Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-10-27
THE PANAMA CANAL.
The English View OF Secretary
Blaine's Letter.

LONDON, October 26.-The Times, in
an article on Secretary Blsine's note in
regard to the Panama Cana, says: No
one will question the right OF the United
States to take precautions so that the -.
nal shall not be used in anyway hostile
10 them. So far as Blaine's letter 10 an
argument for the neutrality OF the canal
it is unanswerable, but We fail 10 see
why there should be any repugnance 10
allow England or Franc, to join IN q
guarantee, and why it should be con.
tended that eilicaciously perfect neutral
ity was provided by the treaty with Go.
lumbia. Baine's assumption that the
American possessions on the Pacific
coast would supply larger
part OF the traffic which would
seek the advantage OF the canal
is very estionable-indeed, il scarce.
ly admits OF doubt iht the great bulk
OF vessels, which for some years to come
used the canal, would be English, a'
all events the dues paid by the Ameri.
can marine in its present unhealthy
state are not likely to form at an ear y
date any considerate part OF the stock
holders rectipts, Great though the IN
terests of America are in this matter,
and necessary thou III it he that there
should be free communication betwe' II
her Atlantic and Pacific States, this
does not ehace the fact that England
also is at: once an Atlantic and Pacific
power, and that she is bound TO have
regard to the
Welfare OF Her Subjects
| in British Columbia and 10 think ol
securing free access to her Australian
colonies. Neutralizng the canal would
bs for the benefit OF all the States OF the
world, aud We fail 10 gather from thib
communication any solid objection to
allowing European powers TO join a work
that is immensely desirable. Every al
ditional guarantee would strengthen the
guarantee, every new party TO the
treaty would be fresh security that
the canal would not he blockaded Of
used as basis for hostile operations In
time OF war, and it seems little incor-
sistent in one and the same breath 10
argue for guarantee and insist that
the bill shall not be backed by more
than two names Were England TO
ccncede % -mally that she had no locus
stanCi in regard to such a guarantee, il
would be difficult for her TO reply to
anv American statesman who might
choose TO say hereafter that the govern
ments OF the two republics are alone
parties to the treaty and what they
have made they can tear up
and that the. neutrality canal is for time
suspended. 1t seems, to Gays the least,
to be an unhappy nse of language 10
describe ncere Coop r tion OF two
European governments in n common OBJ
ject as OF the nature OF an ALLAN ce
against the United States. Any state.
ment hereafter made by Lowell OF the
Views OF His Government
in a matter OF abstract politics will com.
mand attention, but he must expect to
end Englishmen quite unprepared TO
see any great difference between the po.
sition OF Nicaragua and that OF Panama,
and at a loss to conceive what injury
American interests could suffer from .
general compact to secure the T 9 itrality
Of path way which, in the interest oi
the whole world, should be placed out
side OF the region OF warfare.