The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-12-11

should america Undertake to Build
and Fortify the Isthmian Canal.
senator Morxan's Views.

washington. December 6.-The senate
was In executive session for more than
four hours today. ;ne entire time being
devoted to the discussion by Senator
Morgan OF the Hay-Pauncefote treaty
for the abrogation of the portion of the
clayton-Buiwer treaty which relates to
the Nicaragua canal.
The senator made IL very plain that.
while he was not opposed to h pend
ing treaty In almost n form. his
main concern is for the passage Of the
canal bin. but as a majority Of
tors would insist upon action upon
he treaty as a condition precedent he
was willing 10 discuss the treaty. He
intimated privately to other senator's.
however. that he would not consent to
h fixing OF a time for a vote upon the
treaty until there also could be a time
liked fer like action upon the Nicara-
guam cana, bin.
He said II was competent for the
United States TO proceed with the
building OF the canal regardless Of the
treaty or OF Great Britain's wishes I'm
h matter.
Discussing the question Of the fortif-
cation OF h canal. Senator Morgan
argued strenuously against IL, both as
inexpedient and unnecessary. He con-
tended that Great Britain was not the
only power whose interests would be
Affected by a provision for fertilization.
and said that Nicaragua and Costa
Rica had a right TO be considered I'm
that connection. Furthermore. in case
OF war everybody knew tina the canal
would he nrnfaCsaS 20 the F.,Ila@. <fa.s
so that any provision whatever bearing
upon this point was needless. He ad-
mitted. however. hat he had no doubt
that IL the United States should pro-
coed with the construction OF the ca
nal without first taking steps TO secure
the neutrality OF the canal Great Brit
ain would be grievously offended, and
that he thought II not impossible that
the offense would be considered suffi-
GENTLY grave to lead to hostilities be-
tween the two counties.
do YOU mean" asked Senator Bev-
eridge. that Notwithstanding the pres
ent friendly relations between the coun-
tries, England might declare war IL we
should construct the canal with our own
means and in our WI way?'
Senator Morgan replied thar he CON-
sidered that result among the probabili-
ties. But" he continued, II should
not be deferred by that circumstance
The American people. he said. had
mapped out that canal and they were
no tgoing to allow any obstacle. no mat
ter how serious to stand in the way.
He believed that the administration
that would undertake TO build the ca
nal, knowing that to do so meant war.
would be endorsed by the people at
large by a bigger majority than that
which Mckinley received over Bryan
in the Last election.
Senator Morgan was piled with many
questions.
Senator Mason asked whether IL was
true that If the Hay-Paunceforte nego-
tiations prevented the use OF the canal
by Great Britain in time OF war. the
converse proposition that IL also pro-
hibited such use by the United States
was not also true
TIC this. Senator Morgan did not make
direct reply. saying he would take up
that point later. He expressed the
view that the Clayton-Buwer treaty Is
unconstitutional.