The sun., 1901-11-20
WEDNESDAY. NOV. 20. 1901.
THE IsTHMIAN TREATY.

lomatic achievement in which Della
wareans have gloried, has been the
CLAYTON Bulwcr treaty, negotiated by
John NJ. Clayton, Secretary Of State in
the cabinet of resident Fillmore, in |
which the United States and Great Brit
ain agreed to guarantee the neutrality |
OF the Isthmian Canal. On Monday this
great diplomatic achievement was set !
aside, and we are told that the American
Secretary Of State, and the British AM
bassador at Washington, with the por-
trait Of the great Delawarean looking
down upon them, calmly and without
any manifest regrct-withont any APP
parent concern for the memory OF Clay
ton. or the glory Of Delaware, signed and
sealed a new treaty abrogating the great
Clayton-Bulwer treaty Of 1885, Now
that Dplaware's work has been nndone,
what becomes of Delaware's share in
the great commercial enterprise of the
age!
To those who have been taught TO
honor John NJ. Clayton rs the greatest
of Dclaware's contribution to the group
Of great American statesman, there
must come feeling Of indignation, that
within half century Of his death. the
achievement upon which his fame has
rested, and upon which it appeared il
would securely rest for at least CEN
fury, has been superseded; and worse
than this. its ahrogatinn brings to mind
the fact that the great treaty has been
source OF almost continuous friction
between the contracting parties. In
stead of furthering the completion of the
Isthmian Canal, it had come to be recog-
nized as one of the impediments to sue
cess in that enterprise. Great Britain,
at the time of the negotiation Of the
Clayto -Bulw"r treaty, was unwilling
that the United States snould build, own
and furtify-as was believed to be es-
sental to its protection, and the protrc-
tion Of American territory from foreign
encroachmrnt; and the United States
was not willing that Great Britain or any
other nation should build or hold con
trolling interest ia it. Hence they agreed
that. whoever and wherever an 18th
mian Canal was completed, the two
would guarantee its neutrality; which
DOUBTLESS meant that the United States
and Great Britain would see to it that
no other nation should exercise any
greater control of it, or Use OF it, in war
or in peace, than they enjoyed,
Considering that Great Britain was NJ
that time the great maratime nation oi
the world, was mistress Of the sen" by
reason Of her naval and commercial su
premacy, and that because Of that fact
She was persistent in her meddling witt
everything pertaining to naval and com
mercial matters tho world over, thu
achievement Of John ~. Clayton in fore
ing Great Britain TO recognize the United
States ns an equal in the matter of cana
legislation and building, is seen To b
Il great achievement, aud one whic
mad, him justly renowned. ana whic
with equal justice was regarded as n
tlectng honor upon his native State.
this connection it must he remembpre
that about thirty years previous to th
negotiation of the Clayton Bulwpr trrat
the United States and Great Britain ha
fought out little matter pertaining t
the right of search upon the high sea
and the impression Of American sailor
into the British navy; and although th
United States was victor in that tiyh
and had won the exemption Of her uw
piracy, Great Britain did not yield he
contention Of the principle involved, il
dced.-not yield it until 1862 when Masu
and Slidel, Confederate Commissioners
10 Europe, were taken from the Britis
Royal Mail Steamer Trent, on the hig
seas by United States naval con
maudcr. In demanding their return an
an apology for boarding and interferen,
with a British ship upon the high So
the matter of dispute in the war Of ISL
!! was yielded By Great Britain Bl
when Clayton was negotiating the treat
in question Great Britain still held to Il
idea Of her undisputcd sovereignty
the seas, and was ready 10 enforce it |
number Of her ships and tho size Of Ii
guns. What was agsravating about Il
matter Just ut that time was the rap
growth OF American commerce. II
American clipper ships manned rs Anne
ican s"amen and commanded by Amer
can officers We're untsailing and oll
bidding the British ships in thr marts
The world. When this was going
came the discussion OF this great COZ
mnrcial scheme that was to bring Amer
can shipping ports from 5000 to 100
miles nearer To the ports Of China al
Japan. into which ports Americans we
forcing their way even then. II is ga
to see why Great Britain insisted upt
being one Of the parties of the first pa
to the canal enterprise. 1t is not diiIcu
To see that wrestling from her the 60
cession OF the equal right and equal rig
OF the United States, was gre
achievement in diplomacy. For tin
achievement John NJ. Clayton has btt
duly honored by the American peopl
and Delaware, his State, shared the no
or Of his achievement. That honor
mot iaScopcd hv rho a hropa finn Of tho nj