Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-02-12

The Inter- Ocean Canat-1he Monroe Doc
trtme 1Jdtn.
To the Editor of the Globe.
Give me space for a few more words on
the above subjects. These problems involve
great future events. The cloud is now not
bigger than mans hand; but it will gather
into tremendous proportions within very
short period. 1t is we'll known that the
company of Mons. LIE Lesseps is a French
company, incorporated under the laws of
France, and, as such that company has the
right to claim French protection. Is this
not true, and if true, is it not in violation of
the declared policy of our government, de-
clared and acquiescod in by every President,
and by all parties, and cherished as house
hold faith by the American people for sixty
years!
Monroe declared that the American CONT
nent was not to be- considered subject to any
! future European or foreign colonization.
John Adams reiterated the doctrine,
but excepting existing European
colonies, and one OF the prin-
cipal reasons was that the United States
had the right to the enjoyment of commerce
with the other American States, and no
European or foreign government should come
in and usurp this commerce, shutting
| the United States out from control, and even
| from equal commercial privileges. Presl-
dent Polk, in 1916, declared the same doc
| trine as inviolable.
| Now, what does the French company, in
| COZ porated under the laws of France, or TO
| be, propose at the isthmus? Just precisely
what our government has forbidden since
| the administration of james Monroe. 1t is
parrot-Iike nonsense, to argue the con struc-
tioa of a great international highway of
commerce by private stock company
without any governn entail control
or protection. Such puerile illusions
are rot worth serious consideration by any
| one who either understands the elementary
principles of international law, or of the
! commercial necessities of the widespread
territory of the United States.
As limited in previous letter, De Lesseps
is backed by thesPanama railroad company.
Tnis company can sell their road at an enor-
| nous figure, if De Lesseps is allowed to go
on with his canal from Aspinwall to Panama
| across the isthmus. 1t is made con-
dition that De Lesseps & Co. shall
buy the Panama railroad at not
stock has advanced TO $50. Tie Pana-
ma railroad company are opposing by every
means, the Nicaragua route. because willing
to sacrifice the welfare of the government
and people, to fill their OWE pockets, know
ing well that if the Nicaragua ronte is
chosen, Panama stock instead Of being
| worth 1870 would not be worth Is cents on
the dollar.
The strongest thing connected with this
matter is the attitude of William II. Evarts
secretary of state. 1t is stated, on good
authority, that he Is the attorney of the
Panama railroad company, a company
| composed mostly of New Workers.
Every one knows that Evarts has continued,
and claimed the right to practice law while
secretary of state of the United States, IL
order to make money. Most people know,
| too, that Evarts is most over estimated
man, creature manufactured by New York
newspapers, but everybody does not know
| the fact, that he is a bloo0iess crystallized
money seeker, and no one would have sus-
pected, that while secretary of state, he
| would have taken a retainer IN cause to
| which the government may become an all
| important party.
| Two or three words more, and
shall not trouble you again
with the subject. The lowest estimated cost
of the Panama route with tunnel 100 feet is
1898. 100000; the highest estimate with tun-
mel $50 feef, $415,000, 600, without tunnel
| 1923, 100000. This is the tide level as de.
termned on by De Lesseps. Nicaragua route,
water 90 feet, highest estimate, $780, :
450: water 26 feet, S1O6. 1874 ,23S, according
to Totten and Menocal: according to Totem
alone, So, 577,11S. These figures speak for
| themselves. l will not pursue the subject.
hope that Congress will take the matter
in hand theoretically, and forever set
tie the question by voting one hundred
millions or more to build the canal over the
! Mic ,ragua route, and issue the amount in
treasury notes to pay the grant. Mexico and
the Peuinsular provinces rightfully to belong
the United States, and it would be better to
adopt some policy looking to their not re-
| mote annexation, an event bound to occur
| in the future, and in not very distant fu-
| ture. Their present condition is a curse to
the coniinent-far more that polygamy IN
Utah is libel on Christian civilization, if
that be possible. Annexed to the United
States Mexico would put on the royal robes
of free commonwealth, rivaliing in splen-
dor the famous golden halls of Montezuma,
and Central America and the Peninsular
provinces would bloom into civilized States,
free, prosperous and happy.
OSCAR STEPHENSON.
St. Paul, Mimi, Feb u, 1880.