Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-10-27
ENGLAND.
NEUTRALITY OF THE CANAL.


LONDON, Oct. 26.-The Times, in an article
on Secretary Blaine's note in regard to the
Panama canal, says: ''No one will question
the right of the United States to take precau-
tions that the canal shall not be used in
any way hostile to them. So far as Biaine's
letter is an argument for the neutrality of the
canal, it is unanswerable. but we fail to see
why there should be any repugnance to allow
England or France to join in the guarantee,
and why it should be contended that an effica-
ciously perfect neutrality was provided
by treaty with Columbia. Blaine's assumption
that American possessions on the Pacific coast
would supply the larger part of the traffic,
which would seek advantage OF the canal, is
very questionable. Indeed, it scarcely admits
of doubt that the great bulk of vessels, which
for some years to come would pass through the
canal would be English. At all events the
dues paid by the American mercantile marine,
in its present unhealthy state, are not likely to
form, at an early day, considerable part OF
the shareholders, though interests in America
are great in this matter, and necessary,
thought it is for her Threshold to be free
communication between Ter Atlantic and Pa
cifc states. This does not efface the fact Eng
land also is at once an Atlantic and Pacific
power and that she is bound to have regard 10
the welfare of her subjects in British Colum-
bia to think of securing free access to
her Australian colonies. Neutralizing the
canal would be for the benefit of all states of
the world, and we fail to gather from this
communication any solid objection to allow
ing European powers 10 JOIN in work uni
versally desirable. Every additional guarantee
would strengthen neutrality; every new
party to the treaty would be
fresh security that the canal would
not be blockaded or used as q basis for hostile
operations in time of war, and it seems lit
Ia sx.z@ -, x1n hrna
to argue for guarantee, and insist that the
bill shall not be backed by more than two
names. Were England to conaede
formally she had no locus stendi
in regard to such guarantee
it would be difficult for her to reply to any
American statesman who might choose to say
hereafter that the governments OF the two
republics are alone parties to the treaty. What
they have made they can tear up. The neu-
trality of the canal is for a time suspended
1t seems, to say the least, to
be an unhappy use OF language
to describe the sincere cooperation
of European governments in common object
of the nature of an alliance against the United
States. Any statement hereafter made by
Lowell of the views of his government In re-
gard to a matter which has almost ceased to
be matter of abstract politics, will command
attention; but he must expect to find English
men quite unprepared to see any great differ
ence between the position of Nicaragur and
that OF Panama, and is at loss to conceive
what injury American interests could suffer
from general compact to secure neutrality
which, in the interest Of the whole world,
should be placed outside the region of warfare.
COTTON ApULrERATIoN.
The United States consul at Manchester, re-
ferring to cotton adulteration, in speech at
Oldham, said he would do his best to remedy the
evil, and believed in fair play and fair dealing.
GLADSTONE.
Gladstone has arrived at Knowsley. Special
precautions were taken for his safety during
the journey. His movements were kept
aecret