New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-01-06
BfRHING AND BITING.

D.IHh iNN @f-'D III I'-'N'
The latest adyiccs from Paris announce
thai the first detachment OF engineers and
wolkmrn Will start OH he 9Th instant 10 pre-
pare for the commencement OF the Panama
Canal 1t il probabic therefore, that among
the matters which await the action OF Con-
gress before the close Ol the session few will
command more general attention than the
resolution touching the construction Of an
I,tlmian Canal, now before the House Com
mtt,e for Foreign Afl!ir>. This Joint rcSolu-
t,on was introduced INTO the IlOusr % Repre-
,cuiatives ou The 18Th OF December bv MI.
Crane, of Massachusetts. Inc rrsOlu ion
ai1lns that "thc con -;rac,ion OF an 'Hitl-
oceanic canal, connecting the waters OF The
Atlantic and Pacific, by means Of foreign cap
nal, under the auspices OF, ana through Il
" charter from, any Euro;ean Government, Is
hostile to the established policy of the Unncd
states, is in viollton Of the spirit ard dccla-
q" rations OF the Monroe Doctrine ANA cannot he
sanctioned nor ass ntej to by this Govern
"ment." The resolution further declare, that
" Che United states VIII a-Srrt ANA maintain
g such control and supervision over any inter-
oceanic canal as may be Necessary to project
" It's natural interests. as q means OF defence,
"uuity and safety, and to advance the pros
"uenty and augment the commerce OF the
Atlantic and Pacific States OF tn UuiOu.'
So far as the phrastOlogy of this declaration
OF American policy concerned, II is merely
a reIteratiOn of certain pisSag III the Pre- J.
GENTS late message to G ngIcss. IN itself this
Presidential utteranCc POSSESSES at present little
more weight than his attached to similar
mcnaces uttered within the past year or two,
whether in or out of the Capitol. The world
has come to regard the assumption by the
United States of right to intervene III this
matter and all declarations OF purpose on
our part TO enforce tins particular construction
of the Monroe Doctrine, as mere buster aud
rhodomontade. Even in the minds OF our
own people these declarations have passed for
little more than peace offerings to an over
sensitive feeling OF jealousy against an a.
together improbable intrusion of European
capital into American affairs. Many of our
Legislators and the representatives OF public
opinion, therefore, with a light heart. fOrmu-
lated their menaccs against the intruders fully
satisfied that words would win the day, and
that the time never could come when these
menaces would be deficd. 1t beng now, how
ever. established that the situation is not to
be mastered by rhetoric, that the Golfers of
NJ. dc Lcsseps are thrice filed by the cOniid-
ing capitalists of Europe, and that, moreover,
the axe and the spade will soon be at work
at Panama. it would seem of some consequence
to consider i'll Il serious mood this question OF
the relations of the canal TO traditional or
rational American policy, to weigh the words
of our mrnaccS, and to make up our minds
whether we mean to stand by them or dlsOwn
them.
OF the ultimate construction Of a Panama
Canal there appears now to be no room for
doubt. Grained sufficient capital, there has
been lite question Of It's Feasibility, despite
all difficulties, as a problem of engineering.
The main obstacle which was regarded as IL
surmOuntIblc, WIS the supposed lmpoaslblII,y
of nducug CAPT al to interest Itself eXtcn-
sively in tue plans OF NJ. dc I..sseps, and we
know that this obstacle is ut length removed.
Whatever the magnitude OF expense or normal
impairment, capital once embarked on 80
large scale cannot be expected to relmqush
taIney the prosecution and completion OI such
an enterprise Setting force aside, there seems
10 remain only one practicable course that can
insure us an American canal, under American
cOnlrol-the construction, with American ctpl-
tai, at far lower cost, OF Il competing wafer
way, completed ut an earlier date, and, by
reason oi It's cheap tolls and superior geo.
graphical position, capable OF crushing the
French enterprise in embryo.
Now what shall the Uhted States do in the