The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-12-09

The senate. Plain Duty.

ment is desirable both as a recognition
OF the patriotism Of the late Senator from
Minnesota, and as notice to the White
House and State Department that purely
executive attempts, concocted and nego-
tiated in secret, to subordinate the in
terests and purposes of this Government
10 those of Great Britain, are certain OF
rebuke at the hands of the Senate.
The amendment being adopted, it is the
duty of the body to reject the treaty as
amended, because it is altogether OBJ
noxious and Infamous and impossible OF
amendment SO as to render it safe or
tolerable engagement for this country to
enter into. The Hay-Pauncefote Treaty
out Of the way. it is only necessary to
pass the Hepburn Morgan Canal bill in
order to dispose forever of the Clayton
Bulwer Treaty, which was unconstitut on
al in its beginning, its ratification null
and void because of concealment and
fraud on the part of its negotiaters, and
its vital basic consideration and pro-
visions violated at the first opportunity
by Great Britain-an action which va
Gated and abrogated the agreement, il
there was one, and relieved the United
States of all further responsibility under
or in connection with it.
The more the American people come to
study this outward and visible sign CT an
inward and fragrant purpose to tie the
Western Republic to the chariot wheel of
British Empire in this as well as in the
other hemisphere, the more universal
public opinion becomes that the Hay
Pauncefote Treaty is no less an outrage
upon the nation than was the original
corrupt and contemplate convention it
purposes to revive. Ons has but to read
the text OF the two documents to instant
ly discover the evidences of perfidy and
supine surrender OF American to British
interests that the latter presents on its
face. In the Hay-Pauncefote Treaty. the
high contracting parties''-meaning the
British Foreign ONCE on the one hand.
and Messrs. Mckinley and Hay on the
otker-are represented as desiring TO
preserve and maintain the general prin-
ciple' of naturalization established in Ar
ticle VIII of the Clayton ulwer conven-
ton" The article referred to reads as
follows:
..The Governments OF the United States and
Great Britain having not only desired, in enter
ing into this convention, to accomplish par
ucuiar object. but also TO establish a general
principle, they hereby agree to extend their
protection, by treaty stipulations. to any other
practical communications whether by canal
RAILWAY, across the isthmus which connects
North and South America. and especially to the
interocesuic communications, should the same
prove be practicable, whether by canal or
Hhi to he h.
lished By the way Of Tehuantepec or Panama. In
granting. however, their joint protection to any
such canals or railways as are by this article
specified, il is always understood by the United
States and Great Britain that the parties
structing owning the same shall impose no
other charges conditions OF traffic thereupon
than the aforesaid Governments shall approve OF
just and equitable; and the same canals or
railways, being open to the citizens and subjects
OF the United States and Great Britain equal
tesms. shall also be open on like terms to the
citizens and subjects Of every other State which Is
willing TO grant thereto such protection as the
United States and Great Britain engage to al
ford
This is the general principle" of ''neu-
traiization,' or rather European domino
tion over an American waterway, practi
ca1ly a part of the coast line of the
United States. contained in the Clayton
Bulwer Treaty, which the Administration
aims to restore to existence in the Hay
Psuncefote Treaty. 1t will be observed
that Article ii Of the former. its vital
provision, is carefully ignored in the lat
ter. The text follows:
1.-THE Governments Of the United States and
Great Britain hereby declare that neither the
nor the other will obtain or maintain for
itseif any exclusive control over said ship canal
(mesning exclusively the particular ship canal
proposed in 1850 agreeing that neither will ever
erect maintain any Notifications commanding
the saine OF in the vicinity thereof or occupy,
or iorii',- roionze assume exercise any
4,a..inion Nicaragua, Costa Rica. the Mos
quito Coast, any part of Central America nor
viii either make OF any protection which
either affords may afford or ans alliance which
either hiss or may have to or with any State or
people. for the purpose of erecting maintain
ing any such fortihcations. or Of occupying, forth
fying. or coionizing Nicaragua, Costa Rica, the
Mosquito Coast or any part of Central America,
oil assuming exercising dominion the
sarn.; will the United States Great Britain
take advantage Of any intimacy. any al
lance, connection, or influence that either may
posses with any State Government through
whose territory the said canal may pass for the
purpose of acquiring or holding, direetly or in
directly. for the citizens or subjects OF the ono.
shy rights or advantages in regard 10 commerce
or navigation through the said canal which shall
h". be offered on the terms the citizens /
or subjects Of the other"
This was the essential clause of the
Clayton Bulwer Treaty. Under 1t the
United States bound itself to surrender
exclusive control of an American water
way. solely In consideration Of the agree
ment Of Great Britain never to coionize or
exercise sovereignty in Nicaragua, Costa
Rica the Mosquito Coast, or any part of
Central America. The English language
could not have been used more clearly.
explicitly. or unquestionably to express
the plain intent and meaning of the con-
tract The Senate ratified the treaty, ac-
cepting the conditions of Article IL as
conditions absolute and of the essence of
the compact
Without notice TO the Senate, Mr.. Clay
ton, who negotiated the treaty on the part
OF the United States, entered into a secret
agreement with the British negotiator,
Sir Henry Lyt,on Bulwer. that the en-
eaeemsnt OF Great Britain not to colonize
OF TO acquire territory or exercise do
minion in Central America was not to be
construed as affecting the British settle
saent" in the Belize. or in the Bay
Islands. That secret article. If Of legal
effect. would relieve Great Britain from
with the one undertaking that
led the Senate to ratify the treaty. But
Il was not good In Law. morals, or the