The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-12-20
THURSDAY. DECEMBER 20, 1900.
InEcaurloNaKl DEFENsEs.

On Monday last Mr. Mason, United
States Senator from the State of Illinois,
made a, set speech in the Senate upon the
uay-Pauncefote treaty vita Great Brit
ain in which he advocated the abrosadon
OF the Clayton-Bulwer treaty upon such
terms as suited the United States and
without any regard whatever TO what
might be the views and wishes Of Eng
land The particular text Of Mr.. Mason,s
speech was an amendment to the treaty
offered by him authorizing the United
States to fortify and defend such canal
as nav be built in any way that she
thinks proper.
Mr Mason's argument was. in sub
stance, that every nation has a right to
defend itself and its citizens and property,
and recognition OF this right must carry
with it the right TO make precautionary
defense: his meaning in using the words
precautionary defense being that a
nation has the right TO lay violent hands,
when it chooses, upon whatever it thinks
would be useful TO it in defending itself
against an enemy with whom it may be
ut war. This sounds like a very extreme
statement. yet it is what Mr.. Mason
means when his argument is critically
lnalyZed. We do not intend to say that
iir Mason had that concrete idea before
ais mind while delivering himself of his
speech yet that Identical idea is Involved
N what ne said. and he cannot be con-
ceded what he contended for without
taking along with it the right to so at
large into the territory of friend and foe
and Selling whatever he thinks may be
necessary for his defense when the cmer-
gency arises. That is what his '.precau-
tionary defense" means when applied to
the case that he had in hand.
For the case before him that upon
settlement OF long standing and irri-
t8eing dispute with England We agreed
by the Clayton-Bulwer treaty that We
would never build an exclusively Ameri-
Fan canal and that we would never for
iify such canal as might be built, and NJ.
Mason was arguing that the right to
protect ourself carried with it the right
TO repudiate that settlement and do the
not do. in making those precautionary
defenses'' that all nations have the right
TO make. Therefore, we repeat that Mr..
aason's argument meant that when a
nation IS engaged in the business Of MAX
Ing precautionary defenses,'' il IS under
40 restraints whatever. All it knows is
Tie necessity of making its .'precaution-
AIRY defenses" adequate for the emer-
sency when it arises, and it is at liberty
10 lay its hands upon whatever is in sight
the precautionary defenses' it IS erect
ing against the evil day whenever that
IVA day may arise.
This is no extreme construction of Mr..
Mason's argument What ne conceded
20 England in the Clayton Bulwer treaty
Vas conceded to her upon good and sutfi-
tient consideration, and it is as much
hers as any foot OF territory or any other
right possessed by her In any quarter
Of the globe. Nevertheless Mr.. Mason
nj making precautionary defenses'' NE
may resume these concessions TO Eng
land and make them ours instead of hers,
because precautionary dcfenses" can
know but one law and Chat is the Law
which Will make Them effective. TO such
extremes do men SO when they depart
from principle and from the laws ana
rules upon which justice and fair play
rest.