The Savannah morning news., 1901-11-07
WANTS THE CANAL
PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT IN FAVOR
OF THE PROJECT.
WILL so STATE IN MESSAGE.
LORD PAUNCEFoTE's RETURN TO
AMERICA SIGNIFICANT.

1t Reveals the Undisputed Fact That
England Is Prepared to Remove
So Far as She Is Able to Do So All
Obstacles in the Way of the Con-
struction of an Isthmian Water
way-It is Now Time for a Show
Down of Hands in the Senate.
Washington, Nov. 6.-President
Roosevelt. is an earnest and sincere ad-
vocate of the building of a Nicaragua
canal by the government of the United
States. One of the strongest recon-
mendations in his forthcoming message
to Congress will be to urge that some
definite action be taken on the canal
proposition. President Roosevelt and
Secretary Hay have had several con-
situations on the subject, and Secre-
tary Gage has on more than one &C.
casion, participated in these canal con-
ferences. 1t is believed by the Presi-
dent and those who join with him in
advocating the construction of the
canal by the United States government,
that now is the accepted time if the
canal is 10 De a reality.
The return to America of Lord
Pauncefote, the British ambassador,
reveals the undisputed fact that Eng
lard is prepared to remove SO far as
she is able to do so, all obstacles in
the way of the construction of the
isthmian canal which shall be owned
and controlled absolutely by the gov
eminent of the United States. l am
not justified in quoting either Secre-
tary Hay or Lord Pauncefote on this
subject, but it may be stated without
fear of successful contradiction that
the negotiations between England and
the United States which have been in
progress during the past summer have
resulted in a practical business agree
ment between the representatives of
these two great nations so far as the
construction of the canal is concerned.
disting uished member of the pres
ent administration remarked to me
yesterday that the President and the
members of his cabinet cannot give
assurances that Congress will, during
the coming session carry out the appar-
ent desires of a great majority of the
American people by passing the Mic
far as the diplomatic objections to the
project are concerned, they will all
be eliminated in the new draft of the
Hay-Paucefote treaty, which is prac>
tically ready for submission to the
Senate for notifications. The oppon-
ents of the building of the canal have
repeatedly concealed their real oppo-
sition to the canal bill by hiding be-
hind the Clayton Bulwer treaty and
real or imaginary complications with
Great Britain. I am assured, upon the
highest authority, that there is no fur
Their reason for objection on those
grounds providing the revised edition
OF the Hay-Pauncefote treaty is &C
ceptable to the Senate.
1t is now time for a show down of
hands in the Senate. President Roose-
welt proposes that the American peo-
pie shall know during the session of
the coming Congress whether the canal
IS to be built or not. Secretary Gage,
IN his forthcoming report to Congress,
Will show a substantial and continual
ly growing surplus of revenue in the
treasury, That surplus, or a portion
OF 1t, might be applied to the constr uc-
tion of the canal without injury to .he
general financial condition of the gov
eminent. Just how the Senate can be
forced to disclose it's real feeling on
the canal bill is a problem yet to be
solved
Year after the year the Nicaragua
canal bill has been introduced into Con-
gress, supported by the almost unani-
nous consent of the American people.
The House of Representatives, sup
posed to be the closest representatives
OF the people, have repeatedly. passed
Dill authorizing the government of
the United States to own and control
the canal. The hitch has invariably
oobbed up in the Senate. Poll after
poll Of the Senate has been made to
ascertain the general sentiment Of that
oody on the proposition, and the result
mas invariably been that an
overwhelming majority of the
members of that august body
were outwardly favorably inclined to
the passage Of the canal bill. BY some
mysterious legislative manipulation the
senate has never been able to bring
ABOUT direct test vote on the sub
gect' Senators who unoHcially allowed
themselves to be quoted as favoring
lhe canal, are known to have Joined
win the secret opponents of the bill
~ preventing vote being reached on
the bill
The time has now arrived for the
ILlends of the canal to demand an
open and fair consideration of the sub
Ject. Those who have secretly blocked
cd their opposition under the plea that
we Clayton Bulwer treaty must be abb
IQgated, before this government can
OBTAIN absolute control of the canal,
are deprived Of that pretext by the
ne" draft of the ay-Pauncefote
Teaty which is now being put into
ulplomatic language at the State De-
partment and also at the British en-
oassy in this city.
me consultations which took place in
ashington between Secretary Hay
ela Lord Pauncefote. after the failure
ol the treaty last winter followed by
."e conferences in London, I'm which
.neriean Ambassador Choate partici-
p-tea, have brushed aside every res-
1nAbie objection which might be found
~ itormer treaties between England
me United States. 10 rs strenu-
denied al the State Department
there has been any dickering or
"eflng between England and Amer