The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1879-12-11
THE GRAND IsTHmlAN SCHEME

The presence. IN few days, of n.
De Lesseps at Panama, and his personal
inspection of the route of the pro.
posed inter-oceanic canal, will renew
interest Ia this great undertaking. Il
Il said that the great French CANA
builder, after inspecting the isthmus,
will visit the United States, and by
that time, it should be understood
whether American or European capital
is to be employed in its construc-
ton. A feeling of rivalry, even OF
jealousy, is beginning to manifest it.
self upon the point, and commercial
interests, coupled with the Monroe
doctrine in politics, are combining to
awaken American opinion to the fact
that this proposed connecting link be-
tween the two great oceans must In all
respects be American. The Atlantic
ocean, the Gulf of Mexico and the Pa
cifc ocean wash between ten and
thousand miles of territory be-
longing to the United States, and
along these shores are some of the
greatest trading marts Of the world.
The construction of an isthmian canal,
through which ships of the heaviest
tonnage could readily pass at all times,
would vastly increase the maritime
trade between the two oceans, and in
the very nature Of things this country
would be more directly interested in
this trade than any other of the COM
merciRl nations. Trade between differ
emit sections of the Union, from Alaska
and Oregon and California, along the
Gulf Of Mexico and along the Atlantic
coast to the st. Lawrence river, would
ind 3 ready and quick exchange by
way Of this canal, which only great
foreign merchantmen, sailing between
the greatest commercial ports of Eu-
rope and the South Pacific and the
Orient, would pass through it. Amer
lean bottomry floating through the
iBthmus would, probably, exceed
IN tonnage that of other countries
By twenty to one, and to place this
vast natural difference In trade at the
mercy OF foreign influence, that would
certainly, in time, create most un-
natural state of commerce, should not
be tolerated. Hence, the control of
the iEthmus should be here. II NJ. De
Lesseps gives this scheme his endorse
-ment, and General Grant lend the en-
iorprise his personal aid, all the money
needed for its completion, though it
be many millions, can be raised with
out difficulty in the United States. 1t
il -said that many members of Con-
fress s2Fsess deep interest in the sue
cess Of the enterprise, and if this be
10 they should at once proceed in Sc
curing whatever legislation may be
necessary to prevent the control of this
grand project passing into the hands
Of Europeans. Southern members OF
Congress especially, should take q
deep interest in advancing the plans
laid out by NJ. DeLesseps, for the co.,
rlruction Of this canal would do much
IN building up the languishing trade Of
all the Cult States. The opening OF
the Mississippi river for the produce
trade Of the Northwest would not only
bonsit New Orleans, but it would pro-
q the whole South, as we'll as the
whole West, and nothing would sooner
Induce this than the opening of water
oommunicAtion between the Atlantic
and Pacific. The government will un.
doubtedly give the enterprise its cor.
DIAL endorsement, for by doing 30 and
Increasing facilities for trade it would
enrich and benefit the people of every
part Of the Union. The opening oil
this canal would be antsgonistc to but
one interest, that OF the transcontinen'
al railways, and these may contro
Congress and force the work into tn,
hsnds Of Europeans, and thus damage
our productive ana commercial in
terests.