New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-01-18
THE PANAMA CANAL.


THE PANAMA CANAL.
ARGUMENT OF Ex-sECRhTARY THOMPSON BEFORE
THR HOUSE SPECIAL CoMMITTEE-ITS COMPILE
TION NO VIOLATION OF THE MONROE DOCTRINE
NO ACTION PROPOSED BY THE COMMITTEE.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 1.-The House Special Com
mittee on the lnteroceano Ship Canal subject held
meeting this morning, which was well attended.
Among the prominent persons present were Senior
Jerez the Niearaguan Minister, Captain Eads and
his counsel as representatives of the Tehuantepec
project, Mr.. Phelps, representing the Nicaragua
project, and Mr.. Thompson. the late Secretary OF
the Navy, representing the Panama Canal Company.
1t was expected that Mr. Phelps would conclude the
statement begun by him last Saturday, but the COM
mittee decided to hear Mr.. Thompson first.
Mr.. Thompson began by dsclalming all idea of
discussing the practcablity relative advantages
of all or any of the projects. That matter for
engineers aud capt. alsts and it might safely b. left
in their hands, with the remark that combination OF
capItal and energy could overcome all natural OBJ
stacles He did no, understand that that question
came properly within the jurisdiction of the com
mi. tee He contInucd:
The great aud practical question that strikes mind
"a bang the outset Of he investigation 80 far as
the iuilsiicon OF this committee Ia concerned Il: Is
there any affirmative duty devovng upon the Govern
meut of th, United States In regard 10 that work. or
ea Of these WORKS to be deSenden; On its mcris,
s any GSer Is mu na he W
may have have in ITS own ,S nanS 10 exUres Wars DO, sn
Siinion SiH aSSiSst any Of these scRem,s, or to
place the weight OF single feather in obstruction 10 any
With each other; and leave ho great scientific World;
the enGneeTs Th no 1ys aye, MADE 9e Ie d Ui
questions which lie at the foundation OF this n-
hear it stated by many of the best in the coun
try read It In many o! the hest rs In he
country that the scheme Of building cana az Panama
nv vii ia
TO what is known as the Monroe doctrine
firms the Mouroe doctrine Tthna that the Monroe doc
trne simply that this scheme shalt not be inter
What was the Monroe doctrnoi IL was Presidential
declaration. and nothing more. more do moi n%H n,t tnps
our institutions. that the declaration OF "a
rsle%I can Sw eouss poS 'g Fiji. popular
government. In order TO establish policy the sGs .
The United states OF Colombia indepenieut Gov
eruIncnt by the achievement OF ITS revolutions
en Has not the power and tbs r'gnt to construct
internal improvements Wien pleses or to om to DO
constitutional PROVISIONS OF It's own put IT .dJ
Row in regard to the construction of canal across
the Istnmus Panama. there everything done that
can donc very practical step has bern taken that is
known 70 International law oil coneevaoe modes 1aye ~,
great nations earth the neutrality oi that canal.
That l.. that when cOlsDtcd. and Dv wbOmsooVer con-
strucied t TO DC kept nenra to al nations and 10 bc
| trai, spOrtation Of all tne commerce OF the word
Mr.. Thompson proceeded to discuss tue treaty of
| 1916 with NeN-Granada, by winch the InitrI
States Was bound To guarantee the independence 81
thai country and the neutrality OF any canal tEat
might be constructed; aud showed that subsequent
conventions winch were ncgOta nnd r Mr. john
sons Administration with the X public OF Colombia
| for the purpose OF making that guarantee
more definite and effectual had no, been
ratified by the American Senate. lie was
| asked BY Mr.. SinIlc;On 20 read the JOINT
solution reported by the committee on the stb oi
March last, ard having read 1t, lie gave bis assent
ned Ne
ernu,ent had. by notification 10 our Government
| repudiated the idea oi having anything TO dO WIN
| the c.ual. and had said that IL wOnld not assume
| auy rrsponsb bty establish auY protection over
| II. He went on tosdy:
There double protection, therefore, as against me
Government Of France. There Is, irs the protection
SSyisned nv tne interests of the cOrpOrators They
expose their charter tn forfeiture by attempt
| il the second protection that the Government Of
Colombia would not permit heT soyeregnty to ne ~
vaded Their IT. against botI OF those contingencies,
| the French Government should undcrtikc to ehiorco
of any OF those iists there Is The power OF
guarantee ne part of the Umed ) ate' aud cosc-
gueniy, the Unite States Jvcrnncnt holds tue key III
| Power or Government shall Undertake TO e"force any
rights this CANAL the guarantee o. iht Citeu SCis
ca then say "Tnus shalt co. and further"
Mr. singetOn-I DO not understand that lhre IS any
tins committee. Thc committee does not propose by
any action throw any obstacle or difficulty IN the way
| The committee has acted on tnat suol:ct. II mas
the contingency should arise ,hat would make II
| nect ssary' for Congress 10 act at all. That
| contingency may arise. M Dc Lesseps may go
ON and build canal and mat canal may be operated
for Whole century 81 as TO gave entro satsIacuOa 10
the United states and no contingency or necessity may
during that whole period Tor any Interference on
thu part oi the United states, or any other declaration
Mr. Thompson-I frankly state that that IL the very
conclusion which desired reaching, and have reached
| IN my argument. -
l. Mr. singietoll-That is the conclusion to which tho
conlDitee has long since come You aro not proposing
any action the part Of the cInInitee The commit
has taken action on the subject! ana mas sdla nat
will not interfere IN any way at tue present Time Du,
that If the necessity should ever aree, thi Government
shall have the right TO do 1t,
Mr.. Mariln-lf all that be true tand do not dis'
pute 10. would IKE to know why this committee y alt
ting hearing arguments II we propose no airma-
tive action seems to Inc that our work Is WORK OF
supcrerogatIOn l do not comprehend why this com
mtre Is sitting, 4 nJthDg Is To be done supposed
that there several propositions before inc cOmt
Zee and that the committee pectcd aud cqvred to lake
affirmative or negative action some of them That
supposed ali the time was the legitimate province anu
duly OF the Committee, and for that reason was very
desirous OF hearing all tue gentlemen nefeste espe'
Mr. Thompson-I have said that do not intend to
grapple witt the great question OF bufdng railroads or
canals. am quite wiug TO stop where am. see
that the views the cOmnitteo and mine correspond
on the general question, and therefore, am not dis
posed TO trepass on the Committee.
Mr.. Mardn Inquired whether. when the question OF the
Panama Canal began 10 excite public opinion, the Gov
ernment had vessels 10 Central America 10
establish c0alng stations there.
Mr.. Thompson replied In the affirmative, and a
reason for that action the that the Government was
ignorant OF the terms OF the charter and did know
aud Colombia, and wanted TO be prepared Tor oil con-
tngences- Adjourned till Wednesday.
LEAVING THE DEMOCRACY.
WASHINGTON, ID. c.. Jan. wv. w. Mac
farland, of New-York recently a member of the
important aud Influential Law firm Of Shipmsn, Bar
low, Larocque 81 Macfarand, has informed some OF
his old friends and associates in the Democratic
party that he proposes support General Garhelds
Administration; that he has known General Gar