The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-04-08

master, opening with a brief address,
and in a happy vein he said: Mr.. Presi-
dent and Your Honors 0aughter): | as
sure you in addressing you thus | am
only anticipating what the future may
bring to you all. The circumstances of
the meeting this evening are particularly
fortunate. We are gathered here in this
old hostelry of Col Aliens where every
one feels at home, and if Col Allen has
never been admitted to cur bar he has
never refused admittance to his. There
is an unusually happy coincidence con-
nected with this gathering. Just twenty
live years ago the then governor of this
state appointed to the district bench one
whom we have grown to love and re-
spect. Tonight that governor occupies a
position once held by Webster, as chair
man Of the committee on foreign reia-
tons. (Applause.O He is now filling that
high Office considering questions of ma
tional and international Importance
Mr.. Stevens introduced President Henry
Wade Rogers, OF Northwestern univer-
sity, who discussed the Hay-Pauncefote
treaty. Mr.. Rogers spoke for about an
hour on the treaty, reviewing the history
Of the Clay-Bulwer treaty and explaining
the attitude of all the administrations
that had considered the transoceanic
canal problem and also quoted the views
Of all the secretaries of state as We'll as
others, upon the conditions under which
the canal should be built He took the
position that the HayPauncefote treaty
should pass. Contrary to the popular
impression existing the treaty. now being
considered was rather supplementary to
! the Clayton Bulwer treaty than abroga-
tive in its operation.
Mr.. Rogers commended that the canal
| should be built on a neutral basis, and
that no Notifications should be provided.
! The Clayton Bulwer treaty did not pro
vide for Notifications, merely neutral
waterway, and that agreement had never
| ceased to be obligatory upon the United
| States. The -Pauncefote treaty
! should, the speaker thought, be adopted.
! 1t remedied the defects OF the original
! treaty, and extended the rights of the
! United States where they were restricted.
| The testimony of naval experts and mill
! tary authorities was decidedly opposed
/ to the fertilization Of the canal. One
! stick Of dynamite could ruin one of the
locks and make passage through the
canal Impossible" for months. A shell
from all enemy's gun ten miles out from
| the land might do damage that could not
! be repaired short. of a long period. Adj
miral Dewey was opposed to the FORTH
cation Of the canal, IL built, owing to the
facts just stated. The admiral had ex-
! pressed himself very freely on the sub
would be a very unwise one. Mr.. Rogers
! thought that this, from an expert point
| of view, should bear weight enough to
! put down such plan Estimates of the
| cost OF such fcrtifications were placed In
the neighborhood of $50 600, 900, and Mr..
Rogers could not see why the United
States should find It necessary to fortify
! this canal when it had gone for years
with an unprotected coast line. If the
canal was built on a neutral basis, such
as was proposed, what argument was
there in protecting something that could
not be attacked?. On the other hand,
| those who wanted to see the canal forti-
! fed, were sincere in their views taking
! the ground that the vessels of foreign
foe could pass through the American
canal, and attack the Pacific coast of tbs
United States. They confended that no
more right should be given In this direc-
| ton, than would be allowed an enemy
in the matter OF transporting troops, over
| land.
The amendment which had been offered
to the Hepburn bill, which. while placing
| the canal ON neutral basis in time OF
peace. provided for its being closed IN
time of war, appeared to the enemies OF
the bill as an attempt to embody two
antagonistic provisions that would nullify
the original treaty. IF the powers would
accept that provision they would accept
anything.
Following Mr.. Rogers address, C. s
Jelley, of Minneapolis. responded to a
toast, LAS You Like It." He occupied
but a few minutes, owing to the lateness
of the hour mr.
John d. BfieE concluded the speech.
making with a toast to Our Senior
Judge" and told several interesting
stories that occurred during the Judges
judicial service, and in closing. paid higt
tribute to the jurist who had so many
! times been elected to the district bench
by the voters of Ramsey county