Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-01-30


place very little reliance upon it. 1t is not
the practice of those governments to make
secret combinations of this character, and it
would certainly be unlikely that they would
do so in this instance before ascertaining
whether this government would encourage or
oppose the scheme.
There is good deal of nonsense in this
so-called Monroe doctrine. 1t was enunoia-
ted just after we had emerged from des-
perate foreign war, but has never assumed
any greater Importance than simple doc
trine with no legislation or statutory pro-
vision to back it. 1t had its origin in the
fear of President Monroe that this country
would again be invaded by powerful for
'eign foe. and the consciousness of weakness
on our part. Since those days, however,
the country has grown with astonishing ra-
pidity, until at the present time there
is not the slightest danger of
the invasion of our territory from
any source. We have laid aside our swad
ding clothes, and are IN a position to defy
all menaces from whatever direction they
may come. To keep reasserting the prin-
ciple, therefore, amounts simply to con-
fession of weakness or cowardice.
In this particular case it looks as if Con-
gress, by reasserting the Monroe doctrine,
was acting the part of the dogin the manger.
For more than thirty years the plan of a
canal across the isthmus has been agitated
In Congress and the public press. Its FEAST
bility has been repeatedly demonstrated,
and its advantages generally admitted, bat
thus far the enterprise has made no progress
save that numerous surveys have been made.
Any one who is familiar with the course thus
far pursued has no doubt made up his mind
that this government will never construct
the canal. Why, then, should it object to
the enterprise being carried on by representa-
tives of other governments. It
is not a movement devised
for the purpose of securing terri
torial foothold on this continent, ibut a pure
ly commercial venture, the profits of which
will inure as much to the benefit of our trade
as to that of foreign countries. We should
be glad of the opportunity to secure such
great advantages without the expenditure of
money, and to do all in our power to en-
courage the undertaking.
We believe the commerce of the world de-
mands that the waters of the two great
oceans should be connected by means of a
ship canal across the isthmus of Panama or
Darien. Such work would shorten the dis
tances between the commercial ports of the
Atlantic and Pacific, facilitate communica-
ton with all parts of the world, cheaper the
rates of transportation, land reduce the hazard
of ocean navigation by rendering it unneces-
sary to take the perilous voyage around the
Horn. We would much prefer that the
United States or some corporation organized
under its laws should undertake
the work. But the govern
ment has repeatedly refused to take the nec-
essary steps, and our capitalists find mole
profitable investments for their money. If
it is to be built at ALL therefore, it is manifest
that foreign capital will have to do it. We
should, instead of placing obstacles in the
way, lend the scheme every aid at our com
mand, for we will enter into the benefits of
the enterprise as largely as any other nation
on the globe. Its completion would stimu
late ship building, add largely to the profits
of ocean commerce, ard indirectly would
tend to assist all manner of business along
our Atlantic and Pacific seaboards. It is not
the true policy for Congress to act as dog
in the manger in so important manner.