The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-02-05
CIRCULATION sT.TEMENr.
MONDAY. FEBRUARY .. 1900.
The CnnnI nnd AIn.I.n-

" uen We reuect upon the sturdy Ameri-
csHism OF the diplomacy which has marked
che course OF our State Department since
the accession OF Mr.. Hay and re-
member the honorable achievements
il has scored during that short
period. it is almost impossible 10 enter
tain any fear that the current negotiations
with Great Britain can possibly result in
concessions on the part OF this Government
Of which the country would not approve.
At We could be assured that the Secretary
If State was absolutely free and un-
hslnpered in his handling OF The
Nicaragua Canal and Alaskan boundary
anairs there would be no occasion for
uneasiness; but there is always a chance
under Republican party government that
the most patriotic and courageous minis
te- may be swerved from a path dictated
hy his judgment and conscience and COM
PEELED to bow his knee TO the BaaI OF
partisan or personal interests under the
dietstion OF some machine boss like
Hanna. The dear Mr.. Dick" episode was
a sad illustration Of this ever-present dan
ger
We have, nevertheless. the greatest con-
hdence in Secretary Hay. who is not only
one Of the ablest Ministers Of Foreign AZ
fairs that this country ever has had. but
is well advised Of its public sentiment and
the impossibiliy IF ignoring il in matters
such as now engase his most serious at
tenfiuu. lie understands thoroughly that
the American people have just and con-
cle-iye grounds for considering and treat
ing the Clayton Bulwer treaty as a thisg
abandoned and non existent. because OF
its vital violation aud consequent vacation
by the British Government as early as
eighteen hundred and ffty-Gve He real
lies therefore. that beyond the sphere CT
diplomatic courtesy. in reviewing the sui
feet with the London Foreign Office in
friendly terms. this nation as a nation.
viii not tolerate the idea OF treating our
rights to own. build. control. and protect
the Nicaragua Canal. as in any degree or
sense open TO question. There viii. indeed.
BE- most vehement and universal public
protest If anything whatever should be
allowed or offered to Great Britain as a
Quid pro quo for the abandonment OF a
contention anronting because baseIess on
It's face.
II is therefore to be hoped that when
The facts OF Secretary's Hays negotiations
are made public we may find that he has
avoided this pitfall. which would amount
20 tbe establishment Of vicious prece-
dent. would be humiliatiug TO the United
States. and would cover Mr. McKinley's
Administration with odium. II is report
ed, and quite generally believed that
Great Britain demands a free port IN
Alaska as a consideration for dropping the
Clayton BuIwer Treaty. OF course. such a
Thing is out of the question. If President
Mckinley were to commit himself TO the
alienation Of one inch OF American terri
tory in Alaska. he might al that point con-
fdentiy order his Canton residence to be
put ia commission against the fifth OF
March. nineteen hundred and one. for he
would need it. The surrender Of port or |
land is not to be thought Of for a moment. |
On the other hand. there would be 70
serious objection TO giving Great Britain !
Tree pOr. privileges in an American port. /
though not under lease which would bs
transformed in time to a fee simple title
after the well-kuown habit Of our trans
Atlantic cousins. But we might allow them
free entry. with the distinct understanding
and agreement that il was an act Of grace
and courtesy, and in no way to be con-
sidered as the concession Of right or of
a privilege upon which the idea Of a per-
petual or indefinite servitude hereafter /
might be founded. The American people /
would De cheerfully willing TO promote !
the convenience of their Anglo Saxon |
brethren; but not at the cost Of giving up |
"a foot OF their coast or an acre OF their do /
main. Rather than do either, they would /
be ready 10 fight England and all Europe |