We notice elsewhere the demand of the American Government for
the i evision of the Bulwer-Clayton Treaty, so as to allow the Washington Foreign Office to fortify the Panama Canal, and to assume its general control. We do not believe the demand to be either so injurious or so unreasonable as some of our con temporaries assume, but we trust Lord Granville, in his reply,. will notice the quite extraordinary discourtesy of Mr. Blaine's tone. It is nearly impossible to do business with a Govern- ment which, while admitting that a treaty exists giving Great Britain rights over the Canal, declares that it will not allow any European Power to have any such rights, that it has undis- puted priority on the American continent, and that its military strength is " limitless" and "irresistible." One would think, to read Mr. Blaine's vaunting paragraphs, that the British Govern- ment owned some petty town in North America, instead of half the continent, and had, besides, intruded herself quite recently upon a Power which had preceded her by ages. We are happy to perceive that his despatches, however, especially those to. Chili and Peru, have annoyed, instead of exciting the American people.
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