The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-02-09
The President and The cnnnI.

all, the Hay-Pauncefote resurrection Of
the Clayton Bulwe" Treaty would be rati-
fed by the Senate. and thus that what is
represented to be the dearest object Of
MIR. MoKinley's life would be accomplished.
the universal resentment of the American
people to the contrary notwithstanding.
II such a thing should happen, it would
then be proper to remark that the Presi-
dent had digged himself ditch much
deeper than the Nicaragua Canal will be
when completed.
1t is quite evident that the Administra-
tion has determined to sit down on the
situation in the Senate, in an eldeavor
a process of Ieisurely incubation. Aprar
emily it sets great store by the fact that
the Committee on Foreign Relations is
generally favorable. and the subcommittee
to whom the matter has been referred.
unanimously SO. The Administration
( leaders. therefore. think there is more
! than a fighting chance to convert enough
/ Senators through patronage ana plaza
! ton to finally land the fish. Let the
/ possibility be admitted; what then? If the
Hay Pauncetote convention is ratified
against the vehement protest OF the coun-
try, the fact will be accepted as public no.
ticc that President Mckinley would rather
secure the power and authority to build
an interoceanic canal for the commercial
benefit and military advantage Of Great
Britain than to enjoy a second term in the
White House. Ratification of the Ray
Pauncefote agreement in its present form
will involve thai choice. and the person |
who politically has most at stake in the
premises certainly ought to know it.
We are. reasonably confident that Mr.. Nc |
Kinley win be saved from fatal misstep |
in spite of himself by the patriotism which
is not yet dead in the Senate. 1t Ought TO
be certain that there are enough members
OF that body who realize the danger of al
lowing our enemies free ingress TO and |
egress from the canal in time of war to de-
feat the measure. even if Senators general
ly do not share the public feeling that it is
humiliating and infamous that we should
be only allowed to construct great Ameri-
can facility, necessary to the connection of
our East and West Coast lines. and to our
naval strategy upon occasion. under terms
and conditions prescribed by England and
for her own advantage. We are
willing to accord all possible weight to the
arguments. in favor of the Hay -Pauncefote
plan of British suzerainty, offered by earn
est advocates of the canal itself, and yet
the more we hear OF them. the palmer it
becomes that ratification of the Treaty
would be but another name for national
disgrace. In the Committee of Foreign Re
lations on Wednesday. Senator Morgan is
quoted. among other things. as saying that
airy necessity to fortify the canal would be
obvlated by fortified stations of the United
States in the Antilles, and in the Gala
pages Islands on the Pacific side. But the
Treaty distinctly declares that mo fortifi-
cations shall be erected commanding the
canal or the waters adjacent and we have
read the history OF England's diplomacy OF
the. sea TO little purpose, if that rule does
not in her view mean that the waters OF
the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean for a
indefinite distance from shore !
ire adjacent" and within the prohibition.
We should discover this to be true when
,ver We began the erection OF forts or dis
appearing batteries on the Islands in either t
direction.
We are told that, while the Adminlstra-
ion would have been pleased with an ar
that wcHld allow fertilization t
If the canal by the United States. such a t
lesire was never limited TO Great Britain, I
as the suggestion might have given
,Gence, Great Britain being the only power !
We would have to fear. As an Illustration
# jelly fish foreign policy this explanation
S at once notifying and startling. 1t is .,
lot true that Great Britain is the only
laval power competent to make trouble for
Is under the condition Of our inability =
o close the canal 10 an enemy in time of {
var. France has navy vastly superior
o ours in tonnage. guns. and men. In a Il
cry few years il is beyond question that y
he German Navy will be as powerful as :,
hat of France. But supposing that Eng Al
and were the only power able TO close the q
anal against US, why should we be SO J,
upinely timorous about opening the ques- a
ion OF fertilization with her? We have in
Ilowed England 10 fortify islands close a
D our shores for years, and have watched W
be steady progress OF preparations hsv- Q
ig no other possible object than the com >,
land Of our coasts. and of our future IL
mat with cheerful eomplsissnce Is any ~
ian mad enough TO suppose that were
be conditions reversed, England would
and anything OF that kind without i'm
rebate and effective protest: And YET. as
,rsoopi. we may rot even express a de is
re to be granted the boon OF permission -,
} protect our own property. for fear OF do
Tending the amour pro3re OF foreign 10
,wer whose guns brisue at every vantage