Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1901-01-22
BLuNDERs OF M'K1NLEY.
How the Administration Is Bctray-
ing the Interests of the
PeODle

An administration is to be judged
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
attempted to dish" the Monroe doc
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. 1t
is OF Importance, however, whether
the United States shall recognize the
right OF any European nation to in
terfere in 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 ulwer
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
oeen 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OF American lawyers that it is no
longer in force.
Inc present administration has act
ed on the theory that the treaty was
still OF binding force, and that in ne
eotaat1ng new convention 1t 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.. Claw
ton which Mr.. Hay cannot urge. In
Mr.. claytons day it was proposed to
construct the canal with British cap
itel. In Mr.. Hays day 1t il the inten-
tlon TO employ American money, and
the peoples money at that. What
might have been urged as a conces-
sion OF necessity IN 1850 becomes, un-
der the changed conditions in 1900. a
surrender without palliation and with
out purpose, except az there may be
secret understanding Of some kind
between the two governments.
II the right OF any European power
to interfere in the matter Of an
isthmian 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 particularly.
Whether there be Notifications n
the entrance of the canal or not In u,
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 rshnquish American sovereignty
over 1t would make the canal a source
of weakness rather than OF strength.
1t were better that there were no
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
tion would pass beyond our control
1t has been held for half a century
that Mr.. Clayton was hoodwinked in
his negotiations with Bulwer. With
his example before the people all
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 I'M
willingness of the United States SEN
ate to become party 70 his folly is
very creditabls to 1t.
Mr.. Hanna's intense personal inter-
est in the proposed ship subsidy bill
furnishes stronger evidence of the adj
ministration's attitude on this subject
than anything which has appeared in
the written or spoken utterances of
the president.
The subsidy scheme is an admins
tration measure. 1t 10 intended to en-.
rich men who have commended them
selves to the administration. It is un-
necessary. 1t is extrayagant. It 10
undoubtedly corrupt. It certainly
will take millions of money wrune
from the people by taxation and be-
stow 1t upon interests which have no
claim whatever upon the generosity of
the public. In It's best aspect it is.a
lavish gift of public money under false
pretenses to men already rich. In 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 matters Mr.. Nc
Kinley's administration has already
made its record and must be Judged
accordingly. 1t has done its best in
both cases to betray the interests Of
the people. Whether congress shall
assent or not, the administration has
committed itself beyond the power of
anybody or anything to extricate it or
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