The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-09
MONDAY. APRIL 9. 1900.
The Nicaragua Canal.

the Administration has finally decide
that there shall be no inter-oceanic cana
legislation at the present session OF Con
gross. Having failed 10 secure ratification
by the Senate OF the Hay Pauncefot
Treaty. an agreement designed to resusci
tate the void and dead Clayton Bulwe
Treaty Of 1850. to work a surrender Of tn
Monroe Doctrine by the United States an
for ether and concealed purposes: and
being prevented by its engagements from
consenting to any amendment to the frs
named, the Administration is determined
if it can. to procure an indefinite postpone
ment OF action on the -Pauncefot'
Treaty. and TO prevent any canal legisla
lion until after the Presidential election.
II is a question whether the splendid
Anglo-diplomaey Of President McKinlel
and his Foreign Secretary. has not been ad
dressed to this purpose from the beginning
In the light Of recent Developments IN,
suspicion is eScusable that the Who'll,
course Of the Administration has beer
based upon conviction that. if recognition
of the Clayton Bulwer fraud upon the Sen
the Monroe Doctrine were made conditions
precedent TO engagement in the Nicaragua
Canal enterprise Congress and the Ameri-
can people would refuse to undertake IL.
vitality important TO the commerce and
prosperity OF the nation as all citizens OF
the United States regard the proposed
waterway In short the time may soon
come when the public can judge whether
The Administration does or does not take
issue with the country on the proposition 10
build an American or any Isthmian Canal,
General Morgan in the Senate and Mr.
Hepburn in the House. severally in charge
Of the American canal measure. appear to
be optimistic as to the prospect Of favor
able action upon IT, irrespective Of the
Executive fat that ratification OF the Hay
Pauncefote Treaty must preeede canal
legislation; and OF the notorious fact that
all the Administration forces have been
modified against any such legislation al
this session. We are unable TO coincide
with such view. The facts and eircum-
stances Of the situation are all opposed
to it, We have seen that, although the
moderate amendment to the Hay Paunce-
fote Treaty proposed by Senator Davis
giving the United States some general au-
thority to protect its own property and
coast line-according 20 that statesman.
has the sanction OF the British Govern
ment. the Administration has resisted its
adoption with yindictiveness and so far
with entire success. We can discover no
reason 10 doubt that the machine whip
spur. buck. and gag will be used with
equal efficiency up to the minute when
the gavel shall fall in the Senate and
House some day in June.
This is a reasonable deduction from the
conduct OF the Congressional majority
since the beginning OF the session. In
order to raise a huge corruption fund FOR
campaign purposes the Republicans in
Congress have been coerced into support
ing such a barefaced measure Of oppres-
sion and national dishonor as the Porto
Rican Tsrin bin, They have accepted ana
acted on the mandate with supreme SER
Witty. knowing that in bowling 70 the viii
OF Caesar they violated the Constitution
Of the United States and their oaths to
support 1t. But the part- organization
needs the money OF certain trusts and can
secure it only at the price OF abandoning
"our plain duty breaking our plighted
word TO Porto Rico and trampllng the Con-
stitution under foot An Administration
and legislative majority Of the sort now
pressing like an Old Man Of the Sea on
the neck Of the country. Of course. would
not hesitate between honor duty. and
obedience to fundamental law on one hand
and cash on the other.
We mention the Porto Rican infamy in
this connection TO emphasize the certainty
that. If all thought OF integrity and pub
lie decency were thrown to the winds in
that case. in the interests Of one class
Of campaign contributions. why should rot
the same thing happen relatively TO other
measures. also involving political fund
subscriptions? The enemies Of the Nicara-
qua Canal proposition who have been
fighting il bitterly for years. with an the
power Of vast wealth and political in
fiuence. and with wholesale bribery and
corruption, are still in the field and sim
struggling TO defeat the project They are
prepared now, as they always have been
to pay for delay or obstruction continually
hoping that something win happen ulti-
mately TO KIN it. That their hope is not
without excellent foundation. assuming an
other Republican quadrenuate, is exem- 1
plided in the Hay-Psuncefote Treaty with T
ITS treacherous attempt 10 knife the Mon I
roe Doctrine and to revive the Clayton ]
Bulwer alleged ACKNOWLEDGEMENT nun /
and void, because never constitutionalIy /
ratified
These anti-oanal interests are not less 4
likely TO be generous to the Republican 4
barrel this year, supposng the conside-a- 4
tloH to be adequate, than they Were four
year, ago. or than their oongeners. the 4
oil. sugar. tobacco. and rum trusts. are 1
expected 10 be. Indeed, there is the same 4
inducement 10 the Administration to fbrbt- 4
lie the canal. as there is to perpetuate 4
misery and famine In Porto Rico. Con
sidering the abject and humlliating plla-i
hility OF the Republican machine, Senators /
and Representatives under the Joint ma
nipulation OF The trusts and monopolies.
and OF their agent the Administration.
who can doubt what the net result will be ? /