The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-12-15
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 10. 1900:
NOW FOR THE REAL PLAY.

The vote in the Senate on the Hay
Paunccfote treaty, is, We suppose, the first
step in the real business Of this matter.
The exact status brought about by it is
this: The CiaytoIl-BUlwe- treaty makes
this Government and England materially
agree that neither will ever build the
Nicaragua Canal as a distinctly Ameri-
can or British Institution. and that neither
will ever fortify it when built. Some years
back q clamor was started for abroEa tlnS
that treaty. which resulted IL a new
treaty negotiated between our Secretary
Of State, Mr.. John Hay, and the English
Ambassador, Lord Pauncefote, which
greatly modified the Clayton-Bulwer
treaty. but did not at all modify the prop
osition that the canal, if built by Us.
should be absolutely neutral. nor permit
us 10 fortify it when built That treaty
has been before the Senate for ratification
or rejection, and the Senate has amended
il by provisions permitting Us TO foriity
the canal if we build it. 1t now remains
TO be seen whether England will accept
The treaty with this amendment If she
accepts it. then the matter will be ended
But il she rejects The amendment, what
then? Will our jingoes go on and build
and fortify the canal III open and fragrant
violation of the Clayton-Bulwer treaty,
and if they do. viii England quietly pocket
the insult and the violation OF her rights,
or will she declare war upon this country?
1t seems TO us the jinSoeS are logically
bound to go on and endeayor to commit
This country TO the policy Of building the
canal without regard to what England
may think or say in the matter. We can
not see the sense in their raising all the
dust they have kicked up. unless they are
going TO carry their case TO its ultimate
results. Nevertheless, when they endeavor
to do this the subject will be fully ven
tilated and discussed before the American
people. and when that is done and they
are made to understand that an effort is
being made to involve them in 4 gross
breach Of faith with another and friendly
Power, We believe firmly that the honesty
and good faith of our people Will assert
themselves, and that the politicians, who
think they are following the popular bent
in pursuing this course. will receive a re-
puke that viii go a long way to informing
them that the great body OF the people is
innately honest, and that they will not toll
crate the suggestion of bad faith when
they understand the case.
The Times undertakes TO make no pre-
dictions as TO what England will co il we
attempt anything of this sort. \ war be-
tween this country and Great Britain is
700 horrible in all OF its suggestions to be
even considered calmly It would be a
calamity 10 mankind. and nothing could
,ossihly be so destructive to the interests
Of both countries Nevertheless, if we at
tc,npt any such course as this. The Times
doe, not see how war can be avoided
Great Britain cannot permit herself 70 be
treated with contumely by any Power on
this earth. She now holds The position OF
one of the leading Powers Of the world.
but if she should permit US to do such a
thing 10 her as this without resentinS our
act. her prestige would pc gone. and she
would be kicked around the globe by man.
kind at large. The thing is too awful and
horrible 10 be thought cs-