The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-05-04

The Nicaragua Canal bill. after triumph
ant passage in the House of Representative
by majority so sweeping as to leave nc
doubt that it reflected national sentiment
Is now before the Senate. What Will the
Senate do with it?
The answer ought to be easy One
branch of the Legislature has been carried
off its feet by a popular demand so strong
and insistent as for once to make resist
Bnce on the part of the Administration look
7uny The fight of the Hanna and trust
combination was not even respectable in its
proportions Patriotism won the day
against monopoly and the corruption fund.
VIII it do so in the Senate?
Is there indeed. majority of Senators
who agree with the American people that
this country should secure an interoceanic
waterway through Nicaragua and Costa
Rica without delay, and that it should be
national undertaking and property in the
fullest sense of the term-to be con-
structed, owned. operated, protected. and
defended as exclusively American. and
part of the American coast line? If there
the present session. and pass the Hepearn
bill exactly as 1t came from the House.
There will be violent opposition. but if
all the alleged friends of the American
proposition are sincere and earnest, that
opposition will be as ineffective as it was
Oh the other side of the Capitol The Ad-
Ininistration will urge with tears that it
would be sadly embarrassing to the Presi-
dent to have the Hepburn liz presented to
him for his signature or veto. There is
rot doubt that it would be; but it is also
true that the Government Of the United
States was not formed expressly and solely
to save Mr. Mckinley from embarrassment.
II. by private understanding with Great
Britain or the powerful domestic enemies
of the canal he has gotten himself uncom-
fcrtably entangled. he must extricate him
In the thought that square face about
would ne, surprise anybody. He ended
the possibility of surprise in his case with
his plain duty" qualification.
II there is as much Americanism in the
Senate numbers considered. as the vote of
Tuesday shows that there is in the House
the whip and spur of the Administration,
its Vaccinations in behalf Of the Hay
Pauncefote Treaty and the efforts OF
the perfectly weH-known combination be-
hind the Panama scheme. all combined
will not be sufficient TO prevent vote on
and passage of the Hepburn bill. The
good faitL of the Senate in this mat
ter is on trial before the country. Its
movements henceforward will be watch
ed with anxious and critical atten-
ton. For it is VIGOROUSLY within the
power of Senators friendly to the Mica
ragua Canal to force action. If they
son to- that there is Senatorial majority
behind them, they can compel the opposi-
ton to accord consideration of the meas
ure, on penalty of sitting out the summer
In Washington. They can drive Hanna
and his Panama and Hay Pauncefote
myrmidons to the wall and afford them
an undesired opportunity for registering
their treachery to the American people.
The battle should be opened at once |
and the firing kept up without an hours |
cessation until the victory has been won. |
II is a long time since the Senate faced |
such grave responsibility or such gIo- |
rious chance TO earn the plaudits and the |
gratitude of all Americans