The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-09-09
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WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 9, 1903.
STILL UNDER A DELUsIoN.

The government of Colombia insists
that the government of the United
States does not understand the situa-
ton in that country; that we pre-
scented canal treaty which could not
be approved without violating their
constitution; and that they will later
present another treaty which is not
open to such objection. Possibly this
is true. We are not given in this
country to deep study of the consti-
tutions of any of the South American
states, although we do not think that
the admirable lawyers of the senate
who prepared the rejected treaty were
very likely to err in that particular.
We are sure. however, that the gov
eminent of Colombia does not under
stand the situation in this country.
If it did, it would know that the terms
offered in that treaty were more liberal
than are ever likely to be presented
again. The senate. in fact, went fur
Their in conceding sovereignty over the
canal strip than popular opinion en-
tirely approves. 1t went as far in the
direction of monetary consideration
as this country will ever go. And
there is grave probability that 1t will
open no more negotiations with Col
ombia, and that it will pay no atten-
ton to any action by that country
Of o11c
position that it has taken.
What the Colombians do not take
with sufficient seriousness is the open
alternative of another canal route.
The Nicaragua route has many
stanch supporters in the senate.
Nothing short of the unanimous opin-
ion of the canal commission would
have caused the Panama proposition
to be entertained. Even then, it was
a question for some time whether the
bill giving preference to the Panama
route could be passed. If there is no
more probability when congress meets
than there is at this moment of an
agreement. there is very likely to be
legislative action requiring the presi-
dent to negotiate at once with Mica
ragua and Costa Rica. If this shall
happen, then, unless those states prove
equally refractory, the Panama route
IS doomed
The Colombians appear to be stand
Ing solely on a point of dignity. It is
obvious to all the world that. if the
United States shall construct this
canal, it will exercise practical SOW
ereignty over it, no matter where the
utular control may be placed. No
consideration of alien sovereignty
would deter us for a moment from de-
Tending the canal with all the forces
of the United States if it were threat
ened by domestic instruction or for
eign invasion. What the Colombians
are eontending for is mere verbal
bubble.
They might easily understand this
If they were to realize what was
meant by the consent of Great Britain
to abrogate the clause Of the Clayton
Bulwer treaty that committed us to a
joint control with her of any canal
constructed across the isthmus Eng
land does not readily surrender any
valuable right or privilege. She was
ready to waive this because she saw
that it amounted to nothing; that the
nation which built canal must and
would control it in peace and defend
1t in war; and that she would really
save her own dignity instead of make
concession by getting rid of a pro-
vision that could not possibly be eff
fective of anything except to disturb
the peaceful relations between the two
countries in case an emergency should