Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1901-01-22
BLUNDERs OF M'K1NLEY.
How the Administration Is Betray.
ing the interests of the
PeOOle.

All ADMINISTRATION Is W 10 Jo0SS0
quite ais 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 necessary to show where the Nc
kinley administration stands. 1t has
trine and it has attempted to open the
doors of the treasury to a raid as
lnexcusable as it is dishonest.
The suspicion existing for some
time that there is secret UNDER
standing Of some description between
the American and British governments
is immensely strengthened by the cir
cumstances under which the Hay
Pauncefote treaty was negotiated and
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. It
Is of Importance, however, whether
the United States shall recognize the
right of any European nation to in
terfere in a matter concerning Amer
lean interests SO closely as the Mo
aragua canal does.
1t has been known and admitted for
so years that the Clayton-Bulwer
treaty, in which British claims to
rights on the isthmus are recognized,
was mistake of great magnitude, to
call 1t by no harsher name, and, in
view of the fact that the treaty has
been violated, and by one American
administration has been denounced, it
has been held by some OF the ablest
OF American lawyers that it is no
longer in force.
The present administration has act
ed on the theory that the treaty was
still OF binding force, and that in ne
gotiating a new convention it was
necessary to renew the recognition Of
British claims which made the earlier
treaty SO offensive to most Amer1-
cans.
There was one excuse for Mr.. Clay
ton which Mr.. Hay cannot urge. In
Mr.. Clayton's day It was proposed to
construct the canal with British cap
itel. In Mr.. Hays day 1t is the inten-
ton to employ American money, and
the peoples money at that. What
might have been urged as a concss-
sion OF necessity In 1880 becomes, un-
der the changed conditions in 1900, a
surrender without palliation and with
out purpose, except as there may be
a secret. understanding of some Kind
between the two governments.
If the right OF any European power
to interfere in the matter Of an
tsthmian canal in America be admit
ted we shall prepare world of trou-
bic for ourselves. While the Monroe
doctrine does not specifically cover
this question, the Importance Of the
canal in military sense is SO great
that the nation in Europe which has
anything to say about the canal will
be In position also to say a great
deal about the matters with which
the Monroe doctrine does deal with
much parAoularity.
Whether there be Notifications ~
the entrance Of the canal or not isI
question 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. It
will necessarily become an important
factor in the coast defense Of the re-
public. To complete this great enter
prise with American money and then
to rslinquish American sovereignty
he
of weakness rather than Of strength
1t were better that there were nc
canal than that hundreds OF millions
OF American money should be expend-
ed IN an undertaking so vital to our
own interests and which on compile.
ton would pass beyond our control
1t has been held for half century
that Mr.. Clayton was hoodwinked IL
his negotiations with Bulwer. With
his example before the people al,
these years and with the knowledge
OF his mistake impressed upon all his
successors, as it has been, what shall
be said OF Mr.. John Hay, who enters
deliberately into such another trap
baited, in all probability, in exactly
the same manner? The apparent un
willingness of the United States sen
ate to become party 70 his folly II
very creditabls to 1t.
Mr.. Hanna's intense personal inter
est in the proposed ship subsidy bill
furnishes stronger evidence of the ad
ministration's attitude on this subject
than anything which has appeared IL
the written or spoken utterances O.
the president.
The subsidy scheme is an admins
tration measure. It 10 intended to en-
rich men who have commended them
selves to the administration. It is un
necessary. 1t is extravagant. It Il
undoubtedly corrupt. 1t certainly
will take millions of money wruns
from the people by taxation and be
stow 1t upon interests which have n<
claim whatever upon the generosity O.
the public. In Its best aspect it is {
lavish gift Of public money under falls,
pretenses to men already rich. In it
worst aspect it is an unpardonabl,
[ robbery of the people, involving per
sonal dishonesty on the part Of som,
of its promoters.
In both Of these matters Mr.. Nc
Kinley's administration has alread,
made its record and must be judged
accordingly. 1t has done its best ii
both cases to betray the interests o
the people. Whether congress shall
assent or not, the administration ha
committed itself beyond the power o
| anybody or ANYTHING to extricate It a