The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-05-26

not tolerate the idea of 1t ever being
used to endanger the republic. But,
though we understand American feeling
on the subject, it is in reality quite un-
necessary to express the matter in
treaty. The canal will be worked by an
American company. every one of the
great locks will be worked and controlled
by American engineers. every pilot will
be an American. Under such crcum-
stances, does any sane man imagine that.
treaty or no treaty, a power at war
with America will be able to use the
canal? A hostile ship might get as far
as the great N;caraguan lake but 1t
would never leave it till the war was
over. These being the plain facts we
cannot see why we should quarrel with
America because she is as we hold fool
ishly. anxious to express in words right
which we know she must be able to exer-
else, and win exercise in fact To deny
a man paper right when you are bound
by the nature of things to leave him a
substantial right does not seem to us a
very wise or businessl Ike proceeding Yet
that is the present attitude of our for
eign Office. They will net allow the
Americans to call their spade a spade.
though they are quite wilirg to allow
them the possession and use of that agri-
cultural implement
munication Of the treaty TO the powers,
in order that their assent may be given.
In our opinion. it is very absurd of the
Americans tC object to this, for we can
assure them that they are utterly mis-
taken in supposing that Germany, France
and Italy viii be content to leave the
question Of the canal ignored and undis-
cussed. They are quite ready to lie low
while We. with cur usual laundering AL
hot. 1ott .c
we are wise enough to think only Of our
selves for once they are certain to make
tnClr voices heard. Germany and France
never forget that they are Pacific now
ers. But it will be said we mast insist
on the communication of the treaty in
orcer tc get it recognized as part of the
Puh1c law CT the world The treaty will
become that without our fusstng We
nave only to make the proviso run that
there is to be no differentiation of dues in
favor OF the vessels of America or Of
any other POWER Then the powers can
zeal direct with America and secure thor
lishtS-We Being secured against anv un-
que preference by what will he virtually
most favored nation clause.
we snail not weary our readers with
any further argument in regard tc the
WISDOM al settling the Nicaragua canal.
question. but We will point o:it how easv
treaty which would do all the Areri.
cans ask us to do without iniuring our
interests IN the very least. A treaty of n
couple OF clauses would be all that would
be necessary. We do not, of course dis
sulse from ourselves that the Americans
would find TIE new treaty produce MANY
more dhhculttes and complications with
foreign powers than the original Hav
Iduhcefote treaty. The advantage Of
that most able and skiifulIy constructed
instrument was that it ANTICIPATED all
foreign objections, and would have been
accepted by all the powers without argn-
ment or dispute That, however. is
Americas affair. and not ours. If sha
likes to raise a hornets nest. she can
II is clearly not our business to stop her
at the :lSk of quarrel AS we have
SAID before, all we have to consider is
our own interests, and to consider them
IN reasonable and business-like wav
When they are secured our work is done
anu We can stand aside. America is big
enough and rich enough to fight her own
battles. vi