Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-01-13

lOmbia, and under which charter De
Lesseps is operating, that the company
is absolutely prohibited from ceding or
mortgaging any of the rights conferred
upon it, under any consideration what
ever. to any foreign government. IL this
prohibition is violated the rights con-
ferred by the charter are forfeited, and
jurisdiction is given 20 the Supreme
Court of Colombia TO declare the charter
void. All the subscriptions in France
were simply by the private citizens.
The organization in France was per-
fected on Saturday last. Mr.. Thomp-
son said: ''The enterprise is one of
business character entirely; there is no
danger of political complications grow
ing out of it; the Monroe doc
trine has no reference to it
whatever. That doctrine was simply
Presidential assertion of the sentiment
that the monaTchical powers of Europe
should not be permitted to destroy the
independent Spanish American States;
that the American people were unwilling
to see the right of self. government des-
troYed anywhere on the American c0nti-
nent, and would resist the attempt to do
so whenever it was made. Beyond this
tLCIC Is AOLnluG ia luC pOAiCf VI NA1C
United States Government which looks
to anything else than the neutrality of an
interoceanic canal or railway across
the isthmus-a canal which shall not
be under the control of any particular
government, but shall be open en-
equal terms to all governments, aud held
for the common use of all nations. By
our treaty with New Grenada, now Co
lombia, we bound ourselves to maintain
that neutrality, and to guarantee the
sovereignty of Colombia over her own
territory. Some years since, when Spain
attempted to transport troops and NUM-
tions of war across the isthmus of Para
ma against the consent of the Colombian
Government, the United States was call
ed upon to enforce the guarantee, and
although the occasion did not call for in
reference, we decided that it was our
duty to respond to the appeal. Now, if
France or any other government should
attempt by any means. direct or indirect,
to acquire territorial jurisdiction or as
sert the right of control over the
isthmus of Panama, or any canal or
railroad across it, it would be
the duty of the United States to
interfere to prevent il, and | should
be one of the first to advocate and main
tain that right of interference So that
IN the position occupy feel it my duty
to see that nothing shall be done to bring
about such result. France, indeed, has
repudiated any purpose to acquire pos
session of the isthmus." In regard to the
practicability of canal at Panama, Mr.
Thompson said that, not being an engi.
neer, his opinion was of little conse-
quence, and he must act upon the opin-
ion of others. In 1879 a convention of
scientific business men from all parts of
the world assembled in Paris. Among
them were three officers of the United
States navy, one of whom had very
extensively explored the isthmus route.
The question Immediately before that
convention was the choice between the
Nicaragua and Panama routes. After
full discussion and thorough exami-
nation into the merits of both routes it
was decided think by q vote of rs to
| 8, few not voting-that a canal upon
sea level was the most feasible, if not the
only practicable mode of answering the
ends desired, and that sea level canal
could be constructed at Panama, whereas
a canal could not be constructed at Mica
ragua without locks. The company, at
the head of which is De Lesseps, sent
another corps of scientific engineers to
Panama to examine the line, and they
unanimously reported that it was practi.
cable to build canal at Panama. The
facts were then laid before the world
and the necessary amount of money has
been subscribed by the capitalists of
Europe and the United States. The only
question that now arises is whether the
| political interests of the Government of
the United States overshadow the COM
mercial interests involved to such an ex-
tent as would Justify the government in
attempting to direct the enterprise. If
the government should think proper to
do so, then all American citizens will be
In duty bound 10 maintain the
policy which Ii shall prescribe.
Until then every American citizen is at
liberty to decide for himself whether the
commercial interests involved in such a
canal are not of sufficient importance to
Justify its construction with money OBJ
tanned anywhere in the world. Our
railroads have been built mostly with
European capital, aud many of them are
under European control. The Panama
Railroad is in a great measure under
European control, and it is alleged that
the Royal Mail Steamship Company,
through its control over the Panama
Railroad, discrIminates in its own favor
and against the Pacific Mail Steamship
Company. which is owned in the United
States. 1t does not seem to me, there
fore, that we in this country should have
any special dread of European capital.
especially when it is remembered that
by aid of it we were enabled to put down
the rebellion and mostly to build up our
own magnificent system OF railroads.
No canal company could be organized
upon the isthmus without looking to
foreign capitalists, as well as those of
the United States, for money.
And no matter who organized such
at company in he United States. If the
majority of its stock should be sub
soribed in Europe, Europeans would con-
troll the operations of the company upon
the istbmus, The same would be the
case with an American company or
ganized fjr canal at Nicaragua. All
they could do here would be to raise
stock and collect money so as to be in
condition to enjoy their franchise in
Nicaragua. When either of them reach
the isthmus with their capital they are
subject to the local laws OF Nicaragua
and Colombia. which are both indie
pendent States having the right to self
government, 10 make their own laws,
dispose of their own property, and enjoy
all the privileges of independencies
which the Monroe doctrine was designed
to secure to them. European stock
holders, who held the majority of the
stock, would be protected in their right
of control, when not violating the laws
of either OF the States named. De
Lesseps' theory is that the Mica
ragua canal can only be con-
structed In such manner, on account
of the locks that will be required, as will
involve too great delay for commercial
vessels, and that the largest class of YES
sells now chiefly employed in commerce
could not pass through on account Of
the shortness of the curves, whereas the
canal at Panama would present no such
distractions. either as regards curves or
locks. But he says he is not opposed to
the Nicaragua canal, and is quite willing
that it should be built by the Government
of the United States, because he thinks
the more routes of travel the better for
commerce" In conclusion Mr.. Thomp-
son said he thought the government
should not interfere in private business
enterprise. All that the branch of which
he has taken the Presidency is 10 do Is