The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-02-15
AN OBJECTIONABLE TREATY.

As The Post has already said, there Is
not before the country a more important
ISSUE than that embraced within the
proposition to construct the Nicaragua
canal. It is clearly tho intention Of con
gress to have the government proceed OK
peditiously to the construction OF this ca
nal, but extraordinary haste ought not
TO permit the inauguration Of the vast
enterprise upon an understanding with
foreign power that would rise hereafter
to embarrass the United states, or to
estop them, in the possible hour Of ma
tional emergency. from the absolute con-
troll OF the canal.
The Clayton Bulwer treaty, by geich
Great Britain was guaranteed that in the
construction of the canal by this govern
ment she should use st ooequally with
ourselves. and that We would not iortity
1t, has been sufficiently explained In these
columns, No statesman or publlcist whose
opinion is worthy of quotation. has in
recent years contonded that this govern
ment could wisely consider the coustruc-
I tion OF the Nicaragua canal, except on the
utter abrogation Of tho Clayton Bulwer
/ treaty.
| Assuming that Great Britain would not
readily consent TO the abandonment of this
particular treaty. American statesmen had
come TO lay the predicate for its efface-
ment in the showing that Great Britain
had already ignored It in the act OF the
! seizure and fertilization OF port OF Hon
duras In violation OF its express stlpula-
tons, From these facts the country. in
logical turn. had come to believe that the
Nicaragua canal would never be under
taken by this government until the OBJ
struction OF the Clayton Bulwer treaty
was removed or that treaty displaced BY
another dictated by the United states,
and chat should not take away from them
such control and fertilization OF the pro-
ieeted canal as national caution and fore
sight should deem necessary.
Now, since Great Britain kindly consents
to the substitution of the Hay Pauncc
iote for the Clayton Bulwer compact
IN which former agreement all the oblee-
tionable features OF the last named treaty
are revived and perpeeuated, the coun-
Try is somewhat surprised TO be told IN
eneet' by no less a parsonage than Senator
Morgan OF Alabama. that the ratification
OF the Hay-Pauncefote treaty will not be
defeated by Americans who regard with
anected suspicion any dealings proposed
with England.
Would Senator Morgan be content and
secure in proceeding with the construction
OF the Nicaragua canal under the terms
ana stipulations OF the now obsolete Clay
ton-Bulwer treaty? Certainly not. Then
why does he now advocate procedure
under treaty that substantially pre-
serves the identical terms OF the orlainal
treaty TO which unrelenting objection has
peen urged so senslhly by every Thought.
,ui american whom Anglomanla has mol
Invested of independence and courageg
me impuiation. from the Alabama
senator that Americans who oppose The
construction OF the Nicaragua canal ak
eept upon the right OF unequivocal control,
ana fortihcation, are moved by eonsldero-
lions OF affected alarm or preind,ca
against Great Britain, is wholly gratuitous
and without foundation in fact or legitl-
mate inference.
On the contrary unprejudiced students
q the times are Impressed with the idea
that me powers that be. in this and her
vital transactions that AFFECT tho solldar,tv
aud initiative Of this republic. haye shown
pronounced disposition to accord weak
and timid seauiescsnee 70 Briush desire,