The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-12-25
British loneliness.

Tnc utterances OF the London Times
concerning the amended Hay-Pauncefote
treaty evince foolish sensitiveness which
office. It says. .the amended treaty is a
bargain to which we cannot agree. and to
which no reasonable American who takes
the trouble to reflect upon our side OF the
question can expect us to agree" In the
name OF all reasonable Americans. we
ask why not?''
Assuming that the unamended treaty
was acceptable. as il appeared TO he. there
is but one change in II as approved by the
senate TO which Great Britain could pos
sibly offer an objection The changes in
all were three. One provides specifically
that the acceptance OF this treaty shall
abrogate the Clayton Bulwer agreement.
Az this was known TO be the reason for
opening negotiations. II ought not to he
surprising or offensive. Another cancels
the article which provided that. when the
treaty was completed. the other nations
of the world should be invited to agree to
It's terms. AS it's subject matter deals
solely with affairs on this continent, and
as Great Britain. by virtue OF the Clay
ton-Bnlwer treaty. is the only country that
we are bound TO consult, the fear that
such a concession would impair the force
OF the Monroe doctrine was Natural one
Certainly there is no such love for Eng
land in any country on the continent that
she need get into a hun because we do
not wish to make them parties to treaty
with her.
The third amendment IS that which
gives to the United states such power
to protect its interest in the canal as was
conferred on Turkey when the Suez canal
was built Here, again. while Great Brit
ain might have preferred the other course,
we find no reason why she should be
touchy. If this canal is built, 1t will be
through territory acquired by us, and
with money furnished not by private cap
italists but by the people OF the United
States. 1t is not unreasonable that they
should wish TO exercise certain police
power over what Is. in every sense, their
property. We claim to be Reasonable
Americans: and as such we not only ex-
pect Great Britain to accept the amend
ments, but we should like much to hear
one reason why they are Objectionable.
The chief occasion OF British sensitive
ness. as we gather from the comments OF
the London press. is entire ignorance on
that side OF the water of the conditions
under which treaties can be concluded by
the United States. They argue from their
own presidents. This is obvious from
their expressed Irritation against Presl-
dent Mckinley. They seem to think It
improper and unworthy OF him to have
yielded to the wishes of the senate. They
have no appreciation of the fact that the
constitution makes the senate coordinate
with him In the formation OF treaties; and
that any government which enters into
treaty relations with us must deal not
only with the president. but with the SEN
ate OF the United States.
European nations make treaties through
their cabinets The foreign office conducts
negotiations: and II the government APP
proves. the nation is bound. But tho
president of the United States alone has
no more power to make treaty than he
has to pass a tariff bin or declare a war.
so the senate. in amending the Hay
Pauncefote treaty, was not playing a
game OF politics with England and the
American vote, was not laying down con-
ditions for the executive. was not In
suting the secretary OF state. but was
performing plain constitutional duty. II
was acting as entirely within It's sphere
as Lord Paunoefote was I'm his. An I'M
Outstanding OF this point. IL Great Brit
tain could be made to understand n.
might quiet the nervous irritability dis
closed BY the comments of the Times.
Aside from this, there Is no dlscoverable
reason why she should ride the hish horse
when the amended treaty is presented 10
her for consideration. she may Also rec
olIect. In proper season. that whether the
Hay-Pauneefots treaty stands or falls.
the American people have declared that
the Ciayton- Bulwer treaty must go.
reader Of the Post-inteIligencer sub
mits to ms this difficulty;
IN a very popular boarding house yes
teraaS N THIS city there were forty'-four
people who did not know what we are
now asking You TO publish In Your next
L..l-.- NH ha.... Il - -.