New-York tribune., 1901-12-17
THE TREATY RATIFIED.

Tho CLAYTON BuIUer Treaty is ahrogated; Inc
t4.r-Pauncafote Treaty is ratified: Long may
Tho latter prevail, That. in adaptation OF the
ancient court formula is the record of yester-
dor,s work at Washington 1t is an achleVe-
mont rnon which not only two eminent dlplo-
mats and even two great nations but also All
the world NAV we'll be congratulated Inc teAt
of fine treaty is already familiar to the puoLc'
and all thoughtful men appreciate ITS 1orce anu
nerceive its benefcent intent TO TINS hauoh' 10
Great Britain and TO all commerclaf nations
There are several particulars in when lis ra'ih-
cation and the manner thereof are to he re-
garded with especial satisfaction by the people
of the United States.
II is for example we'll that the Clayton
RuIwer Treaty is abrOgated. That instrument
has for fifty years been a cause OF dlsSatlslac-
ton and irritation. There have been many
disputes concerning the Interpretation OF II,
sor,e of which have never been settled. 1t has
been for many years the chief obstacle 10 Ihe
very ENTERPRISE it was ostensibly intended TO
promote Conceding. for the sake OF argument
all the merits with which it has been invested
lv its most enthusiastic friends there is no
question that it long ago outlived its usefulness
The one thing in it that is worthy of continued
vitality is specifically preserved by its successor.
All the rest of il is dead. May it rest in peace!
1t is we'll that treaty should replace
the old one rs token Of continued amlty
between the nations Simple abrogation of the
Clayton Bulwer Treaty. such as was more than
once proposed i'll past years. might have left a
sting behind it on side or the other. Rela-
tions between the two powers might have been
thus made less friendly. There can be no dan
ger of that in the present case. On the con-
trary there is reason to expect a strengthening
of amicabe relations result of the substi-
tuition of -Pnuncefote for Clayton Bulwer.
And since the policy Of the United States is
.'peace commerce and honest friendship with
all nations" such result must commend itself
TO all. whether they belong TO the insignificant
and negligible fractions of ''Anglophobes" and
"Anglomaniacs'' or to the great mass Of simple
Americans
1t is we'll that the treaty was ratified by
| wellnigh unanimous and bipartisan vote. In
such matter there is no legitimate room for
partisanshp. Diplomacy differs from war in
! many respects. but not in this particular, that
| toward Il foreign country the nation should
| present a united front. Few things are more
| ominous than the carrying of domestic feuds
| and factionalism into the foreign relations of a
country. That is a sort of moral quasi-treason
| of which Americans have seldom been guilty
! In the present no such reproach is incurred.
Men voted for or against the treaty not because
| they We're Republicans or Democrats, but be-
| cause they were Americans.
| And. TO specify no further. il is well that thus
| the way is opened. and prudently and honor
ably opened. for the construction of an isthmian
| canal. There may be those who will unthink-
! ingly regard the promotion of the canal scheme
/ as the chief reason for qualification We are
not of that number Vastly important as is
n is ctiI
| important that it should be rightly constructed
that it should be done in a way compatible with
| the welfare. interests and dignity of this nation
| and with the maintenance of peace commerce
! and honest friendship with all nations All
| these ends have now, we confidently believe.
| been attained. There remains. therefore only
| the enterprise of proceeding with the canal.
| And with the ample information provided in
! the report of the Isthnian Canal Commission it
should be possible to do that speedily, and to do
| it Alright.