The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-12-07
Not Clear Sailing Yet,

Some papers have taken the ground
that with the conclusion OF the treaty
with Nicaragua signed by Secretary
Hay last Saturday, all obstacles to the
construction Of the Nicaragua canal
were removed. and that 1t would be
plain sailing for the passage of the
canal bill by Congress. This does not
appear to be the case. The New York
Times, a firm friend Of the sthmian
canal. sounds n note OF warning to the
advocates of the measure. stating that
the project always had Its enemies
open or secret. and that they have been
and are active at Washington In pre-
venting favorable action, It cites In
support OF this contention that "if the
Hay.Pauncefote treaty fails Of ratiflca-
ton In the senate and the Hepburn bill
Is passed and sent to the President he
Will be compelled to veto 1t. That bill
rides rough shod over the Clayton Bull
wer treaty, convention Of which tho
validity has been repeatedly recognized
by the government Of the United States
during the half century 1t has been in
force. and Of which the President and
the secretary Of state have recently
again formally recognized the binding
force by negotiating another treaty to
abrogate certain Of Its provisions. A
treaty In force is the law Of the land"
The pertinent thing 10 do at this juno
ture 1t would seem, would be the ratIfi-
cation Of the -Pauncefote. treaty,
or ut least secure some modification of
the Clayton-Bulwer convention in some
other way. for. Us the Times remarks,
the President would not be justified in
signing canal bill that would give
provocation for war to Il great and
friendly nation with which the Amrri-
can people wish to remain at ptace. By
the terms Of the Ciayton-Bulwer treaty
we agreed not to undertake the con-
struction and control Of an lsthmian ca
nal. The Hepburn bill provides for the
building. control. operation. and protec-
ton OF the Nicaragua canal as an exclu-
sively American enterprise. The meas
ure Is wantonly offensive. not merely to
England, but to all sober minded and
rlSht-thinking Americans. who are
shocked at the Idea that their country
can be guilty Of this exhibition of va
hoo international manners.
This administration Is fully commit
ted to the policy OF the ay-Pauncefote
treaty, which It has negotiated and
commended to the favorable action OF
the senate. The Hepburn bill repre-
sents the Numerically opposite policy.
1t would be amazing IL the President
should surrender his own matured con-
illusions and embrace the contrary
Views OF Congress upon matter Of this
grave Importance. Congress might
pass the bill over his veto-that he
could not prevent. But he would then
be free from responsibility. 1t would
be his duty to veto the bill. We can
Imagine no conditions under which he.
could give It his approval save one.
The British foreign office Nigh. agree
te 4 formal abrogation OF the Clayton
Hulwer treaty. That would leave us
free. to act honorubly. 1t Is not at all
likely that Great Britain will take that
course.
II the treaty falls and the Hepburn
bill 10 sent to the President, therefore,
1t Is extremely likely that the canal pro-
ject WIN fail altogether. The President
must veto the bill, Congress will not
pass 1t over his veto--at least. 1t will
not do SO II he sets forth with vigor his
reasons for disapproval-and the con-
sruction OF the canal will he put Oft
til the Greek kalends''