River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1880-02-05

The projects of rter-oceanic canals
now receiving considerable attention
throughout the country will probably
involve an application of the Monroe
Doctrine" so-called, which is IN effect
tho proposition that the American
States are never to entangle them.
selves in the broils of Europe, nor to
suffer the powers of the Old World to
interfere in the affairs of the New;
ind they are to account any attempt
on the part of the Old World to plant
their system of government in any part
of Moth America, dangerous to Amer.
lean peace and safety. The construc.
ton of either the proposed Panama or
Nicaraguan canal under the patronage
and protection of foreign power or
powers, would be a violation of the
Monroe doctriEe which the United
States government will not be likely
to tolerate. Pertinent to this subject
we clip the following from recent
number of the State Journal:
A report, no doubt wholly sensation
al, has been received at the State De-
partment in Washington, to the effect
that a secret alliance has been entered
into between Germany, Great Britain
and France, for the purpose of seeing
that De Lesseps project of an inter
oceanic canal is forwarded, without
the Intervention Of the United States,
and indeed. despite its opposition.
But the report has nevertheless given
rise to tho publication Of some facts
relative to the interests of the United
States in Central America, which
throw new light on the canal busi-
ness. In 1862, under the act abolish
ing slavery in the District of COLUMBIA
appropriations were made for the
furthprance of negro colonization
schemes, and later in the same year a
certain proportion of the proceeds
arising from conliscated lands in the
seeding states was set aside for this
purpose. Still later, in the Sundry
Civil bill, approved in July, 1852, there
was AN appropriation of $500, 900 made
to enable the President TO carry out
the purposes of the emancipation act
in the District of Columbia, and assist
in colonizing the negroes beyond the
limits of the United States. In the
process of carrying out this purpose of
Congress, commission was sent TO
Central Africa, and it is now asserted
Ivy the correspondents to be fact that
the United States Government pur-
e al ~
of route of the De Lessons Canal. An
American gentleman of wealth and
enthusiasm in the scheme is reported
At that time t. have obtained from
the Government of New Granada a
grant of some 1000. 600 acres on con-
dition that he should build a certain
railroad, which he did build. This
strip of 1000, 900 acres extends from
The Gulf of Mexico 10 the Pacific Ocean
and has a good haTb0r upon it at elih-
er end. This tract of Land is known
Us the Pink Slip, and is So marked
upon the map. 4 small colony of ne
gyoes is located upon this Pink Slip.
md the Government expended some
S25 900 in the erection of buildings
and for other purposes in their behalf.
The relations of the United states to
this grant, and the possibilities of
making use of such property rights as
the United states may now have i'll
that country, are among the things
under consideration by the House
Committee on Iuter-Oceanic Canals,
and there certainly is manifested a
very earnest purpose on the part of "a
fn tjority of the Committee to insist
with such vigor as may be upon the
Monroe doctrine, and TO proclaim it To
the European Powers, before the SEES
sion is ended.