Smyrna times., 1880-02-04

NV
THE MONROE DoCTRINE.-Thep proposed
effort to build an Interoceanic Canal at
Panama has revived the Monroe Doc
trine' that was so uppermost quarter OF
a century ago and one time threatened |
the peace between this country and Great
Britain. Senator Bayard in his great
speech on the finances last week alluded
to it incidentally and said "the intero-
ceanic canal must be under the control Of
the United States Gen. Burnside in
the same body at the Extra Session offer
ed a resolution declaring the same thing.
The New York Tribune, prompted by the
remarks of Mr.. Bayard, takes up the sub
iect and says:
There is profound peace between the
United States and every foreign nation.
Yet it seems to Senator Bayard, and to
some other men of no mean ability, that
this country may at no distant day be in
volved in foreign war. Our relations
with Great Britain, though in some de-
gree embarrassed by the controversy as to
the fisheries, are on the whole peaceful,
and promise to remain peaceful. Our
relations with Mexico, Notwithstanding
the inability of that Republic to restrain
its own subjects and marauderS within its
borders, are as satisfactory as can be eX-
pected. There is no reasonable proba-
bility of armed resistance by Mexico to
any claims which the United States is
likely to make. Indeed, no one expects
that foreign war can arise, except in
connection with the construction OF the
Interoceanic Canal across the lsthmus OF
! Darien.
This project has recently assumed
greater Importance in public opinion than
ever before. The effort of NJ. de Les
seps to secure control for an organization
practically French in management, and
under protection Of the French Govern
ment, both of a ship canal across the
Isthmus of the Panama Railroads.
United States corporation-has not I'M
naturally aroused some feeling. 1t is
questioned, indeed, whether irrespective
of any interest which the United States
NAV have in the transportation by ships
across the IsIhmus, it can rightly permit
the control Of corporation, organized
within the United States and embracing
among its shareholders citizens of the
United States, to pass into the hands o
another corporation protected by the
French Government. In military poin
of view, it cannot be said that the Panam;
Railroad is in any respect essential to thu
United States In case Of war with am
foreign power, or in case of any domesti
difficulty, communication between differ
ent parts Of this country, or between thi
and other countries, would hardly be haC
by means of this line Of railroad. Blu
American citizens have, with consent Q
} their Government, established bushes
1 interests in the construction and owner
: ship of the railroad, and it is reasone
6 with great force that the Governmer
! ought to retain in its own hands exclu
sive power to protect them against injur
: or to enforce against them the rightfl
: claims of any other citizens Of the Unite
o States
Behind this not unimportant poin
however, there is another of greater col
y sequence. 1t is felt that if the old MOI
: roe Doctrine ever had force, or could ev,
: find reasonable occasion for practical el
f forcement, it should now be seriously col
sidered whether control of the IsthmI
70 and of the commerce between the Atlant
le and Pacific Oceans should be left to al
% foreign power 1t is true the Fren,
J. Company which NJ. de Lesseps has q
10 ganized gives assurance that it will n
use its opportunities to the disadvantage
y this country. Plainly, it would not be
ne the personal interest of the fnanciers c
a gagged in such an enterprise to quar-
be with the United States. 1t is true, al:
that whether a ship canal be built
French, English or German capital,
9. will be so completely within the rea
I" and easy control of the United States
vi case of any war, that its seizure and
III cupation by foreign power would
come practically impossible. Nevertl
less, it is better unquestionably for
- United States to assert in advance VIII
he ever rights it would feel inclined to ass
Mt in case of war. Controversy with forei
Il nations can be averted only by making
clear what rights the United States clail
ie' and by preventing the establishment
any organization under which those rig
ms, would be likely to be disputed
ere Senator Gordon has introduced in
ors Senate resolution for the managem
Ugh of the Nicaragua Interoceanic Canal, ;
ave in connection with that enterprise Sc
his tor Burnside has introduced resOlut
as affirming the position Of the Uni
his States in respect to the Monroe DoctF
ne Whether it be held that these resoluti
I'M are in all respects excellent in form
mi must be admitted that the subject
led, serves the serious attention of Cong
the and of the country. IL would be
uty better to determine now in time of pc
before great material interests have
sors come enlisted on either side, what
for policy of the United States in respec
/ in such a work is to be, than to leave
t of question to be settled hereafter "
anne powerful corporations, guaranteed
BON different governments, may meet in riy
ates on the Isthmus, each asserting its RIG
ion. and claiming the protection of Its gov
only ment
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