The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-05-04
The senate aud the canal.

The Nicaragua Canal bill after triumph
ant passage in the House Of Representative.
by majority so sweeping as to leave nc
doubt that it reflected national sentiment
Is now before the Senate. What viii the
Senate do with It?
The answer ought to be easy. one
branch Of the Legislature has been carried
off its feet by a popular demand so strong
md insistent as for once to make resist
snce on the part Of the Administration look
7uny. The fight Of the Hanna and trust
combination was not even respectable in its
proportions. Patriotism won the day
against monopoly and the corruption fund
VIII it do so in the Senate?
Is there. indeed. majority Of Senator's
who agree with the American people that
this country should secure an tnteroceanic
waterway through Nicaragua and Costa
Rica without delay, and that it should be
q national undertaking and property in the
fullest sense Of the term-to be con
structed. owned. operated. protected. and
defended as exclusively American. and a
part Of the American coast line? II there
be such a majority. IL can compel action at
the present session and pass the Hepburn
bill exactly as It came from the House.
There will be violen, opposition, but il
all the alleged friends Of the American
proposition are sincere and earnest, that
opposition will be as ineffective as it was
OF the other side Of the Capitol The Ad-
ministration will urge with tears that it
would be sadly embarrassing to the Presi-
dent to have the Hepburn bin presented to
him for his signature or veto. There is
30, a doubt that il would be but it is also
true that the Government OF the United
States was not formed expressly and solely
to save Mr.. Mckinley from embarrassment.
II BY private understanding with Great
Britain or the powerful domestic enemies
Of the canal. he has gotten himself uncom-
fcrtably entangled. he must ezuicate him
reIf az best he can. He may find comfort
in the thought that "a square face-about
would not surprise anybody. He ended
the possibility Of surprise in his case with
his plain DUTY" qualification.
II there is as much Americanism in the
Senate. numbers considered. as the vote Of
Tuesday shows that there is in the House
the whip and spur OF the Administration.
its Vaccinations in behalf Of the Hay
Pauncefote Treaty. and the efforts Of
the perfectly well-knoWn combination be
hind the Panama scheme. all combined,
will not be sufficient 10 prevent vote on
and passage Of the Hepburn bill The
good faith Of the Senate in this mat
ter is on trial before the country Its
movements henceforward will be watch
ed with anxious and critical atten-
ton. For it is VIGOROUSLY within the
power Of Senators friendly to the Mica
ragua Canal to force action. II they
know. as We believe they have rea-
son to. that there is a Senatorial majority
behind them. they can compel the opposi
ton to accord consideration Of the meas
ure. Oh penalty Of sitting out the summer
in Washington. They can drive Hanna
and his Panama and Hay Pauncefote
myrmidons to the wall and afford them
an undesired opportunity fer registering
their treachery TO the American people.
The battle should be opened al once
and the firing kept up without an hours
cessation until the victory has been won.
II is a long time since the Senate faced
such grave responsibility or such a glo-
rious chance to earn the plaudHs and the
gratitude Of all Americans