The times., 1900-12-20
what VIII the Senate Do.

What VIII the Senate Do!
Today the Senate viii vote on the amend
ments proposed to the yPauncefote
Convention The country is intensely in
terested in the outcome, and its eye is
on the Senate most critically.
According to our information last night,
the probabilities are that the Foraker
amendments will be adopted. One Of these
declares the supersession of the Clayton
Bulwer Treaty by the Hay-Pauncefote
Convention as amended. We are sorry
that the amendment does not ahrogate the
old and violated agreement. The state
ment that is it superseded" in our opin-
ion. does not cure the vice of the declara-
tion in the Hay-Pauncefote Treaty's first
article, that the high contracting parties
desire to maintain the general principle"
of naturalization established in the Clay
ton-Buiwer Treaty.
Senator Foraker's other amendment. to
strike out clause three of the Hay-Paunce-
fote Treaty, which provides for ultimate
control of the canal by the Concert Of
Europe. will also be adopted. Then. it is
believed. the treaty will be ratified, and
Senator Lodge said in the executive ses-
sion yesterday that he had no doubt Great
Britain would accept the action of the
Senate within the prescribed time-April
10. 1901.
On the threshold of final and conclusive
decision, we earnestly beg Senators to con-
slider what they are about to do. What We
are entitled to presume they want, and
what there is not a scintiIia of doubt that
the country wants, is an American inter-
oceanic canal, built. owned. operated. and
fortified and defended by the United States,
and to be closed against its enemy in time
of war Senator's must ask themselves the
question, VIII the proposed Foraker
amendments make this American sine qua
non rlain' II not. then the Hay-Paunce-
fote Treaty should be further amended. or
rejected altogether
buOsl Vi lHt 1ldg
should not stand in the way of patriotic
action. The American who is not ready to
huri that violated fraud in the face of its
yioIator and destroyer, and the American
Administration which is not ready to ig-
more it and TO act in despite of it as
statesmen like Frelinghuysen and Blaine
would have done, are not worthy the name
of Americani
It may be true, as the Secretary of state
has admitted, that he alone is response
BILE for the invitation to England and the
Concert of Europe to take charge of the
Nicaragua Canal and to replace our par
amountey in the Western Hemisphere with
the Anglo-Continental coalition. But his
frank confession does not alter the condi-
tions in the smallest degree. Indeed, it
only serves TO emphasize the necessity of
putting none but Americans on guard"
1t would be a waste of argument to re-
mind Senators that enough has been de-
voloped in connection with this ugly busi-
ness to show that in some way it is con-
neeted with the secret understanding be-
tween the Administration and Great Brit
ain. and that the ramifcations of that un-
derstanding have extended to the supine
surrender of two thousand square miles of
national territory in Alaska. invaded, oc-
cupied, and annexed to the British North
west Territory.
Mr. Hays personal influence and his
many charms of manner his courtliness.
and his reputation as a humorous poet
may obscure certain facts of his connec-
tion with an open and obvious design to
bring England to this side of the Atlantic
as our senior partner in American affairs
But even If he be personally acquitted of
unpatriotism in the premises. the hideous
truth stands out not the less prominently
that the Administration which he repre-
sents has been and is interested in dimin-
ishlng American influence in Central
America, and is strongly tainted with a
desire to cede to Great Britain an impor-
fant part of our Pacific Coast line and ter
ritory in Alaska.
All these things should be considered in
the Senate today by Senators who have no
other end in view than to safeguard the
interests and add 10 the honor and glory
of their country. What the Court of ST.
James may think of their action Is a mat
ter which may possess social Importance
TO Mr.. Hay; it should not exert the slight
est influence upon an American Senator.
There is strange fate which brings us
synchronousIy to the parting OF the ways,
as to cur international standing and our
institutions. The primsey of our country
within its own sphere of influence trem-
bles in the Senate balance. The Consti-
tuition of the United States is on trial for
its life before the Supreme Court Of the
United States.
iInxing Versus Athletics.
Since the Booz investigation assumed a
serious aspect, it has been found that
nt least one other cadet has died from
the effects of West Point hazing IL is