National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1882-03-04
THE FRENCH AT PANAMA.

The latest information from the Isthmus of
Panama furnished by able correspondents Of sew.
eral New YORK papers gives US a very good idea Of
the state Of affairs in that locality The progress
| ofbuilding the canal has not been very great, but
in the direction Of Frenchifying the Ishmus there
has certainly been decided progress This fact is,
| or should be 10 us, Of great Importance, and, i'm
view OF its importance, Il should not be lost sight
Of for the reason that II Il means anything, il
means the establishment Of French colony not
only upon this continent, but upon that portion
OIL IN which we are most interested-upon the
very highway Of our water communication with
the Pacific coast
FROM THE INFORMATION ABOVE REFERRED TO
1t does not appear that the DE Lesseps scheme Of
constructing sea.leyel canal at Panama would be
accomplished, What will be their next move?
why at this very moment this French company
mas an agent In Nicaragua endcavoring to obtain
concession from that republic, which will be
given him II the Americans fail to avail them
selves Of the concession they now hold. Thus we
shall soon sec this French concern transferred
from one portion Of the American isthmus TO an.
other, but In making this change of bnse they will
move several hundred miles nearer TO the United
states, and at the same time they will possess
themselves of the most feasible route on this con-
uheht LOT constructing an interoceanC canal
tue AMERICAN CONGRESS
has II in Its power TO prevent the continuation of
thls foreign scheme by incorporating an Ameri-
can company to perform this grand work Ii IL
iails 10 do this by negleCung the opportunity now
open TO US we will only have, in tile future our.
selves 70 blame and within Ave years we will see
one OF the Central American Republics as much
unuer control OF European government as Egypt
is to.uay-u state of aiIairs this country should
avoid by every means i'll It's power and which IL
can 90 by suitable legislation now. Another year
anu II may be too late. The French engineers at
Panama have been bold enough TO openly state
that they had no fear OF the American Congress
legslating for any rival canal route for the
that they a. C., the French company had too
many friends IN Washington, who would prevent
any action being taken by Congress in the way Of
incorporating any other project
As no TlIE MONROE DOCTRINE so CALLED,
they simply laugh at Il. In other words we are
not only TO tolerate the building OF canal by Il
French company, under French auspices and un-
doubleday under French protection, but the |
representatives of this great nation nro to be CON
tolled by the agents Of this French concern to the
extent of preventing legislation in any way shape
or manner TO incorporate or assist n company |
composed of American citizens, TO be organized |
III the tnterests of this American Government, and
intended to carry out the treaties this Govern |
ment has seen proper 10 enter into with one OF |
the Central American States. Was there ever seen |
greater arrogance? Was impudence, efirontery |
cheek, II you will, ever more openly displayed? |
Has not the time arrived when NJ de Lesseps and |
his followers should receive by our Congress TAX.
ing decided action upon this canal question: les.
son That WILL once for all be clearly and plainly un.
dersood by all coneerned-i C., that the American
Congress can and Will, If proper legslate for Amer
lcun citizens, any French corporation or its paid
agents in this country TO the contrary notwith-
standing