Arizona daily citizen., 1901-11-19
ED. HALE.
THE NEW CANAL TREATY.

The signing of the new Hay-Paunce-
fOte treaty yesterday was a distinct
victory for American ideas and a clear
recognition of the right of the United
States government to the paramount
influence In the affairs of this CONT
nent
A year ago many persons calling
themselves American were denouncing
the Senate OF the United States be-
cause of Its refusal to ratify the treaty
negotiated by Secretary Hay and the
British Ambassador for the govern
ment of the lsthmian canal Under
the provisions of this treaty, the Gov
ernment of the United States was to
build and operate the canal at It's own
expense, but could not fortify it. and
Great Britain was to share In its man
agement and control and In the guar
antee OF Its neutrality. That treaty
yielded so much to Great Britain that
it was offensive to American patriot
ism and distinct reputation of the
cardinal principle of the Monroe doc
trine
The Senate of the United States
amended" the original treaty out OF
shape and out OF countenance. not
withstanding that the whole influence
of the Mckinley administration was
exerted to secure its ratification.
The new treaty lie all that progress
sive and patriotic Americans desire.
The Government of the United States
will build the canal. operate 1t, fortify
1t IL necessary. and close 1t. ii desIr-
able, to all but the ships OF the United
States In time OF war. In fact moth
Ing Is conceded to Great Britain except
formal and respectful abrogation OF
the old Clayton-Bulwer treaty that
Jamse G. Blaine declared twenty years
ago had been defunct for a quarter OF
a century. IT, to save appearances.
Great Britain desii IS to be let down
easily, there should be no objection.
Everything that Americans contended
for has been yielded
But the changed attitude OF the Brit
ish Government In dealing with
this country deserves more than pass
ing notice. No one need flatter him
self with the belief that Britain loves
MS more now than at any time since
our fathers won this nations indie
pendence II Is our strength that Great
Britain respects. Our cousins beyond
the sea received rude shock when
Grover Cleveland sent his famous mes
sage to Congress on England's aggres-
sions In Venezuela. The British foreign
minister then declared. that never
would Great Britain submit the Vene-
zuelan boundary dispute TO arbitration.
But Great Britain discovered that this
country stood behind Venezuela-and,
submitted TO arbitration. Now Great
Britain acknowledges our right to
build, operate, control and fortify an
iSthmian canal.
The people OF the United States owe
a debt of gratitute to the Senate. Des-
pite the pressure of the Mckinley ad-
minlstration. notwithstanding the
pleadings Of college professors and me-
tropolitan editors and the literary and
social dilettante, the Senators stood
firm in opposition to any partnership |
with Great Britain in the American
canal Great Britain now comedies
everything that the Senators who op-
posed the ratification of the original
trSsty contsnded for. II is a victory
for the West and the South. II was
theSeuthern and Western Senator's who
''6Ipsnded' the first treaty out of ex-
ist1uce, and 1t was Eastern Senators
exclusively who advocated Its ratiflca-
tion.
Ss4sit * ,..