The Washington weekly post., 1900-12-11
Anolher cahInet seapefoat 2


The New York Sun. which deserves the
hanks OF all patriotic Americans on the
Icore OF It's powerful antagonism Of the
national disgrace involved in the Hay
Pauncefote treaty. tTansgresses, We think
he bounds OF perfect fairness in its latest
references to the Hon. John Hay. secre-
tary OF state We shall quote the article
IN fun, so that our comments upon 1t may
b. ineligible 10 every one:
III seems 10 Be- taken for granted that unless the
Hay-Paanosiote treaty s ratified by the Senate pre-
eisely a. Secretary Hay wrote IL, be will retire
from PFesldeat McKlnleys Cabinet
THAT would be proper and creditAhls proceed
ing on his part II IL he true that the Secretary
promised the British Ambassador IN advance that
he Senate would accept the treaty without change
''Mr Hays resignation, uadsr such circumstances,
would Be nothing more than an act of loyalty TO
Lord Psuneefote and TO his OVn selfrespect
But has be no obligations beyond those due 10
be British Ambassador and to his personal pride'
Does he owe nothing to the administration and 10
Ais oouatry9
Suppose that the Secretary ia row convinced
that bis treaty cannot pass the Senate, and that
his resignation sooner of later. is inevitable.
which course Goes he regard a. the more dignifed
and parioiicresgnation after the rejection Of the
.rsaty or withdrawal Of the treaty as a preliminary
% resighatiohr'
1t seems TO MS that Mr.. Hay, who is In
our opinion patriotic citizen, as he is a
cultured and high-mlnded gentleman, does
not deserve this censure. In the insane
passion, the maudin hysteria, and the
ignoble prejudice that ruled this country
two years ago. Gen. Russell A. Alger was
made the scapegoat OF popular denuncia-
tion and sacrificed to an ignorant demand
for vengeance. But there is and can be no
reason why that abOminable precedent
should be applied to Mr.. Hay. 1t was
cruel, stupid, and detestable in Gen. AL
gers case. Why need We blot our
'scutcheon for the second time? Every
well-informed person knows that Ger.
Alger never made a move. ordained q
policy, or took A step without the Presi-
dents knowledge and approval. Every
body knows that he was the victim OF a
5y the basest conspiracy ia the annals OF
he nation. Mr.. Hay occupies precisely
the same relation to the President In
the name Of common decency, let us pro-
test against a repetition of the shameful
infamy Of 1888,
1t is not credible that Mr.. Hay. proceed
ing under a secret compact with the Brit
ish Ambassador, has. upon his own mo.
ton. pressed this matter for his private
ends We admit that the proposed treaty
Is repugnant 10 our ideas. We repeat the
oft-expressed opinion that. if ratified, il
will operate 10 our national peril and hu
initiation. But the hypothesis that II /:
MIR. Hays personal contriyance is In oul
opinion unjust as II is absurd. Just wha
sinister and abhorrent influences are a
work 10 entangle US in the meshes of {
European net; to deliver our country
welfare and honor to foreign complica
ton. and TO bind us forever TO outside in
reference and dictation or plunge us int
a bloody tragedy. We do not undertake Il
say. We are sure however, that Mr.. Ha!
is not properly accountable for the issue
and that, should 1t eliminate in ou
shame and peril-ss we devoItly believ
the Hay-Pauncefote treaty will culminat
he cannot, with any shadow of justice
be charged with the whole responsibility
This Hay-Pauncefote convention
either an administration measure or ii /
nothing. 1t has not one single honest ant
conscientious friend In the Senate, and
is regarded with horror and indignation
by nine-tenths OF the thinking people Il
the land. If ii were bolstered up by moth
ing more than Mr.. Hays personal sOlici
tude, il would have been repudiated wit
scorn the day It reached the Senate. II
had no other backing now. il would b
drowned in ridicule. Nobody wants il
Nobody holds it in respect We must loo
beyond Mr.. Hay for the mysterious pres
sure exerted in its favor and for IN
malign influences which have caused Sen
ators OF the United States TO daily wit
their cOnsciences, to trim, 10 change, t
stultify themselves!