The Irish standard., 1900-02-17
, JOHN HAY GETS A BLACK EYE.

III JOHN HAY GETS A BLACK EYE.
The new treaty between Hay and
Pauncefote relative to the Nicaraguan
canal is meeting with much opposition
from both branches Of congress, not
withstanding its endorsement by Presi-
dent Mckinley, who sent it to the sem
ate for ratification. The Anglomani-
acs in the senate, including our own
Cushman K. Davis, would like to have
the treaty go through with flying col
ors, but there is no possible chance for
it during this session in the face of the
opposition it has evoked in all sections
of the country. The Republican organs
which have advocated the imperialistic
policy of the administration have de-
nounced the Hay-Pauncefote treaty.
The Times-Herald, of Chicago, which
has been looked upon as the mouth
piece Of William OF Canton, is velle-
'nently opposed to it. So also is the
Chicago Tribune. The only paper in
Minneapolis that has come out square
ly against it from the very start is the
Times; the Tribune favors it, because it
is English, you know; and the Journal
is sitting automatically on the fence,
watching developments before it favors
or condemns it. OF course, the two
Anglo-Saxon papers of St. Paul the
Pioneer Press and the Dispatch, are il,
ccstacics over Hays astuteness and
think it an admirable piece of diplo-
macy on his part to let the English lord
outwit him.
But the overwhelming sentiment of
the American people is against the
treaty, and Mckinley with his ear to
the ground has ascertained that fact.
Ii he fails to bring sufficient pressure
to bear on the senate to ratify the An
glo-American compact, he will let it go
by tile board until after the election is
over, and if reelected he will certainly
try again to please the British for their
great sympathy during the Spanish
American war, John Hays American
ism is suspected and if Mckinley re-
tains him much longer he will contrib
ute largely to his defeat for second
term
Gov. Roosevelt, of New York, is OPP
posed to the treaty as an American and
wants the United States to have ex-
elusive control of the canal in peace
and in wa. "This seems to me vital"
he says, "no less from the standpoint Of
Our sea power than from the standpoint
OF the Monroe doctrine" Whatever
may be said Of Teddy, his patriotism has
never been questioned by his country
men, and that cannot be said of the ex-
ambassador to England, who is now
secretary of state.
The Clayton-Bulwer treaty, revived
by Hay, was entirely obsolete. That
was the opinion of James G. Blaine,
and it is the opinion of every loyal
American. If this country constructs
the Nicaraguan canal, why should any
European nation, whether England,
France, Russia, or Germany, have any
thing to say about its management by
the United States?
The Minneapolis Tribune echoes its
namesake of New York, which is con-
trolled by Whitelaw Reid, and favors a
neutral canal to avoid any friction
with European powers. "Should the
United States" it says, undertake to
construct and monopolize the Nicara-
guam canal and fortify and arm it
against the rest of the world, it would
sooner or later have the rest of the
world on its back" If the United
States is afraid of the world, then why
build it at all? Why should this coun-
try expend hundreds of millions of dol
lars in its construction and protection
if the rest of the world is to reap the
greatest benefit? Cannot American
taxpayers put their money to better
use?
According to reliable authority, it
is better from military standpoint to
have the isthmus remain as a barrier
than to have an open canal for the fleets
OF an enemy in time of war; The canal
would benefit the commercial interests
of England and other countries far
more than Our own, for o5 per cent OF