The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1901-10-16
The New Canal Treaty.

There is something inconsistent be-
tween the statement of the terms of the
new canal treaty and the further state
ment that these terms will obviate the
objections to the first effort Of Hay
and Pauncefote to arrange for the
control of the waterway.
1t is not clear from what the reports
allege the treaty contains that this CON-
pact can be more acceptable to the ma
jority OF the Senators required for rati
fication than was The first Hay-Paunce-
fote convention. If Senators OF the
United States have materially relaxed
their determination, as expressed in
former debates, that an American ca
nal built by the American government,
with American money, for the protec-
ton and advancement Of American in
terests, shall be under the unrestricted
control of the government of the United
States, in that case the new treaty, with
the main conditions as published, may
be ratified.
But there is no authoritative state
ment of the terms and conditions of
the new treaty; and there is no reason
TO believe that American public senti-
ment or senatorial opinion has changed
in any material respect since England
rejected the radically amended work of
her ambassador which the Senate Of
the United States returned to the Pres-
dent for transmission to England.
A feeling has been developing that
the canal is not 80 desirable, either as
a commercial waterway or for purposes
Of national security or defence, as it
has been deemed to be. Certain i'm
portant statements OF the commercial
value OF the canal, the pro6tableness of
the business of the enterprise in COM
petition with several transcontinental
railway lines and the water route for the
lower Pacific ports Of South America,
have been reviewed and analysed.
1t has been shown by we'll informed
writers, practically familiar with trans
portation questions in all their length
and breadth, in general and in detail,
that the statements of certain of the
supporters Of this canal, in their econ
Gmic bearing, are made without full
knowledge or understanding of the
practical business facts of the subject,
and that 30 far as they encourage the
belief that the canal will pay anything
beyond operating expenses-if, indeed,
the tolls will suffice for these-they are
ga delusion and snare"
These reasonable doubts as TO the
business success of the enterprise
which are becoming more prevalent,
while they relate primarily and directly
to the enactment of bill for the con-
struction of the canal, indirectly affect
the mind in The view it may take of the
terms and conditions of treaty with
England defining the relations of that
power to the completed canal. The
prospects of an interoceanic canal in q
business way might have much to dc
in influencing the minds of Senators
when considering the terms OF the
treaty with England. If it is clear that
the canal would he extremely valuable in
commercial way or as business in
vestment, or extremely desirable as
contributing to the national defense
concessions commensurate with these
advantages would naturally be made
If, on the other hand, it Is probable
that the business of the canal will no
pay the expenses Of operation and thu
cost of maintenance, and that thu
canal might become source of peri
rather than of strength to the nation
admonished by these circumstance
and the experience with the Clayton
Bulwer treaty, the Senate of the Unite'
States is not likely TO ratify treat
that might embarrass the government
in any change of prospects or condi
tions the future may bring.