Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1852-03-11

work by r. G. Squier, late Charge d Al
flares of the United States to he Republic
of Central America, upon Nicaragua. us
People. Scenery. Monnrains. and the pro
posed Interoccapic Canal" We have not
read IT, bat have formed high estimate Of
its merits. from critiqae in the Wing Re-
view, for the month. The mountaineering
md valuable portion Of the work Is that
which relates 10 the connection Of the two
oceans, aud as the review furnishes Us
wiah some facts bearing upon tins great
..enterprize. We shall avail ourselves OF them
in this article.
Since the DAYS Of Cortez and the En-
,peror Charles. various schemes for open
ing commercial channel, bet" cen tho two
Americas, have engaged the attention Of
governments and Individuals. Five dil'
fercnt routes have been indicated for the
construction Of either an iutcroccanic canal,
or Railroad lorge enough for the trans
portation Of ships with their freights; bot
Il is only " itlpin the last few years tina; any
effort, combining system, energy and means
enough 10 promise succcss,has been made.
The route by the lake Of Nicaragua was
early fixed upon b. the Spanlards as the
best, and several surveys were made be-
fore the commencement Oft present cen
.tury. To ascertain the pracIicabllity and
-cost If The work. In june 1925. the Ma
,:ionaI Congress Of Central America passed
a decree nflixing certain general condi-
',ions to the project and opening II TO the
enterprise of all nations. Then II was,
afor the fifst time, we believe, that the pco-
pie ofihs county began TO take an active
interes. IN il. In lis famous letter of in
struction 10 our minister. commissioned to
attend the Congress Of Panama, Mr. Clay
.Epoke Of The project Of a ship canal across
the Ishmus in terms Of high commendu-
s,ion. but the country, our review er thinks,
was not ripe for il. In 1885, resolution
passed the Senate, requesting the Prcsi-
dent to consider the oxpediency Of the
scheme and to open negotiations relative
to it. The agent appointed by tho Pre-
sidcnt to look into it, died before reaching
Nicaragua. and tho matter WAS again al
lowed TO sleep. At one time scheme
was gotten up under the patronage Of
Louis Napoleon, the French Usurper, who
was at that time prisoner at Ham. The
work was to have been called the Canal
Napoleon dc Nicaragua. Apamphlet on
the suhjeci, bearing the initials Of Louis Ma
spoleon, was published, but there the enter
prize ended.
The acquisition of California has added
immensely to the reasons. which should
induce the Government and people ofthe
United States to interest themselves. in
The accomplishment Of this great under
taking. Heretofore tho idea hasprevaied,
that it would he effected by some Euro.
Pean Power-most probably. Great Bri-
tain; but a fuller understanding Of The
subject has led to the conclusion, that II is
peculiarly the duty and interest OF the
United States; and our reviewer presents
satisfactory reasons for believing that the
= Eng.ish Government, 50 far from under
taking it, or desiring to sect constructed,
10 secretly most hostile to 1t. Commerce
10 tho necessity Of England. Withon, il
she could no more maintain her position
and power, than the human body could
exist without food and air 1t Is Of vital
moment to her. that she should hold ont
whatever advantage of position or priority.
she may possess, in the command Of great
,tra.ing points. Were this intcroccanic
communication established, it would be
of infinitely more value to US. than to Eng
land. The merchas,s Of America would
be placed IN the underground Of the
British merchants. The Asia,ic trade
would come into our hands From Eng
land to C@n'en. by the Cape of Good
Hope. is 1900 miles. By the way Of
the Isthmus canal, it would lie eco miles
sfurther-to Calcutta. 5000 miles further
Ito Singapore $500 miles further
As it now stands. the Englishman is ten
days in aarance ofthe American. in nearly !
all the important markets Of the world
the intcroceanc canal would so change |
this, as to give the American twenty
days advantage of the Englishman.-
Time is money, and time and money |
IN commerce, are empire. Given equal
sagaci'y. enterprise aud means, and the
first there will conquer.
England with her usualkeensigh,cdncs
in every Thing that affects her interests, has
seen the Consequences Of this scheme, aud
has undertaken by system f adroit di
Plomacy TO defeat it. In January 1915,
anticipating large accession to our terri
tory by the Mexican war, she took for
NAL possession OF San Juan, in the name OF
IN Indian Chief, and established the much
.salkcd Of Mesquite Proiec;orate. San
Juan is the terminus on the Atlaniie side |
Of tho proposed canal. Since then she |
has gradually extended her profcctorship |
and power.ove. the entire line of coast he
tween the lsthmus OF Panama and the l,av
Of Honduras. until now she claims a third |
!. part Of Central America, snl i sxten,i;,y
her dominion inwardiy by means Of a NOV.
sable and constantly cncroacl,ng boupda
'ry. On the opposite side Of the lsihmu..sl,o
he's been equally diligen, in acquiring con.
srsi. Net long since she faFcibly seized