The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1880-04-23

The Monroe Doctrine Must He As-
EerleG.

and especially to the United States, a:
American interests are Immediately anc
directly involved. The necessity of q
maritime canal, connecting the waters
of the Caribbean sea with those of the
Pacific ocean has grown more imper.
alive as the population of Western
America has increased and its traffic en-.
HANGED in value and Importance. Such
canal would bring the Atlantic States
and the commercial nations of Europe
into closer relations with Eastern Asia.
Distances saved between New York and
San Francisco would be $4,000 miles;
to Shanghai, IL 900; to Canton, 10000;
to Calcutta, 5000. To English com
MERGE the saving in distances would be
about the same. 1t is further estimated
that this canal would be saving to
trade of the United States of $35, 995, 900
per annum; to that of Great Britain of
SO, $50, 900; to the trade OF France of
So, 1876, 000-a total of about $iS, 600, 900.
1t will be seen that the canal would con-
fer far more benefit upon the CONNER
cial interests of the United States than
upon those of any other nation in the
world. These figures are duly anthem
ticated by M. De Lesseps, President of
the French Inter-Oceanic Congress-, and
Admiral Ammen, of the American navy
Therefore, there can be no question upon
the fact that the canal is three times
more important to the United States
than to any other power. Having es-
tablished this point as firmly as figures
and facts can establish any point, we are
then to consider what relation the United
States would sustain to such vast en-
terplise, consummated under, and con-
trolled by, foreign law, and especially if
the controlling power be French; and
also show how it might affect the pros
perity of the people. If it can be dem
onstrated that the building of
the Darien canal by foreign COM
pany would exert powerful influence
upon the material prosperity of the
United States, then the Monroe doctrine
should be vigorously enforced. The sub
stance of the Monroe doctrine is that no
foreign power shall hold, occupy or ex-
ert any considerable influence upon the
American continent. The attempt to
break up the free independence of re-
publics Oh the part of France gave rise
to this celebrated doctrine. In this
America was sustained by England, and
the two powers announced the indie
pendence of all Spanish colonies ON the
American continent. Since that time
an understanding was entered into with
Brazil and the principal powers of
South America to maintain the doctrine,
and for over fifty years it has been main
tanned, and 1 believe that the Monroe
doctrine is monument to our free insti-
buttons, whose Dissertation would be our
death. So long as the iconism
of liberty is upheld our country's great
ness will expand, and over every ocean
and sea our national emblem will wave
It's graceful folds, and every wind that
blows will fill our American sails. 1t
is held that the Darien canal project will
be a private affair, and the United States
have no just right to interfere with De
Lesseps in its construction, and that
It would be operated as the Suez canal.
But we here say that M. De Lesseps
proposed Mt the beginning to organize
his company under French law, and
hence under French protection and un-
Ter French influence. He made this an
in the January number of
the North american ReuieW. 1t is now
that France has done more
10 gain rating upon this continent than
my other nation. During the civil war
It correspondent with the Southern Con-
iederacy in regard to setting up an indie
pendent Government in Texas, as the price
20 be paid if France would recognize the
1t was the dream of the
empire to obtain control of the isthmus,
md it was for this reason that the Next
AN expedition was undertaken. The
of the French republic is moth
ny more than the ambition of the en-
Dire, and it Is as certain rs fate, If this
ANAL be constructed under French law
md protection, that it will be controlled
md operated favorably for the French,
md TO the ruin of our commerce and the
of our property. You can
each no other conclusion, no matter how
you may distort facts. The Suez canal
enterprise is no parallel case with the
Panama canal. 1t was built on a CONT
lent, and by that continent, and it is too
absurd to say that the nations of Europe
would have permitted America to have
lad any considerable influence In its
and control 1t is proposed
% build the Panama canal by q company
under the laws of a nation of
mother continent The construction of
he canal is certain to affect the railroads,
md especially the transcontinental roads,
Of the United States, of which Their will
be three in number, and in which about
300, 900, 600 will be invested. Thousands
will be bankrupted, as these lines must, to
! great extent, depend upon local traffic
after the canal is finished. This is GER
tain to follow, no matter who constructs
lie canal, but if under American law
md protection the advantage our COM
merce will derive will more than COM
pensate the damage to railroads. There
lore, our internal and external interests
ire both involved, and when nation
loes not afford ample protection, both at
nome and abroad, it must decline. In
ease of war with France, with the
Panama canal under its control,
the American navy could easily be
tut in two by obstructing the canal, and
no treaty stipulations would prevent this
being done. The revenues of the canal
will be paid almost exclusively 10y this
country, and that revenue will be paid
10 France. In 1874 Louis Philippe COM
mitted himself TO the construction of the
.o,oI onI IN 1915 Il ,o,ia Norn1anp at