OF course, you understand that the
President must make satisfactory ar
engagements with the Governments of
Costa Rica and Nicaragua. When these
arrangements have been made and the
bill has become law. 1 want to see the
enterprise pushed forward with all posi-
BILE speed
Senator Elkins is not whit more anx-
ious to see the Nicaragua Canal 3:,iit
than The Times is, but anxious or indiffer-
ent. when it is built it must be built
right.
Mr.. Ell1ins plainly means in the above
that he wants to see the United States
Government take hold Of this enterprise
and cut the canal through the isthmus
without asking any other Power anything
whatever about it. If any Power is in
terested in the subject this Government
will be very glad to hear that it approves
Of what we are doing But if 1t does
not approve, then the best thing it can do
is to say nothing. as this Government Will
go right ahead with the busine IS. whether
that other Power likes it or not
We have taken The trouble to make
critical examination OF the Clayton -Bul-
wer treaty, entered into moro than i!ty
years ago by the United States and Great
britain. and it is as plain as anything
can be. that. for good and sufficient con-
sideration. We agreed with Great Britain
in that treaty that we would not build
this canal except upon conference with
her and with due regard for certain
reservations which she made in that
treaty. For US TO pitch that treaty OVER
board and declare 10 the world that we
intend 10 create this canal in our own
way. and without the slightest regard for
the rights Of any others, would be ia
grant violation Of good faith and confsca-
lion of property rights that belonged to
other parties. No true patriot can ever
be willing to see his country place herself
in such a position, as that. The Nicaragua
Canal is a most important work-one. we
might say, that is indispensable to the
full development of the destiny of this
country. But we had better nave our
destiny unfui!iiled than tc secure its full
tilinent by any such measures as that.
Besides, to attempt such thing would
necessarily mean gigantic war with
Great Britain. She could not permit us
TO do 1t without fighting us. Her very
existence would be at stake. If she per-
mitted US to wrest from her clear right
like this. every other Power would dsspoi.
her of what IT wished whenever occasion
arose She would be compelled to fight
Us. Is the Nicaragua Canal. important
as it is. worth such price as that?
There is no difficulty about the matter.
All that is necessary is 10 deal reasonably
with England. and she viii consent TO our
building the canal upon terms that viii
secure us al that We require.
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