New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-05-06
DARxEH cANAL--rAILURE TO, RArHY.

l iAOAN ~ VIII Do seen tnat prlVaIe du
vices have been received at Washington
i, of the failure of the Colombian Congress
to ratify the new treaty between tn
United States and the Republic of Colon
: bia securing and facilitating the con
struction of that colossal work-the shiI
canal across the Isthmus of Darien. As
stated by us recently in an article on this
subject, treaty for the same purpose
was concluded year or SO ago, just pre-.
: vious to the close of the late administra-
ton, which was rejected by the Colon
bian Senate. The new treaty was signed
at Bogota, January 20, 1870, by our Min
lister, General Stephen A. Hurlburt, and
two commissioners On the part of Colon
bia, and the day after, approved and
signed by the President of Colombia and
transmitted to the Congress of that repub-
lie the first of February. Although this
new instrument was very carefully drawn.
with all suitable regard for the interests of
Colombia, and though we felt compare
lively certain of its ratification, yet when
all the character Of our past negotiations
are considered, the rejection of this treaty
is not very surprising.
The Colombians, though ardent repub-
licans are Spaniards. There are variety
of considerations to be taken into account
when negotiating with our sister Spanish
American republics, that our own De-
parment of State should never lose sight
Of These republics, having been
brought into existence by the example of
our own country, and having adopted
analogous and in many instances identical
institutions with ourselves, would seem
to be almost an integral part of our own
country. Unfortunately, however, there
have been no approaches to this desired
end until within comparatively recent
period, and the fault has been wholly our
own. From the times of Morgan and |
other 6libusters, down to the Inauguration |
of President Lincoln there existed strong,
although unnatural antipathy between
the Anglo-Saxon and Spanish races, which
seemed to have been indellibly stamped
upon the character of both peoples, which
reached its eliminating point by the I'M
fraternal and unjust practices of our peo-
pie under the quasi sanction of our GOV
in the piratical incursions of
Walker, the last of these filibusters.
Under the benefcent and fraternal
policy inaugurated by President Lincoln,
he American character was presented to
our Spanish American brethren in an
'ntirely new light; and with the destruc-
ion of slavery, which took away every
Incentive to filibusterism, the apparent
ntipathy to which We have alluded, ,
'assed away. And now nothing remains
D bind all. the republics of both CONT J.
tents in indissoluble fraternal bonds, but
better understanding of the means ne.
essary to realization of their mutual
opes and aspirations.
We Of the northern half of the New 7
World, having set the example of the S
'public, and having had ripper expert s
nee than our younger sisters, owe it to
lem and to fair test Of that A
rm of government, to extend n
them all the assistance at our command q
bile they are throwing off old colonial n
cas-, and establishing on a permanent s
I'd peaceful basis the more liberal and m
vilizing principles of their own choice. II
e have been at fault in this duty. Our fl
'ter republics lend willing ear to all
II teachings. They initiate our exam III
g, adopt our ideas, and in all things are %
ady to profit by our experience. 1t is b,
ly for US to convince them (and they in
most willing to be convinced) that the
wers Of this great people are to remain lie lie
them bulwark of friendly justice, be- 81 81
I'D which they can always entrench ia
secure from the assaults Of Pc
rograde and ultramontane influences. st.
ey know that in this day of light Or
t no nation, however great or small, Me
laford to be unjust. But it is for US to io
vince them that we realize and accept So So
t fact in our intercourse with and treat no. no.
ut of our younger sisters. With a more S Sfs
'ral and attentive policy in our inter- NJ NJ
rise with and treatment of them. our Pm
uence with them may in very short Su.
e be made not only benefcient but &c,
rene. Then the vast industrial enter -"
es in those countries will be under 7
en- and executed, jointly by Americans 20
he North and the South, for their mu- is
beneft-for the advancement of their pal
uliar civilization, and to the honor of iica
American name, whether it be Latin or 7
,lo Saxon. Thus will the inexhaust- out
material wealth of those countries, do'
seeking the ports of our coun- r
but which for want of a more liberal VIII
fraternal policy on the part of ma
government, is driven beyond the =
into the markets of their and our nat
enemies. Spanish American states TEL
and people are not SO ignorant of twe1
'e facts as we might suppose, but they -
perfectly cognizant of them, and are NJ
prised that We are so slow to recognize
make them reality. Our friendship
Ond this water Is of that cold stiff for ~