The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-12-26
CircuIation Statement.
= british aIisanderstanding.

There would seem TO be even more than
the normal and customary amount OF
thiekheadedness or the part OF the Eng
iish press when treating American sub
teets in connection with the Hay Paunee-
fote Treaty. The majority opinion in
London appears to be that wicked yam
kee senate has inserted its impudent
nose into a matter which friendly Ad-
ministratfon had arranged with Lord
Salisbury, and that that arrangement
was and is acceptable and satisfactory to
the Ame-iean people.
The affair is more than ever niuddled
by the misleading statements Of several
correspondents OF English papers, sta
tioned in Washington and New York, who
represent in their letters and cablegrams
that Mr.. Mckinley is greatly 10 blame
for his diseourtesy to Great Britain In
passing the Hay-Pauneefote Treaty on to
That power after its amendment by the
Senate. On the whole. perhaps. even if
this we're true. we are inclined 10 think
that the President might choose that al
tentative of a decided afTront TO the
trea,sz-aeEiug power of The nation. The
executive department OF this Govern
ment proposes treaties and conventions.
but ii requires ratification by the Senate.
to make them good for anything
We can easily forgive our British
friends for being in a rebulous state OF
mind as regards the workings of the
american Constitution. 1t is & fundameG-
tai law so different to that under which
they live that they are excusabIe For i'll
ability to understand it. What We can
not ecquit them of in the present in
stance is the black ingratitude which
their press is showing to our Senate for
its course in resisting a popular demand
for the complete rejection Of the treaty,
and for its AnglophiIe attitude in making
amendments 10 that iniquitous instru-
ment, which. as far as they are calculated
to cure any of its vices, are preteptious
huzabugs
There is not thing in the treaty in the
British Interest which has been eliminated
or essentially changed save the clause
which, N the original invited the Con
cert Of Europe to Join England in control
ling The proposed Nicaragua Canal as
practically universal sentiment il the
country in favor Of a straightforward ab-
rogation of the CIayton-BuIwer Treaty.
The Senate only went so far as mildly to
gay that the Hay Pauncefote Treaty su-
perseded It which was true and obvious
enough without any such sapient declara-
ton But the Senate accepted the pro
visions Tatifying and re-enacting the most
obnoxious features OF the cid. dead. and
buried agreement, and should Lord Sails
bury decide TO accept the document as it
stands, he VIII be getting Christmas gift
Of all that he has asked or could ask. and
more co.
We earnestly hope that he VIII be de-
tered from taking such action, b. what
appears 10 be an inflamed and Hnthinking
public opinion in the United Kingdom
Nothing could be better for the future of
the Republic than British rejection Of the
Hay Pauncefote Treaty at this tine. For
that reason we hardly dare look for such
an outcome. Following 1t, we should IN
douhtedly have a chance to wipe cut the
Clayton BuIwer Convention and Con
gress would be reasonably certain to en-
brace it without delay Far from being
a slight to Great Britain. the action Of
the Senate IN accepting the Hay-Paunce-
fote Treaty at all. upon sane analysis.
win be discovered 70 be a most gratuitous.
unwarranted, and abject surrender of
American rights. interests, and honor to
the high contracting party Of the other
part