The Colfax gazette. [volume] (Colfax, Wash.) 1893-1932, 1901-01-18

TO pretty thoroughly understand, and
the people will not permit much fur
Their delay. The stalking ghost of the
cid Clayton Bulwer treaty has long
enough impeded this great enterprise
'ipOn which the American people have
set their hearts. In the opinion of
many statesmen of both parties, past
. and present, this treaty ought to have
been abrogated years ago, as the rea-
sons for its PRONUNCIATION long ago
ceased to exist. The only reason for
such convention was that at the time
1t was entered into in 1850 Great Brit
ain claimed certain rights in the Mos
quito Coast by reason of a sort of pro-
tectorate she had assumed over the
Mosquito Indians. Years ago this rath-
er indefinite prOtectOrate came to a
formal close, and Great Britain con-
cluded q treaty with Nicaragua by
which she formally resigned whatever
rights she may have had in that quar-
ter Thus many American statesmen
and diplomatists, among them Secreta-
ry Evarts and Secretary Blaine, dur
Ing their connection with the state de-
partment, have held that there was no
occasion for the continuance of the
Clayton-Bulwer treaty and that it
should be abrOgated. Had this been
done there would have been no occa-
sion for the Hay-Pauncefote agree
meDt, and the diplomatic complications
which it brings into the canal question
would have been obviated. We would
then have had to deal only with the
parties in interest-Nicaragu and Cos
tn Rica-thrOugh portions of whose ter
ritory the canal will pass.
1t may be recalled that the Clayton
FulWer treaty was strongly denounced
Is the senate committee on foreign re-
tations In 1890, which was composed Of
tie following eminent statesmen: John
Sherman, George +. Edmunds, William
L. Frye, William NJ. Evarts, Joseph n.
1olph, John T. Morgan, Joseph e.
Brown, Henry B. Payne and James B.
Austis, two Of whom, Messrs. Frye
and Morgan, are members of the pres
mt committee. After stating in vigor-
Gus terms their premises and showing
Row In 1862 Great Britain had deliber-
stely violated the treaty, the committee
unanimously concluded that 1.-The Unit
ed States is at present under no obli-
cation, measured either by the terms
OF the convention, the principles Of
public law or good morals, to refrain
from promoting, in any way that it
deem re Inc ipfo
the construction Of this canal without
regard to anything contained in the
convention Of 1850"
Both Nicara qua and Costa RIGA want
the canal almost as much as does the
United States and have instructed their
ministers to enter into treaty arrange
ments for its construction through
their territory. They desire, however
that all outside diplomatic compiled
uons should first be disposed of Both
Minister Corea and Minister Calvo
nave lately expressed in very enthu-
slasuc terms their satisfaction over
the prospect that work is likely to
begin before many months on the
great enterprise, which they fully rec
ognize will bring much prestige and
material benefits to the little repub-
lies which they represent Referring to
the project, Minister Corea said the
other day:
Il spent some time in conference
with the president and members of the
cabinet at Managua. and | am happy
to say that President Zelaya and his
associates, and, in fact the whole
country, are enthusiastic on the future
or the great waterway which will con.
tribute SO greatly to the commerce of
the world. They are awaiting with
great interest the developments at
washington and are hopeful and con-