National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-01-08
Ex-secretary Thompson Speaks.

The chairman of the American branch
hasa hearing to-day. Heentirely ignores
the fact that the De Lesseps Canal Com
pany is French corporation, and this is
not changed by the fact that it necessarily
derives its right to construct the canal at
| Panama from the local government there
! The company derives its right to exist as
a company from the French government
From that source it draws the breath of
its life. Being so created, it was then
given a charter by the Colombian gov
ernment. Will the ex-Secretary inform
the public of all the concessions by the
Columbian government? Does not the
charter give the French company abso-
lutte power to fix its. own rates? If these
shall be oppressive and meet with resist
ance, would not the Colombian govern
ment stand pledged to protect the De
Lesseps freebooter concern in all its de-
mands upon the worlds commerce seek
ing the use of the canal? Would France
fail to protect its fayorites, whom she had
supreme power over rates of toll which
the Panama government has conceded?
If there is anything to which the
American people are by tradition
devoted it is to keep this CONT
nent free from European Intervention
If there is to be a canal on any route
to join the two oceans, this country, well
knowing that joint military occupation
by some external power with the local
government would be almost inevitable,
should secure such joint occupation to
itself 1t will be of no use to shut the
barn door after the horses shall have
been stolen. 1t will be easier for the
United States to secure and maintain the
military advantages which her situation
renders imperative than it will be to dis
lodge some other power after it shall have
gained such advantages. The Panama
scheme is in the hands of the same fac
ton in France which brought the unfor-
tunate Macmillan to Mexico and sought
to get French foothold on the Pacific.
Will Congress pretending to any patriot
ism let this new invasion of the CONT
nent be made by them? What a theme
for discussion! Is nothing to be done?
Those Potomac Flats.
The House Committee On Commerce
proposes to leave near the Capital of the
Nation dismal swamp, from which dis
ease and death visit the best portion of
the city, including the offices of the
President, with his lodgings attached.
And this in face of strong recommenda-
ton by the District Committee for an
appropriation to commence the work of
reclamation. The reason said to be as
signed is that the river and harbor bill
is already so loaded down with appropri-
ations that it is feared any request for
money to arrest contagion and pesti-
lence here might imperil the appro-
priations for the harbor Of Clam Cove
or the Mummychug River. Of course,
the reason ought to be sufficient. The
river up which come steamships
TO Georgetown ought not to be i'm
proved at the point where it passes Wash
ington unless all the creeks and inlets
from Maine to Alaska are so fed that they
cry enough. Washington, the step-child
of the Nation, sits at the gate of the Cap
itol begging for health and life. Will its
cry continue to fall upon dull ears? Is
there no form of appeal that will stir Con-
gress to the exercise Of that exclusive