Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1901-01-08
Two Mckinney Murders.

Two Mckinney Murders.
An administration is to be judged
quite as much by what it attempts to
do as by what it actually does. The
success of the Hay-Pauncefote treaty
and of the ship subsidy bill is not nee
essary to show where the Mckinley adj
ministratiOn stands. 1t has attempted
to dish the Monroe doctrine and it
has attempted to open the doors of the
treasury to raid as inexcusable as it
is dishonest. The suspicion existing
for some time that there is secret I'M
Outstanding of some description be-
tween the American and British gov
ernments is immensely strengthened
by the circumstances under which the
Hay Pauncefote treaty was negotiated
End has been pressed upon the Senate.
In one sense it is not important
whether the Nicaragua Canal be for
titled or not. The nation with the
most powerful navy will probably con-
troll the use of it in case OF war. 1t is
of Importance, however, whether the
United States shall recognize the right
of any European nation to interfere III
a matter concerning American inter,
ests SO closely as the Nicaragua Canal
does
1t has been known and admitted for
fifty years that the Clayton-Bulwer
treaty, in which British claims to
rights on the isthmus are recognized,
was mistake Of great magnitude, to
call it by no harsher name, and, in
view of the fact that the treaty has
beel violated, an6 by one American
administration has been denounced, il
has been held by some of the ablest
of American lawyers that it is no long
er in force
There was one excuse for Mr.. Clay
ton which Mr.. Hay cannot urge. In
Mr.. Clayton's day it was proposed tc
construct the canal with British cap
ital In Mr.. Hays day it is the in
tention to employ American money and
the peoples money at that. What
might have been urged as a concession
of pecessity in 1850 becomes, under
the changed conditions in 1900, a sur
render without palliation and without
2 lrpose except as there may be q
secret understanding of some kind be
tween the two governments.
Il the right of any European power
10 interfere in the matter of an 18th
milan canal in America be admitted we
shay prepare world of trouble fol-
ourselves. While the Monroe doctrine
does not specifically cover this CUES
tier., the Importance of the canal in q
military sense is SO great that the ma
ton in Europe which has anything tC
say about the canal will be in a posi-
tioii also to say great deal about the
ma tiers with which the Monroe doc
tripe does deal with much particular
ity.
Whether there be Notifications at the
entrances of the canal or not is a ques
tioa which should be settled by the
United States and by no other nation
The canal is to be built, if built at all
with American money. 1t will neces
saI ly become an important factor in
the coast defense of the Republic. TC
complete this great enterprise will
An erican money and then to relinquish
American sovereignty over it would
make the canal source of weakness
rather than of strength. 1t were bet
ter that there were no canal than that
hundreds of millions of American
moaey should be expended in an under
taking so vital to our own interests and
which on completion would pass be
You'd our control.
The ship subsidy scheme is an adj
miiistration measure. 1t is intended
to enrich men who have commended
themselves to the administration. II
is unnecessary. 1t is extrayagant II
is undoubtedly corrupt. 1t certainly
VIII take millions of money wrung
from the people by taxation and be
stow it upon interests which have nc
claim whatever upon the generosity OF
the public. In its best aspect it is a
lavish gift OF public money under false
pretenses to men already rich 1t its
worst aspect it is an objectionable
robbery of the people, involving per-
sonal dishonesty on the part of some
of its promoters. In both of these mat
tiers Mr.. McKinley's administration
has already made its record and must
be judged aecordingly.-Chicago Chron-
icle.