The weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1878-1881, 1880-03-16
Presidents Message on the Canal Question

WASHINGTON, March S.-The Senate to-
das received a message from the President in
response to the resolution calling for cores
pondence respecting ship CANAL He says:
81 deem it proper to state briefly my opin-
ion as to the policy of the United States with
respect to the construction of an inter-oceanic
canal by any route across the Isthmus. The pol
! icy OF this country is a canal under American
control. The United States cannot consent
to the surrender of this control to any Euro
pean power or to any combination of Euro
pean powers. If the existing treaties between
The U nted States and other nations, or if the
rights of sovereignty of the property of other
nations stand in the way of this policy, con-
tingency which is not apprehended, suitable
steps should be taken by just and liberal neso-
tlations TO promote and establish an American
policy on this subject consistently with the
rights of the nations to be affected by it. The
capital invested by corporations or citizens of
other countries in such an enterprise must in
great degree look for protection to one or
more OF the great powers of the world. No
foreign power can intervene for such protec-
tlon without adopting measures on this con-
| tinent which the United States would deem
wholly inadmissable. If the protection of
the United States is relied upon, the United
States must exercise such control as will
enable this country to protect its national in
terests and maintain the interests of those
whose private capital is embarked in the work.
An inter- oceanic canal across the American
1sthmus will essentially change the geograph-
ical relations between the Atlantic and Pacific
coasts of the United States, and between the
| United States and the rest OF the world. 1t
will be great ocean thoroughfare between
our Atlantic and Pacific shores, and virtually
part of the coast line Of the United States
Our merely commercial interest is greater
than all other countries, while its relations to
our power and prosperity as nation, to our
means of defence, our unity, peace and safety,
are matters of permanent consideration to
the people of the United States. No other
great power would under similar circum-
stances fail to assert a rightfu control over a
work so closely and vitality affecting Its inter-
ests and welfare. Without urging further the
ground of my opinion, repeat in conclusion,
that it is the right and duty of the United
States to assert and maintain such supervision
and authority over any inter-oceanic canal
across the isthmus that connects North and
South America, as will protect our national
interests. This, l am quite sure, will be
found not only compatible with but pro-
motive of the widest and most permanent
advantage to commerce and civilization.'
Political Notes.
CHICAGO, March 9.-The Times Washing
ton special says: "Justice Fields dissenting
opinion is of great interest to politicians be-
cause it is one Of his bids for the Cincinnati
nomination. His dissent is confined princi-
pally to the Ohio case, this one being confes-
sedly stronger one for the prosecution than
either of the Others"
The Times New York special says: "An
effort is being made to secure unity between
Tilden and Tammany, by compelling botl,
Tilden and Kelly to retire from the political
field. In the persuance # this programme,
Tilden was visited last Saturday by a commit
tee from the local Democratic Union, and
certain Overtures made him. The COM
mittee failed to achieve any satisfactory result,
and Tilden very fatty declined to be dictated
to by anybody, and spoke his mind with some
freedom. The substance of his observations
from perfectly authentic sources are: "It
any body must retire, it should be John
Kelly; but whether he retireS or not is moth
ing to me, and it can be of very little conse-
quence 20 the party at large. The cause which
l represent is the national cause, and the
principle which would necessarily be embod-
led in my denomination, should such an event
occur, would be that the will of the people as,
expressed at the ballot box, is supreme, and
must be respected. There can be no retreat
from nor any compromise of these positions,
and so far as l am concerned they will be
maintained at all hazards. As for Kelly, he
is but gross type of wald politician, and
but for his associations with my name at St.
Louis he would never have been heard from
beyond the pulieus of New York city,
The Democratic Union committee is not
much encouraged by the spirit envinccd in
this declaration There is evidently to be wal
to the knife between the Tilden and Kelly
factions. 1t IS believed, however, that the
fight will culmnate at the State convention
to nominate delegates to the Cincinnati con.
vention. 1t is thought that at the State con-
ventlon Kelly will meet with an inglorous
defeat, and that the protesting delegation
| which he will probably lead to Cincinnati
will be quietly snubbed by the National con-
venlon, after which it is thought very little
will be heard of Kelly"
The Walking Match.
SAN FRANCISCO, March 9.-During the day
and evening yesterday Weston was troubled
with cholic, and was off the track ON that
account three times aggregating three and a
half hours. O'Leary walked steadily. Both
when returned forthe light were in good con-
dltion, Weston protesting against being kept
off the track so much by his trainer. The
attendance has been fair, but the cold bois
trous weather has initiated against it.
OLeary seems to be the favorite thus far
though the choice is not very marked. Since
midnight both men have walked pretty stead
lily with short rests. The arrangements of the
pavilion are excellent, each man having Il
track to himself, O'Leary's of seven ant
Weston's of eight laps to the mile, and the
ventilation is so good that smoking is no
likely to inconvenience Weston. The score a
8 o'clock a. III. was O'Leary 12S, Weston 113
The Grand Central Hotel, at Oakland, ant
other buildings on the same block burne
early this morning.
Fire at Oakland.
SAN Francisco. March "a fire was dis
covered in the Grand Central Hotel in Oak
land, about o'clock this morning. The wih'
was blowing gale, and the fire had mad
great progress before the fire department ar