New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-12-29
WHY THE INTEROCEANIC CANAL is OP-
POSED
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNR.l

WASHINGTON Dec. 2S. Congressman Whit-
thOrne of Tennessee, was a member OF the inter-
oceanic Canal Committee of the House of Represent
atIyes in the last Congress. and vigorously opposed
all schemes for the construction of either canai OF
n shin railway. on the ground that any inter
oceanic ship transit would be detrimental to the
commercial and political interests of the United
States. A TRIBUNE correspondent who met hepre-
sentative Whitthorne yesterday asked
Are you still opposed to an interoceanic
canal ~
Certainly am. The history Of the world re-
cords that the two spots on the earhs surface on
which, and for the possession or control oil which,
the fiercest struggles have been made and the most
blood has been shed are the Straits of Gibraltar
and the Dardaneles Why should the United
States encourage other conflicts OF thc
same sort by the digging of an ocean canal to draw
the fleets and naves Of Europe TO our shores ana 10
impo,e upon us the necessity of maintaining III both
oceans vast naval armaments TO protect our racine
trade as well as the immense commerce ol the MIS-
sssippi and its tributaries which seeks an outlet
through the Gulf of Mexicoi If our own citizens
should build such canal. the United States would
be compelled to build forts and sustain navies for
its defence In of war; guarantee OF neutral
ity would amount to nothing, unless we had the
ply sical ngth to enforce it,
.'Ought the United States 10 allow the canal TO
be built and controlled by foreign interests"
NO of course not"
How could it be pTeventedT y
ooh. think there would be no difficulty. We
must insist if need be- upon the abrogation OF the
CLAYTON Buwer Treaty. on the ground that we have
found it inconsistent with our interests and with
onr oblirations under the treaty of 1916 with New
| Grenada"
"But SUPPOSE that De Lcsseps should pay no at
.l,,. o,,Ia y, ,t,1H Gaan dir
| ging ~
Why then we ought to inform the Colombian
Government that we had determined to enforce our
| treaty obligations and that in our opinion the
| presence OF such Overshadowng foreign influences
and interests in that country considered mon
ace TO American interests. Then we might dispatch
| our war vessels if VIC had any, to watch the opera
tjons of the Frenchman and look after our interests
in that quarter. IL is nv candid opinion
that by that time capital, which is always timd.
would have taken the alarm, and the canal digging
would come to an end for the want OF means 10
carry it on.
| Now my friend" continued the Tennessee
statesman don't fall under the deusion that tins
| opposition to an ntcroceanic canal is mere dog
| in-the-manger' policy which cannot be justified.
To begin with it would be folly enough for u.s. with
| the weak grasp we already have upon the Eastern
trade ourselves furnish to allow anybody else
to furnish If could prevent it, shorter cut for
| that trade between Asia and European advantage
which our European competitors and rivals would
seize on the instant and use TO give the finishing
blow to American commerce. Again, there
| is a political reason why we cannot allow
our neighbor, Colonbia, to do n thing which
we, as a Nation do continually-tO permit and on
| courage indefinitely large amounts of foreign
| capital to seek investment there. We know per-
| fectlv well that no matter how many hundred
million dollars of English or other foreign capital
il invested in this country in railroads, canal or
other enterprises it is absolutely free from foreign
solitical control With Colombia the case is rad
;caUy different Say, for example, that Americans
| should conclude to invest hundred million dollars
| in n Panama Canal and should send 10000 men
from the IJnited States TO build IT. How long do
| Won think IT wOuld be before American capital and
| American brains would gain political control Of
| Colombia No the thing would never do"
| DEPRESSING Mr. Wmtthome said " do not take
| nnucb stock in all this talk about Government aid
| TO revive American commerce.. have bcen and
| still am a Free Trader In my time have strongly
advocated free ships, free material Tor ships, subs
| dies or bountes and | bayc prated good deal
| about the eighty or hundred millions year that
| we nav foreign shipOwners foreign shpOwners for
| carrying our products TO market; but have about
como 10 the conclusion that all this talk about free
| sbins free materials and subsidies ls mere poppy
| cock and that whenever Americans discover that
they can employ their capital and energy to better
advantage in transporting cargOes than they can III
producing cargOes TO be transported then, anu not
| until then. shall we witness revival OF American
| commerce. "