The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-12-11
TUESDAY. DECEMBER II, 1900.
THE JrNGo ARGUMENT.

No one can give the most casual nerusal
TO the Clayton-Buiwer treaty without per-
ceiving that it is a perfectly clear, distinec
and unequivocal agreement between this
country and Englnnd that neither will
ever build the Nicaragua Canal as a dis
.inctly American or British enterprise
and. when built, that neither Power viii
ever fort!fy il. Nevertheless, the lingo
element of our Congress declares that it
Will build the canal as an American en-
1erprise md that il VIII fortify it when
built
These gentlemen justify themselves in
the course they propose 10 pursue by say
ing there are several provisions Of the
Clayton-Bulwer treaty that England has
violated and that this gives them the
right 10 violate the treaty in respect to
its leading and main purpose.
If A and Z have !, controversy in re-
spect TO certain rights which each claims
to have in certain farm, and they finally
adjust their differences divide the farm
Between them, make mutual conveyances
and each tnke possession of his part. A
cannot thereafter repudiate that settle
1rent and take back what he has conveyed
to because he claims that b has violated
an agreement mcde in the settlement that
he would not thereafter ride across his
lands. The settlement and adjustment of
their differences must stand and \ must
hold B responsible for his wrongful act
of violating his rights. The principle is
absolutely necessary for the repose of So
Getty, and settlements OF controversies
are not To be ripped up because one of the
parties claims tllct the other has done
him wrong since the settlement. He
must seek his redress for that violation of
his rights, but the settlement that has
been made must stand, and the principle
IS just as necessary in international af-
fairs a.s in controversies between private
!,ni,.ies. If England violated our rights
since the Clayton-Bulwer treaty was en-
tered into, we must hold her responsible
controversy settled by that treaty must
remain closed forever. II vas an adjust
rnent in which each party to it surrender
ed claims upon sufficient consideration
and that settlement Became thereby a
finaity that neither party to the treaty
can ever repudiate except by a breach of
The rights of the other.
The cable brought The information to
the newspapers on Sunday that the Eng
lish people We're giving themselves no CON
Germ about this Nicaragua Canal .ou.si-
ness, and that nobody there has he re-
NOTES. idea OF war between this country
and England. no matter what ne might
do Our j:ngoes have already begun to
argue. in consequence Of these state
mcnts, that We can so on and do what we
wish and that England viii not fight
about ii. This argument proceeds upon
a very low plane. 1t proceeds upon the
idea that it is al right for as 10 commit
breach of faith if We run no risk Of be-
Ing held to account for it.
We hope our country will meier
10 anything that turns upon any
such ignoo.e idea as that. But
this is a case in which appear
ances Will turn out 10 be very deceptive
selves no concern about this matter be-
cause they know nothing about II. iiut
their statesmen know ali about il. and
when we resolve upon HE policy Of boot
Ing England out Of her rights we wilt
hear from her Government as surely as
We ever attempt il 1t mus, be so or her
Government must consent 10 abd!cate he.
position as frst-ciass Power and bring
her down 10 the level of a South Ameri-
can republic. This her Government will
never do And when il takes the position
that England will so TO war with us be-
fore she Will allow us to dlorIse her out
OF her rights in the Nicaragua Canal then
It will be seen that every man. woni,sn
and child in England viii be at their Gov
ern,nent's back
our proposed course is utterly indefen-
sib!e from every point OF view.
LET Us BE KIND.
ii has been proposed in the State of
Georgia TO amend the Constitution Of The