The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-12-08

In short. the proper attitude toward all
Christmas gifts-or any other kind-which
are given generously and with love and
good willis that OF pleasure at the
kindly thought which prompted the 6iver,
whether the article itself has its flaws
Or not If this pleasure cannot he felt.
perhaps i. is venial sir to simulate il;
but it is better to cultivate the feeling
Reject 1t Altogether
We earnestly commend the logic and
common sense OF Mr. TeIIer,s speech on
the Hay-Pauncefote Treaty, delivered in
the executive session of the Senate yes
terday. to his colleagues. AS he holds,
there is clean short cut to definite
and final settlement of the whole canal
question. in simply denouneing the Clay
ton-Bulwer Treaty and notifying Great
Britain that the United States proposes
to build, operate. protect, and defend its
own canal in its own way, and viii not
tolerate the least foreign interference in
the connection.
That IS what should have been done in
the first place The Hay Pauncefote
Treaty. as a surprise surrender of Ameri-
can paramountcy in the Western Hemis-
phere, and as fragrant insult to Ameri-
can patriotism, never should have been
considered by the Senate except to the
extent Of rejecting it without debate II
has been tolerated because of the strange
anxiety for its ratification displayed by
Mr.. Mckinley. probably due to some pri-
vate engagement 10 the British Govern
ment 1t is a convention which might be
rendered less odious by amendment, but
it would be difficult to SO change its text
and meaning as to knock the Clayton
Bulwer Treaty on the head. provide for
! the fertilization of our waterway. and
generally make the agreement acceptable
to this country.
Were that possible il is not TO be sup
posed that treaty which public senti-
ment in this country would approve would
be accepted by Great Britain. In any
event it is certain that an amended con-
vention would be examined and considered
at great leisure by Lord Salisbury, and We
might not secure decision from him IN
til after he had exhausted all the re-
sources of British diplomacy TO head US
of IN Central America.
Since national opinion is dead set
against the Hay-Pauneefote Treaty, and
it does not seem possible of ratification
unless radically altered in purpose, the
utility of making it the basis of action at
all would appear open to question. The
Teller idea is the straightforward one. If
we should do what ought to have been
done years ago, and declare that the Clay
ton-Bulwer Treaty, never eonstitutionaIly
ratified, its terms violated by England al
most Immediately after its pseudo ratf-
feation. is not and never has been binding
upon the United states there would be no
occasion for such a supplemental agree
ment as the Hay-Pauncefote Treaty. It
then might be rejected, and the passage
of the Hepburn Morgan bill would do the
rest.
Administration intimates tell Us that
such course would give serious offence
in Downing Street We have not a doubt
of it. But the mere fact that an American
Secretary Of State could be found to &C
eept such an outrageous proposal as the
Hay-Pauncefote Treaty at the hands Of the
British Foreign Office, is evidence that
! Congress should re-enact the Declaration
of Independence. This could not be done
more neatly and effectively than in the
way favored by this journal and by Mr.
Teller
1t is quite unnecessary to consider the
amour prOpre of Secretary Hay in this
matter. While he was fully informed con-
corning the preparation of the treaty by
Lord salisbury's experts. and was advised
as to their shrewd devices for giving life
to the Clayton Bulwer Convention. he nev-
er consulted single member of the Sen
ate Committee on Foreign Relations on the
subject. and the whole thing was as great
and unpleasant a surprise to the gentlemen
of that committee as it was to the country.
So Mr. Hay cannot claim any personal in
diligence at the hands Of the statesmen
whose advice it was his duty in so impor-
tant a matter to seek, but whom he care
fully ignored throughout the preliminary
proceedings. In any case. whether the Da-
Wis amendment, which is to be voted On
next Thursday, is adopted OF not. OF
whether the Hay-Pauneefote Treaty is to
be patched ~ ana passed. or rejected in
toto as it ought to be. there is general
consensus Of opinion in Congress and out
side of it that the usefulness Of John Hay
as a Minister OF Foreign Affairs is ended.
and that he should retire at enee. we
hear it limited thai he is only waiting to
have the Senate frown officially UPON his
un-American action. when he will accept
that as reason for resigning. If this view
be correct ii is greatly to be hoped that
the Senate vii flown as quickly as posi-