Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1901-01-09
1.-TWO McKin,ey Murders.


An administration is to be Judged
quite ms much by what it attempts to
no us by what it actually does. The
success of the Hay-Pauncefote treaty
and of the ship subsidy bin is not nee
essary to show where the Mckinley adj
ministration stands. 1t has attempted
to dish the Monroe doctrine and it
mas attempted to open the doors of the
treasury to raid us inexcusable us it
Is dishonest. The suspicion existing
Tor some time that there is secret UNI
Outstanding of some description be-
tween the American and British gov
ernments is immensely strengthened
by the circumstances under which the
day-Pauncefotc treaty was negotiated
ana has been pressed upon the Senate.
In one sense 1t is not important
whether the Nicaragua Canal be for
titled or not. The nation with the
most powerful navy will probably con
troll the use of 1t in case of war. 1t is
OF Importance, however, whether the
United States shall recognize the right
Of any European nation to interfere in
matter concerning American inter
ests so closely us the Nicaragua Canal
does.
1t has been known and admitted for
fifty years that the Clayton-Bulwer
treaty, in which British claims to
rights on the isthmus are recognized,
was mistake of great magnitude, to
call 1t by no harsher name, and, In
view of the fact that the treaty has
beea violated, and by one American
administration has been denounced, 1t
has been held by some of the ablest
of American lawyers that it is no long
er in force.
There was one excuse for Mr.. Clay
ton which Mr.. Hay cannot urge. In
Mr.. Clayton's day it was proposed to
construct the canal with British cap
ital In Mr.. Hays day 1t is the in
tention to employ American money and
the peoples money at that. What
might have been urged as concession
of necessity in 1850 becomes, under
the changed conditions in 1900, sur
renter without pallintion and without
p1rpose, except as there may be a
secret understanding of some kind be-
tween the two governments.
II the right of any European power
to interfere in the matter of an 18TH
milan canal in America be admitted we
shay prepare n world of trouble for
ourselves. While the Monroe doctrine
does not specifically cover this ques-
tior., the Importance of the canal in a
military sense is SO great that the ma
tiol, in Europe which has anything to
say about the canal will be in posi-
tioii also to say great deal about the
ma tiers with which the Monroe doc
triDe does deal with much particular
ity.
Whether there be Notifications at the
entrances OF the canal or not is a ques
tio1 which should be settled by the
United States and by no other nation.
The canal is to be built, If built at all,
with American money. 1t will neces-
sarily become an important factor in
the coast defense of the Republic. To
c0Inplete this great enterprise with
American money and then to relinqulsll
American sovereignty over it would
make the canal source of weakness
rather than of strength. 1t were bet
ter that there were no canal than that
hundreds of millions of American
moaey should be expended In an under
taking SO vital to our own interests and
which on completion would pass be-
you'd our control.
The ship subsidy scheme is an adj
ministration measure. 1t is intended
to enrich men who have commended
themselves to the administration. 1t
is unnecessary. 1t is eXtravagant. 1t
is undoubtedly corrupt. 1t certainly
will take millions of money wrung
from the people by taxation and be-
stow it upon interests which have no
claim whatever upon the generosity of
the public. In its best aspect it is a
lavish gift of public money under false
pretenses to men already rich 1t its
worst aspect it is an objectionable
robbery of the people, Involving per-
sonal dishonesty on the part of some
of Its promoters. In both of these mat.
tiers Mr.. McKinley's administration
has already made its record and must
be Judged accordingly Chicago Chron-
icle.
The Buzzard's Opportunity.
The indications are that before Con-
gress shall adjourn in March it will