The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-12-18
III Nothing Is Done by Her Majesty's
Government the Nicaragua Canal
Bill May Then BE Passed.
FORMER OPPOSED TO THE AGREE.
MENT WITH BRITAIN.
Thinks the United States Should
Act Observation-Disclosures
Urged by the IllinOisan.


WASHINGTON, Dec. 1.-THE Hay
Pauncefote treaty will be finally voted on
next Thursday. This agreement was only
reached after the Republican steering
committee had agreed that the ship sub
sidy bill should go over until after the
holidays. 1t is believed the treaty, as
amended, will receive the required two
thirds and be ratified. 1t is further be-
lieved that as amended it will be rejected
by England, though Lord Salisbury has
given no public hint of what he will do. In
some quarters it is thought he will accept
the amendments in order to give his coun-
try some excuse, however shadowy, for
interfering in a purely American enter
prise, but the feeling is growing that it is
matter of no vital concern to this coun-
try what England may do. AS a conse-
quence it is proposed by the Senate COM
mittee on interoceanic canals to give Eng
land a reasonable time in which to act, and
then, If she fails, to pass the Nicaragua
canal bill anyhow. Just what will be re-
garded as a reasonable time is not finally
fixed, but 1t will probably be not later than
April 10. This plan would postpone final
action on the canal bill until the next
Congress. Meantime Senator Morgan has
a resolution on the Senate calendar, de-
gated, which may be taken up and passed
il England fails to ratify the amended
Hay-Pauncefote convention.
The Associated Press says: Just before
adjourning this afternoon the Senate gave
it's consent to the fixing of definite
time to vote upon the Hay-Pauncefote
treaty. Senator's Money and Mason had
occupied the time of the executive session
In making speeches on the treaty, and when
Mr.. Mason, who was the last speaker, con-
cluded, Senator Lodge renewed his request
to take a vote next Thursday. No voice
was raised in opposition and the unanimous
agreement was recorded. The understand
ing is that the voting shall be on the
amendments at O. clock and that the SEN
ate shall continue in session until the first
vote on the treaty itself is reached.
THE SPEECHES.
Senator Moneys speech was a fat pro-
test against the entire proceeding in con-
nection with the treaty. He talked for two
hours, contending for the right of the
United States to act in this matter inde-
pendently of other nations. He said that
conditions had changed greatly since 1850.
when the Clayton-Bulwer treaty was made
and added that while the interest Of Great
Britain in constructing a canal across the
isthmus and In maintaining its neutrality
had diminished greatly because Of the con-
struction of the Suez canal, the interests
of the United States in an isthmian canal
had been vastly enhanced because of grow
ing trade and our new acquired possessions
in the Orient. He said that while England
demanded the United States should not
fortify the proposed isthmian canal she
herself had Notifications which practically
control the Suez canal. He read copious
extracts from speeches by Stephen A.
Douglass, Secretary Freylinghausen and
Secretary Blaine. (the last mentioned in
his instruction to Minister LowelD in sup
port of his position. He called attention to
the fact that the Hepburn bill provides ex-
plicitly for the defense of the canal and he
asserted that the treaty should be defeated
outright and the canal bill passed in its
stead.
Senator Mason spoke in support of his
suggested amendments, authorizing the
United States to defend the canal If it NAV
deem proper in case 1t constructs the canal.
He presented the arguments in support of
our right to defend the waterway in con-
else and forcible terms, and received care
full attention. He corrected at the out
set the impression that in his effort to have
the treaty amended he is seeking to antag-
onize the administration. Nothing he said
was further from his thought, because he
believed that in this, as In all other mat
ters, the administration had been entirely
patriotic. His difference of view was due.
he said, to a different conception of the
way to reach common end. that common
end being the welfare of the American
people. He then proceeded to make his ar
gument for the right to defend the canal
in case this country constructs it with its
own money.
Senator Mason declared that the present
instance furnishes the first precedent of
a great Nation being asked to agree not to
defend a great public work, the construc-
ton of which 1t is contemplating. He did
not consider that Great Britain should un-
dertake to say what should do in
the matter. At the same time.
he said he would have it understood
that he was not actuated I'm his DO
sition by any hostile feeling toward
Great Britain, for, while he considered
that country in the ''sere and yellow leaf
he thought that we should deal with II as
we would with either the weakest nation or
the strongest. In other words, he said.
our dealings should be on the plane of
Justice and the manly assertion of our
own rights. Mr.. Mason said there was and
could be no contention over the question of
the right of nation to defend itself and
it's citizens and property, and he argued
that the recognition of this right must