The sun., 1900-12-22
The Price We Pay.

The Hay-Pauncefote Treaty was sent TO
the Senate on February 5. 1900. IL was
ratified by the Senate on December 20.
after amendment radically changing It's
character. Nearly eleven months elapsed
between the date Of the proposition and
the date Of action thereupon by the Senate
as part of the treaty-making power.
The principal fact of the present situation
is that the amendments TO the Hay-Paunce-
fote Treaty now so to the British Govern
ment carrying with them a proposition
authorized by the Senate and embodied
in a formal convention. to abrogate by
mutual consent the Clayton-Bulwer Treaty
Of 1850
This fact changes absolutely the status Of
the old treaty In every respect save that
Of technical existence. 1t has been held
by many Of the foremost statesmen Of the
United States that the Clayton Bulwer
Treaty long ago lost It's vitality. both by
the termination Of the conditions 10 meet
which it was originally negotiated. and
also by repeated and fragrant violations Of
its terms by the other party Only few
years ago the Senate Committee on For
eicn Relations reported unanimously that
the Clayton-Bulwer Treaty had become
dead letter. both In law and in good
morals. and that this Government was no
longer bound by its ancient stipulations.
Up to one year ago no such action on our
part as would revive the obsolete compact
or recognize its validity was easily con-
ceivabe TO the American mind. Formal
notice Of abrogation to Great Britain was
all that was required to bury decently the
dead Clayton -Bulwer Treaty.
The nconceivable happened when Sec
retary Hay voluntarily and on his own
responsibility proposed to the British
Government a new convention recognizing
and reviving the old. When the faulty
Of that proceeding was pointed out, the
apologists of Mr. HAYS amazing policy
defanty responded that the vitality Of
the Clayton-Bulwcr Treaty was no longer
pertinent question. since by the very act
of Secretary HAYS to which American
sentiment so indignantly objected the old
treaty was revived and recognized
In "A degree they were right The subse-
qucnt recognition Of the Clayton -Bulwcr
Treaty Ivy the United States Senate. the
delay necessarily resulting to the canal
enterprise itself, the complications arising
from the Inconsistent provisions of a con-
ventIon patched up by way of compromise,
the chance of future misunderstanding
aud cntanclement are all part of the price
we pay for the diplomatic folly Of a single
Individual The Senate has done the best
II could do, under the circumstances, to
rescue the canal and the country from the
consequences of Mr.. HAYS deplorable
project For the evils that may ensue
he alone is responsible. For the evils we
have escaped, lot us thank Heaven and
pav ransom a Ch 'erfully aS possible.
The immediate consequence ia that until
England makes reply to the formal request
of this Government to abrogate the Clayton
Bulwer Treaty by mutual consent to its
supers, ssion. We are precludcd from taking
any other step to clear away the now ac-
knowleiged restrictions Of the old treaty
upon our indeucndence OF action. Even
II the British Government requires eleven
months in whch to make up lis mind
whether To accept or reject the Senate
amendments. the delay will be no greater
than ours has been In dealing with the
treaty which Lord PAUNCEFoTE signed
at MIR. HAYS invitation last February.
Meanwhile. since We are thus committed.
any movement to dispose Of the Clayton
Bulwer Treaty by Joint resolution of Con-
gress, or by the passage OF canal bill
practically abrogatng the same. would
be an afiront to friendly power and an
offence against our own dignity and good
faith too gross to be considered for an
instant as among the things possible.
We must likewise be prepared to find
England less disposed to release US on
such advantageous terms as might have
been obtained by Mr.. HAY a year ago. IL
he had gone about the business in the ordi.
nary fashion. Further negotiations for a
settlement will be conducted on the other
ads with sharper regard to the main
ohance than ever. That Is one of the in
ev'table consequences OF the iIl-timed
mcker OF altruiSm which Illuminated Secre.
uary HAYS recent diplomatic performance
Inc British Government will drive as good n
oar gain for itself as the conditions permit,
ana we should no more cherish ill.xill