The Hawaiian gazette., 1900-06-08
AMONG THE
AW-MAKERS
As1 to the Nicaragua
Canal.
PHASES OF OPPOSITION
A General Resume Of the lmportar
Closing Work Of the Congress
-, .siOnaI Session.

Especial Correspondence Of the Adysr-
tiser)
WASHINGTON. May a-The refusal
OF the Senate to take up the Nicaragua
canal bill last Monday was not matter
for surprise to those who had kept In
close touch with the political situation.
nor does IL signify the ultimate defeat
of the measure by this Congress. The
truth of the matter Is the Administra-
tion is thoroughly committed to the prof.
ect OF the construction OF waterway
across the Darlen lsthmus, but until the
Hay-pauncefote treaty Is disposed OF II
feels that 1t would be indicate and dis
courteous to enact into law measure
which Is plainly In contrayentlon OF inc
Clayton-Bulwer treaty, which the PreSi-
dent holas Is sun in force. Az the Sen
ate has not been able to come to any CON
clusion on the Hay-Pauncefote treaty
and that convention has been shelved uh
III the short session next winter. the he
publican leaders of the Senate deter,
mined long ago that the Nicaragua canal
bill must wait , T.,
an impetuous mood. took up the Hepburn
bail and passed II after a rev hours 40
bate, without changing more than three
words the most enthusiastic supporters
OF the canal were SO carried away that
they thought their dreams of years mad
been realized. Only a handful OF sturdy
SPIRITS had the courage to breast the
Overwhelming wave of sentiment that
carried the bill through. but they includ-
ed MIR. Payne, chairman of the Commit
tee on Ways and Means and leader OF the
majority; Mr.. Cannon. chairman OF the
Committee on Appropriations; Mr.: HIT,
chairman of the Committee on Foreign
Relate and Mr.. Burton, chairman OF
the Committee on Rivers and Harbors,
who led the fight against the bill. Their
opposition was hopeless from the start
but they stood out stoutly. IL was pref
Nv clearly understood that the Senate
would hold up the BILL and that may
have had something to do with swelling
The majority in favor of the bill
There has always been n devoted band
of Republicans and DEMOCRATS who have
stood ready at any and all times to vote
for any measure looking to the building
of an interoceanic canal. When MI hep,
burn, chairman of the Interstate and
Foreign Commerce Committee, showed a
determination to get his bill before the
House, the Pacific Coast delegation rush
ed to his aid. and some OF the democrat
ic leaders who smelt division in the Re
publican ranks and thought they might
emharrass the President in his negotia-
Ciayton-Bulwer treaty, pledged puplSIy
the solid support of their side OF the
house. OF course, the bill passed with
a rush, but 1t does not look as II the De
sire in some quarters to make party pol
itics out of the one sided contest would
be graufied. 1t viii serve, however, 10
help number of the members or the
House, who are seeking re-electloh 10
80 before their people and point with
pride to their Individual efforts in aid
OF the Nicaragua canal
In spite of his preliminary repuise IN
the senate, Senator Morgan, who as
chairman of the Committee on lnteroce-
anc Canals, has charge of the House
hill, the Alabama senator declares ne
will not give up the fight. but Will bring
up the bill at every opportunity ana
force the opposition to go on record or
agree to the passage of the bill sena-
tor Morgan in this is more obstinate than
well-adNised, for the bill cannot he pass
ed this session. There is a large contin-
gent of Republican Senators and some
unfortunate and awkward position of
feeling constrained to vote against con
sideration of the Hepburn bll at TINS
time, although at heart they favor ths
building of the canal by the United
States Government. They cannot see
their way clear SO long as the nay
Iauncefote treaty blocks the way and
while the House has authorized "A wa
terway with works for defense, they are
brought face to face with the neutrality
clauses in our treaty with Great Britain:
Out of this q sCOuraEinE condition OF
conflict between the House and Senate,
the rans-continental railroads consist
ent enemies of cheap competition by wa.
ter, are extracting much comfort and
satisfaction, II liz really amusing these
days to listen to their paid lobbyists dis
course upon the sacred obligation impos
ed upon us by our treaty w, win G tinm's
honor and good faith We're their sole
care.
What will be the ultimate result of
Ehis balancing of the Hay-Pauncefote
areaty against the Hepburn canal bill, Is
100 uncertain to predict with any meas
urc OF ccafdence. The ADMINISTRATION
has practically conceded that the tren oS
cannot be ratified, in the present MOOD
OF the Senate, by signing protocol eN-
tending the tine for the ratihcatlon OF
the treaty to March "a: IDOL Mnatever
undergo after the Presidential election,
when the tendency to regard every
measure, speech and vote from the stand
point of political effect will be less act
i've, the necessity of securing Two
thirds vote in favor of the treaty VIII
greatly endanger its ratification. Any
concession or renewal of the right or
DartiCipation to Great Britain. In the de
termination of n question of vital lmpor-
1ance to the United States on this conti-
nent will always be unpopular such an
acknowledgment alone might cause the
defeat of any party in national elec-
aion. For that reason the pubic aecla-
ration Of Mr., Root, Secretary OF war IN
10 fight 10 protect the Monroe doctrine,
is peculiarly significant The same be-
lisf was expressed few days later In
aha Senate In the debate on the naval APP
qfopriation bill by Senator Lodge In
even more emphatic terms, although
some effort was made TO construe his re
marks as applying only to Germany's
poIicy in South America, These utter
=arfces, however, from high places have
made sensitive people unduly apprehen-
sive As they come from men who favor
treaties with Great Britain to define our
rights 10 Nicaragua, they must be weigh
ed carefully. II is Impossible In Wash
lngieH for any one who is supposed 10
GoninIq1td Intention to forget Just at this
ksea1HrJ bat his words must be taken as
sAutftdrjtatlYe. and no. doubt Secretar>
sRo9tl and Senator Lodge spoke deliher-
-5tslv, ard WIN precnnceived motives To
1yhg5c Who see political purpose in everv-
thihS NJ seams nrohahle that these gen
stleHenk desired 10 make n positive an
,pounoement Of the continuing force of
Die N1nroe doctrine at time when II
had hden' CHARGED that our neg cations
with Great Britain terded TO show a pHr-
tial surrender OF the historic policy
atafnst FnropNnh Interference In the Rf-
fairs ~ the Western Hemisnhere, The
circumstance are SO contradictory that
they are interpreted almost universally
according 20 personal political bias
= seq HftFts.
A series Of five letters from ne Th;,
nese hirister hes been sent 10 the SEN
ate by the President, setting forth rea.
sons why, In the opinion Of the Govern