The evening times., 1901-01-18
Mr. Edrnunds on the Canal Treaty.

We printed in our morning issue I
most instructive paper contributed by
the Hen. George z Edmunds TO ''Hsr-
per's Weekly" on the subject of tie
Hay-Pauncefote Treaty. which every
good American should read. What the
ex-senator has 10 say in his brief ar
ticIe IS not new, because his views in the
connection have been well known, and are
in exact line with the arguments and
contentious of this journal. since the day
when the startling Hay -Pauncefote sur
prise was first sprung upon the country.
Nevertheless, the opinion of so great a
constitutional lawyer and jurisconsult as
Alr. Edmunds is On all sides admitted to
be, cannot be otherwise than important
at a diplomatic juneture like the present
one That it comedies with our own con-
yIctions almost absolutely IS an incident
which is not perhaps at all strange.
We may be permitted 70 say. in pass -ng
that people who read the daily papers and
possibly imagine that the things th5y see
in editorial form are merely the personal
and general ideas Of individual writer's, do
not realize the earnest effort VIII eh jour
nails of high political and international
purpose devote 10 the eIucidation OF great
public questions, before theories or con
clusions with regard 10 them are present
ed to the public In a matter so com
pIeteiy involving the honor and dignity of
the nation. and the maintenance of the
Monroe Doctrine. as the Hay-Pauncefote
Treaty, this CT any other organ of public
opinion would be false TO its mission and
the public trust which a national paper
has imposed upon it, TO eZpound interna-
tion2I as we'll as national law and duty
If il did not first fortify itself with the
best opinion extant on any subject which
it might consider vital 10 the interests or
to the general good Of the country.
Ex-senator Edmunds. as Will be seen
from his paper, is thoroughly convinced
that the Clsyton-BuIwer Convention was
an abortion and not . live birth The
agreement which the Senate ratified was
not the pretended agreement entered into
between Secretary Clayton and the Brit
ish Government. What the negotiators
prepared for Senatorial consumption con-
tanned the following provision
The Governments OF the United States and
Great Britain hereby declare that neither the
one nor the other VIII ever obtain maintain
Tor ltsea any exclusive control over said ship
canal: (nleaning the ship canal proposed in
1850 agreeing that neither will ever erect or
maintain any iortinoatiOns commanding the same
or in the vicinity thereof, or occupy, or fortify
or colonze or assume, or exercise any dominion
over Nicaragua. Costa Rica the MOSQUITO Coast
o. ans part % Central America
Il is matter Of history. Of which any
man can convince himself by reading The
debates in the Senate on the subject IN
1852. that the Senate regarded the mutual
agreement not TO affect colonization or
the acquisition Of territory anywhere on
the lsthmus which separates North Amer
lea from South America. as vital. essential
10 the contract and as the valuable con-
sideration upon which 1T was TO be con
suInnated. II the Senate had known OF the
unconstitutional and. on the part Of Sec
retary Clayton, the corrupt and treach-
erous secret article which he had signed
with the British negotiator. BY which
III was not understood b. either OF
them that the treaty included the Briti=h
settlement Of Honduras. or the Boy Isl
ands, il is notorious that the convention
would have been rejected.
Mr. Edmunds is On all fours with as in
asserting thar the uefarious. secret ar
ticle could not and never did bind the
United States. Il could not under our
ConstiJurIsa- any more than could an
agreement By q Republican boss TO trans
fer part OF Alaska TO the British Crown. in
consideration Of Ministerial help 10 float
an American Industrial scheme Of EKonop-
oily in London. That being the fact and
the law. we fall back upon the Clayton
Bulwer Treaty as it was presented TO the
Senate and acted upon by that body
II We hold simply 10 that 1t becomes
evident that if the mala hdes Of the other
party in coHspiring with the American ne
gotIator % secure an ostensible agreement
witE the United States which suppressed
and concealed The real object Of the same.
did not nuiIify aHd yacate It alb inltIo
then il must De plain that the violation Of
the Convention. az ruJined and made law
in the United States. when England. in
1862, established ths'Crown Colony OF Brit
ish Honduras. concluded England and abr9-
gated whatever rights. privileges. and i'm
inunities she mighs otherwise claim under
the treaty
We are avare thar, in answer TO this, ii
may be objected that Iateg executive recog-
Hitions Of the treaty, BY Presidents or
Secretaries Of sta-e, if they did net cure
the vice 0l-the alleged contract. condoned