The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1881-11-04
FRIDAY MORNING. NOV. 4.


assassination, and would no longer afford
place of refuge for those accused OF poltlcal
crimes think there may be complications
with England so long as she continues to hold
colonies on American soil, which may bring on
a war in the not very distant future. AT any
rate it would be the part of wisdom to see
where we would stand in such an event. as
matters stand now England could not blockade
San Francisco, because no blockade would be
sufficient which was not made by steam war
vessels, and she has no war vessels which can
carry more thar enough coal to make the run
from the Sandwich Islands sto San Francisco
and return. But, open the Panama canal, and
YOU might as we'll anchor Gibraltar off the Col
den Gate; because then she could put her hea-
w iron-clads around our Pacific port and main
tain them there, certainly until we could
build navy which would cope with them. Lhe
whole western coast of our continent would %
open to the ravages Of her navy until we had a
navy on that coast that could meet hers. b9t
il is said that the powers propose guarantees
of neutrality in the canal. History teacnSs
what that means The powers guaranteed the
neutrality of Denmark, but that guarantee dld
not count for much when the feet of Nelson
was at Copenhagen. Whatever the paper
guarantees might be, the strongest naval nation
in case Of war would take possession OF the
Panama canal. 1t would be a refreshing sight
in case OF
WAR BETWEEN ENGLAND AND AMERICA
to see an American vessel of war and an En-
elish vessel of war being drawn side by side
through the Panama canal without firing
shot, because there was paper guarantee
somewhere that they should not. Now. what
is this remedy? / am not one of those who be-
lieve with the administration of the late Presi-
dent that we are to threaten to fight all the
world now if anybody attempts to build ca
nal at Panama, because l do not believe that
the American navy at the present time could
successfully contend in battle on the Spanish
Main with the North American British squad
ron, to say nothing of the rest of her navy, of
which that is a very iRconsiderable part. But
1 assume that there is nobody who doubts that
when the United States feels it for its interests
TO take possession of the Panama canal or OF
any one of the Central American States, and
goes steadily and quietly about it, that we
have not the power to do that against all the
world. 1t would take time, men and money
ana we have plenty of each; Therefore hope
Congress with unanimity, as it will
be no party question, will simply give notice
10 everybody that in It's judgment, it is neither
for the necessity, convenience or interest OF the
United States to have a canal at Panama, and
that whoever builds it after such notice must
do so with the full and distinct understanding
that when it becomes in our Judgment for the
interests of the United States to take posses
sion of such, we shall do so wholly irrespective
of any rights of private property which may
be claimed for the money put into it. After
having served them with this notice fl any
body builds the canal upon these conditions so
be it. 1t may be convenient thing to have
there when we control it, but in my judg-
ment, capital will never be found to build it
when it is understood by capital that it is to be
built in contravention of the wishes, judy
ment and power of the United States.