New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-02-09

controlling cur merchant marine fully a5 per
cent Of the tonnage which would pass through
the Nicaragua Canal would be British and other
<oreizn and rot over per cent American. So
-he permission granted by Great Britain that
the United States may construct maintain and
manage the canal at its own expense simply
amounts TO consent that this country may
construed and maintain highway of commerce
cor the special benefit of British shipping. In q
word both the ClaytoT-Bulwer Treaty and the
z4ev-Pzuncefote Treaty deny 70 the United
states the right 70 extend TO American CONNER
-ssl vessels any sort OF discrminatiye protection
-he affirmation Of neutrality in the present
sreaty ravets that disability upon besides set
'snr aside any vague ideas, which have pre-
rsiiea with some. to whether the Clayton
Esslrer Treaty is o. is not OF any binding force
---o- us The Hay-Pauncefote Treaty would If
-55ssflie be even more detrimental TO American
sr+sresrs than is the Clayton-Buiwer Treaty of
---ieh the country has been so much ashamed
Cor fifty years
AS nov as TO the military effect of the new
--sstv The Clsyton-Bulwer Treaty provides that
ssrsither Great Britain nor the United States
.rsn ever erect or maintain any Notifications
.o-rurandirg the same or in the vicinity there
- = sse provides that neither country will ever
assume OF exercise any dominion over Nicara-
--s costa Rica. the Mosquito Coast or any part
= Central America" The Hay-Pauncefote
Trostv confirms this provision But all this goes
= the face Of the fixed public sentiment of this
rorutry that the Nicaragua Canal II built shall
he strictly an American canal" This senti-
--eut Is clearly expressed in both bills now be-
so-e Congress, the one in the Senate and the
rfher II the House Of Representatives Those
Two bills distinctly provide for American
canal II the following common expression-''con-
TO OF such portion OF territory now belonging
70 Costa Rica and Nicaragua as may be desira bic
and necessary On which TO eXcaTate, construct
ana defend a canal But the Clayton Buiwer
Treaty. as stated. positively forbids any such
centroI or defence Of any Nicaragua Canal. and
tbs Hay-Pauncefote Treaty in even stronger
terms confirms that inhibition.
Then important military question arises as
% Ehether a passageway through the isthmus
+ or is not, from the military point of view,
rnare advantageous than the barrier now inter
posed BY the isthmus, for military science de-
raan6s both barriers and passageways It is
now conceded even by Nicaragua Canal pro
-arerts that the Oregon would not have passed
through any Nicaragua Canal unless il had been
sbgndantly fortified ar either end. with adequate
naval protection, and adequate military pro-
tection al along the line OF the canal.
But let Us see how neutraIized canal would
work from another point Of view The United
States enjoys the exclusive privilege of
transporting men and material of war across
The continent Seven hundred thousand men
can Be transported across the continent by rail
within thirty days. Besides the largest guns
used on WarshiPs can be thus transported by
rzl u the months Of January, February and
March, 1896, the four great 65-ton guns Of the
Oregon were shipped across the continent by
rsH. But what would be the effect of neutral
led Nicaragua Canal? Why, foreign warships
men AID material Of war would as freely pass
through the canal American warships men
snd material OF war.
The Hay-Pauncefote Treaty is simply a treaty
% enable the I nlUec states at its own expense
70 build. maintain. manage and police a canal
for the special OF British commercial yes
sels and consequently further TO depress Ameri-
can shipping. and 10 place Great Britain on even
terms with the United States in passing war
ships men and material Of war from one side Of
the continent 10 the other. both in time Of peace
and OF
Il appears 70 that the Hay-Pauncefote
Treaty Is even more detrimental to American in
tsrests than is the Clayton-Bulwer Treaty which
has been scOrned by the American people for
fly years I do not think II possible that the
former can be ratified by the Senate
JOSEPH NTMMO JR.
Washington. Feb. G, 1900.