The Hawaiian gazette., 1900-12-28
THE CANAL TREATIES.

tht SfSlNftL
The ay-Pauncefote treaty, as II
originally stood, gave the Democrats q
chance TO say that the administrator
had sold out the interests of America
to Great Britain. AS a matter of fact
however, 1t was the Democratic admin
istration, of which Secretary Clayton
was premier, which thus sacrificed the
right of this country to exercise Ill
vided control OF an isthmiah VAT. q
way. Despite the protests OF Ste EeA
A. Douglas and few otnel lal --eeIA5
men in the Senate of that e., LAY
ton and his executive chief lis. i
that Joint responsibility with uIe4,
Britain for an isthmian canal v rs CO.
ducive to the best Interests q TIE
United States. How such midi 1.
could have been reached IN III. t-e.l
of the Monroe doctrine Is d.fi2LIt u
imagine; it is more difficult to see how
it could have adapted itself to common
patriotism. Nevertheless the treaty
embracing Mr.. ClaytOn's fantasies was
signed, sealed and delivered. becoming
a contract obligation to be held sacred
by the signatory powers until dissolV-
ed by mutual consent. With incredible
faulty the Democratic Secretary of
State had made it impossible for his
country, without breaking its word, to
withdraw from the treaty, lacking such
consent Thus fettered by previous
blunder President Mckinley and Sec
rotary Hay could not go deeply into
the Nicaraguan project without first
consulting the British ambassador;
and as result of these negotiations.
the Hay-Pauncefote treaty was franz
ed wherein Great Britain agreed to
throw over the Clayton Bulwer treaty
providing the United States would
bind itself not to fortify any canal 1t
might build, but to leave it open to
the common use of all maritime ma
lions.
There was nothing for Secretary |
Hay to do but to make the best of
the Clayton blunder He agreed to the
British conditions, subject to the ac-
ton of the Senate. 1t was not his
fault that America had been sold out; |
it was his duty to get back as much
as possible, and he recovered the right
to control the projected waterway in
all save that of closing it in time of
war. But the Democratic papers
shouted Treason, treason." with one
voice, though the treason had long
since passed, leaving black stain
on the record of their own party.
Viewing the Hay Pauncefote treaty
from the point of honor we think it
should have passed, but the Senate,
by large majority, amended it so as
to permit the fertilization of the canal
by the United States Government. To
our mind this makes the early con-
struction of the canal an improbable
ity. Great Britain, unless prepared to
humble herself to a degree Of mag
nanimity but little short OF spaniel ac-
quiescence, will not consent to the
forts, whereupon, the Hay Pauncefote
treaty will fall to the ground and the
United States will revert to It's former
position under treaty that gives
Great Britain joint control of Nj
araguan cut, even though this country
may foot all the bills of canal work.
This last estate Is worse than the
first 1t is better to have canal with |
out forts than one of divided jurisdic
ton or no canal at all. But the SEN
ate. inspired by politics and the fear
of the demagogue, does not see the
case that way. Because of its blind
ness it may be a generation before the
Atlantic and Pacific Oceans will be
joined ut the continental dividing
point.