Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1881-04-06

en- engineer OF world wide celebrity
whose past successes are guaranty of
OF its accomplishment. Yet a Presi.
dent Of the United States though af
iecting deep concern for the develop.
ment OF the commerce of the country
churlishly dismisses the grand and be.
ne6cent undertaking of NJ. do Losseps
and his associates as if il had no exis.
tence But that tho Panama canal
was in the Presidential mind is plain
enough from the next sentence, "The
subject, however, is one which will
Immediately engage the attention Of
the government with q Wow to u
thorough protection of American in.
terests," President Garfield then quotes
the language of his predecessor that
"it is the right and duty of the
United States to assert and maintain
such supervision and authority over
any inter oceanic canal across the 18th.
mus that connects North and South
America as will protect our national
interests"
Such is the greeting which the new
President gives to the Panama canal
Instead of generously hailing it us an
undertaking that must confer immense
commercial benefits upon the country
he is seeking some pretcxt for its OBJ
struction. He declares that the gov,
ernment will take "immedidte' steps
for the protection of American inter,
ests In what way these interests are
menaced by this peaceful commercial
enterprise is left only to conjecture.
The purpose Of the new administration
toward the Panama canal is more
clearly defined by Mr. Window than
in the vague words Of President Gar
field In a speech in the Senate of
the United States four days before his
selection for Secretary of the Treasury
was announced Mr. Window said al
stand upon the broader ground and as.
scrt the american doctrine that under
no circumstances shall a foreign gov.
vernment or company chartered by
a foreign government have control
over an isthmlan canal" If this Ian.
guago of the Senator, who is now a Cab.
met Minister, be in harmony with the
policy of tho administration, the pur.
port of the inaugural address is better
understood. 1t means that the gov.
ernment will not permit the construc.
ton of the Panama canal by the de
Lesseps company, and what mischief
lies beyond so sinister purpose is 10
the unknown future.
But President Garfield makes large
draft on the popular ignorance which
he so eIoquently deprecates if he i'm.
AGNES that the people of this country
do not know that the right of private
company to dig this Panama canal is
as complete as the right Of an Amcri.
can company to build railroad in
Brazil or to Dig a mine in Mexico with
the consent of its government. He
makes still larger presumption on
popular ignorance if ho believes that
the Monroe doctrine can be wrested
from its historical meaning and EN-.
ployed as an instrument of assault
upon the Panama canal. Jay Gould
and his associate monopolists of the
Pacific railroad have a deep interest
in the obstruction Of work that will
effectually break down their tyran.
nous power upon the commerce of tho
Continent and the intimate connec,
tion Of Jay Gould and his Pacific Rail.
road monopoly with Mr.. Blaine is toe
well understood by the people of this
country, But the Panama canal while
in process of construction and when
built will be under the protection Of
the law Of nations. The whole civiliz.
ed world is interested in its construc
ton and maintenance as an open gate.
way Of commerce, no matter who may
perform the work of construction. The
government which shall undertake to
interfere with this undertaking, or ar.
rest its progress in the interest of the
Pacific Railroad monopoly will be an
lshmaelte among the nations and will
be treated accordingly.-Pdtriot