St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-12-22
THE NICARAGUA TREATY.
Opinions Of Prominent Army and
Navy officers in Regard to its
Ratification.
some Very Plain Words Spoken on the
Subject by a Prominent Southern
Gentleman.
Especial Telegram to the Globe. {

Special Telegram to the Globei
WASHINGTON, Dec 21.-The army and
navy is naturally pleased with the Nicaragua
treaty, and hopeful of its ratification. That
event would add something to the import
ance Of the land service, and it would make
the maintenance of a modern feet absolutely
necessary. The officers talk freely about the
latter when they are sure their remarks will
not get into print, or at least that their names
will not be published. Professional etiquette
closes the mouths OF most Of them to regular
interviewing. A general officer, who is a
member Of the Swain court martial, said:
at will be great thing for both the army
and the navy, and for the following reason !:
each end of the canal, and perhaps a third
midway between the two. These will need to
be of the best modern type known to military
engineering science, otherwise they would
be perfectly useless; and a special garrison
of not less than 5000 men, perhaps more,
will be needed to properly man them. You
see, this action of the president and his sec
rotary of state is pretty audacious piece Of
business. We have notified all the world
that we intend to control the Inter
Oceanic canal route, build it
ourselves, and regulate the passage of com
merce and war ships through it as we may
see groper. There must soon come a final
struggle between Russia and England for
supremacy in the east, and the fleets of the
latter will certainly attack the far lying colo
mics of England beyond the Pacific. That
nation, in view of the Clayton-Bulmer treaty,
which We coolly propose to disregard, would
declare that so long as that treaty was not
formally abrogated by the powers making it,
1t held good, and under it she would demand
an equal right in the control of
the great intercolonial waterway. If
it were denied, we would be
pointed at as the power that had violated the
solemn obligations of treaty made and rat
fled by both nations. A British fleet would
then levy an indemnity on our great seaports
to compensate for the damage done to Aus
tralian and Tasmauian cities by Russian
truizers, and Of course we would have to
pay. am for the canal. We need some
thing to stir up the military spirit of the ma
ton which the all Pervading anxiety among
our people to get money has somewhat
stopped, and this would do it. We are very
rich and very weak. The president has done
wise thing, and we cannot go back on him
'iow."
A naval officer of high rank said:
Nothing since the Virginius affair has
,eated such lively sensation in our SER
siee as has this Nicaraguan treaty, and 1
don't see how either branch of congress can
nj rho H.
eep water before we knew it. If we fail to
ratify this treaty all Europe will understand
that we were simply afraid to DO it, and a
pleasant position that would be. If we do
ratify it, then we must get zeady to maintsin
our pretensions in the Caribbean
sea by something more than talk
This will necessitate modern feet, and at
least two modern forts, armed with the best
guns that can be made. The reasons why
favor this treaty are very easily given, and
they are these: 1t is time for US TO assert
some distinctly American policy. 1t is time
we brought our navy up to a reasonable state
of efficiency or wiped it out. As it stands
to-day it is disgrace to great nation's leg-
islature. There are no better trained or
drawer officers in the world than those who
are on these obsolete ships, but they are well
nigh disheartened. ANY change will be for
the better.'
southern senator, who had been spoken
of for a cabinet officer, remarked:
Il think this Nicarguan treaty will be
ratified by the senate. We Democrats have
talked it over som ewhat and the general
opinion is that we will do well for the coun-
try. and the party, too, to stand by the presi-
dent What the Republicans from the west
int doing is more than can saw. New
England-that is the Maine and Massachu-
sets senators I learn will oppose il, on the
ground that it may get US into a row. have
been told by reliable persons that France is
very angry, and as counteractlng coup will
seriously attempt to obtain the control OF
Panama, in spite Of diplomatic
denials, which is another term for diplomatic
lying. l happen to be aware that this very
scheme of protecorate has been considered
by the Lesseps party, and if there is the
slightest opportunity it will be done. There
is a growing Violent though concealed, CD
position to the ratification of this treaty from
other directions. Ali the trains of the Con-
tinental railroads have ordered their agents
to fight it. The Eads whirligig-what is
1.-THE ship railway business-is opposed to
it, because it will nullify that little matter
Then the gents of the Panama canal are here
in force, and possess more social and politi-
cal influence than all the rest of the machin-
cry Of the lobby put together, and are work
ing like beavers. Unless this nation is
weaker and meaner than am willing TO be-
heve it is, congress will ratify that treaty.