The evening times., 1900-04-06
FRIDAY, APRIL 6. 1900.
The Hay-Paunccfote Treaty.

What this country wants and is deter
mined 10 have is an inter-oceanic canal,
the ownership, construction, management,
and defence Of which shall be exclusively
American If the Davis amendment TO
the Hay -Pauncefote Treaty is safe to Sc
cure all that opposition would be without
much reason The question is. Does the
Davis amendment cure the vice of the
or isinal document? Respect for the emf
Dent ability and patriotism of the Senator
from Minnesota ordinarily would lead Us
TO accept his word for it, but this is mo-
mentous matter and no one should be will
ing to take chances. The language of the
amendment may cover everything needful.
II so. and if there are no diplomatic res
ervations hidden under the text. then it
would seem feasible TO translate il into
words about the meaning and effect of
which there could be no future question OF
uncertainty.
Ia the executive session of the Senate
Yesterday. Senator Davis is reported as
stating that he had reason to believe that
Great Britain would acceIh the treaty as
amended. and is willing to recognize the
right Of the United States to utilize the
canal in tire OF war as pant Of the Ameri-
can coast line and TO take any steps
deemed necessary for its protection.
J. goes without saying that this an
ncuaoement is lnely TO exert an important
enc, uron the fate Of the treaty. The Ad-
miai,jra lion. in ills desire TO shield Secrc-
1srE Hay f;om humiliation. and perhaps
10 carry Olt its part of a deal The fvll pro-
portions Of which 90 not appear on the
surface oi thing. has been bitterly oppos-
iu2 the Davis amendment Inspired state
mcu:s. mere or less uaceable 70 The state
Department. have boen made to the effect
that Lord Salisbury would never consent
TO the least alteration i'm the provisions of
the treaty. when Senator Davis
whom the country believes to be an
honest and truthful man. declares that
the British Government has offered
TO accept the amendment, il is reas-
orabiy plain that such warnings have
been hardly sincere. The Admins
tralion will now be compelled to show its
hand. If il takes the position that the
American people are not to be permitted
10 defend their own property, even with
the consent of Great Britain. the storm
OF rouhe that will ensuc viii. in compar-
ison. actually dwarf the tidal wave of
anger over the policy OF Mr.. Mckinley to-
ward Porto Rico.
Yet We are inclined to believe that the
Administration would mol hesitate to kill
the Davis amendment. or anything else
calculated TO promote effective canal legis-
lajion al this session of Congress. There
are important possible campaign contribu-
tcTs among the enemies Of the Nicaragua
Canal and their views are clearly rep
resented in the attitude of Senator Hanna
when the Hepburn bill was reached In the
House some time ago. If Senator Davis
is persistent and implaoable enough he
may be able TO force a vote and secure
ratification Of The amended treaty against
the wishes and interests of the party man
agers. and Senator Morgan may he then
able to force passage of the Hepburn
Morgan bill but the battle is likely 10 be
2 lively one. with the end not clearly in
sight In any event however. we are
unable 10 view the situation with the
smallest feeling OF envy for the position
or emotions OF the Administration in re-
gard to it,