The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-12-07
WANTS THE CANAL BUILT
SENATOR MORGAN WILL URGE THE
IsTHMIAN WATERWAY BILL,
Regardless of Action ON the Hay
P~auncefote Treaty-His Speech
I'm Executive Session.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 6.-The Senat was
I'm executive session for more than four
hour to-day. the entire time being de-
voted to the discussion by Senator Morgan
of the H-ay-Pauncefote treaty for the abro-
cation of the portion of the Clayton-Bul-
wer treaty which relates TO the Nicaragua
canal. The senator made IL very plain in
the course of his remarks that while he
was not opposed to the pending treaty in
almost any form, his principal If not his
only concern in that connection is for the
passage OF the canal bin, and he allowed
1t to be very broadly understood that he
had engaged in the treaty discussion be-
cause of his convictions that there were
a majority of senators who would insist
upon action upon the treaty as a condi-
ton precedent TO the passage of the canal
bill. For this reason he said he was will
ing to discuss the treaty. He intimated
privately to other senator's, however. that
he would not consent to the fixing of a
time for a vote upon the treaty until there
also could be a time fixed for like action
upon the Nicaragua canal bill.
In the course of his speech Senator Nor
gan said he did not in reality consider that
the treaty need have any special bearing
on the Dill, anu lldI ne DclItNtu a. was
competent for the United States to pro-
coed witt the building OF the canal re-
~gardless of the treaty or of Great Britain's
wishes in the matter. but to satisfy other
senators and also TO meet the wishes Of
the secretary of .tate. for whom he incl
dentally expressed the highest esteem, he
would consent to action upon the treaty
and do all he could for it. He would vote
for the agreement whether ii should be
amended or not, though he would prefer
that there should be no amendment
Discussing the question of the foru1ca-
ton of the canal Senator Morgan argued
strenuously against ii both as inexpedient
and unnecessary. He commended that Great
Britain was not the only power whose
interests would be affected by a provision
for fortiication, and said that Nicaragua
and Costa Rica had a right to be con-
Sidered in that connection. Furthermore,
I'm case of war everybody knew that the
canal would be protected to the fullest ex-
tent, so that any provision whatever bear
ing upon this point was needless. he ad-
that if the United States should proceed
with the construction of the canal with
out first taking steps to secure the neutral
ity of the canal Great Britain would be
grievously Offended, and that he thought
IL not impossible that the offense would be
considered sufficiently grave to lead TO hos
tilities between the two countries.
DO you mean," asked Senator Bever-
idge, that, Notwithstanding the present
friendly relations between the countries,
England might declare war If we should
construct the canal with our own means
and in our own way?"
Senator Morgan replied that he consid-
cred that result among the probabilities.
But" he continued, II should not be de-
tered by that circumstance. What Eng
land would do" he said, ''of course was
a mere matter of speculation and added
that he had only referred to this pos
sibility in order to emphasize his opinion
that the canal should be constructed i'm
any contingency. The American people.
he said, had mapped out that canal. and
they were not going TO allow any obstacle.
TO matter how serious, to stand in rhe
way. He believed the administration that
would undertake to build the canal. know
ing that 20 60 so meant war, would be in
uorsed by the people at large by a bigger
majority than that which Mckinley had
received over Bryan in the last election.
senator Morgan was piled with many
questions by Senators Mason. Beveridge,
Tillman and others. Mr.. Mason asked
whether 1T was true that If the Hay
Pauncefote negotiation prevented the use
or the canal by Great Britain i'm time of
war the converse proposition that Ii also
prohibited such use by the United States
was not also true. To this Mr.. Morgan
did not make direct reply, saying that he
would take up that point later in his dis
cussion. In discussing the points of the
treaty with Senator Teller. the Alabama
senator expressed the view that the Clay
ton Bulwer treaty is unconstitutional. and
for this reason. If for no other, said il
should be disregarded.