Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1884-12-13
A CANAL ACROSS THE IsTHMUs.

There is one part of President Ar
thurs message that possesses for us q
particular interest; poetic and ro-
mantle interest in one sense, whilellt is
much more than that. We allude to
his recommendation in regard to the
Nicaruaga canal. Hc says:
"With the republic of Mica
ragua treaty has been con-
cluded, which authorizes the
construction, by the United States,
of a canal, railway and tele-
graph lines across Nicaraguan ter
ritory. By the terms of the treaty GO
miles of the river San Juan, as well as
lake Nicaragua, an inland sea 40 miles
in width, ,are to constitute part of the
projected enterprise. This covers for ac-
tual canal construction seventeen miles
on the Pacific side and thirty-six miles
on the Atlantic. TO the United States,
whose rich territory on the Pacific is
for the ordinary purposes OF commerce,
practically cut off from communication
by water with the Atlantic ports the pol.
itical and commercial advantages of
such project can scarcely be over-es-
treaty Is laid before you, the justice and
liberality of its provisions will COM
mand universal approval at home and
abroad"
Without now going elaborately into
subject which has many charms for
us, we will briefly state two or three
propositions which seem to us self-evi-
dent.
First, the Monroe doctrine is correct,
ct least in that it is dangerous to per-
nit any foreign country to control such
an immense engine, i'll peace or war,
as the passage for vessels across the
Isthmus, from sea to sea. France is
our hereditary friend; but France is
European, not American. 1t has been
bad diplomacy that has permitted her
to secure the right Of way across the
narrow strip Of Panama. But that is
done; only war could undo it; and
there will be no war on that issue.
But there are great natural difficult
ties to overcome at Panama.
Second, Capt. Eads' Tehauntepec
railway we regard as visionary. Birds
fly in the air; reptiles crawl in the
dust; quadrupeds walk upon the earth
Fish swim in the sea, so do vessels
and if they fly naturally at-all it is with
their wings in the air but with theil
hulls in the water. Old tars would
sail to Panama before they would cart
their ships overland at Tehauntepec.
Third, America should have al
American canal across the lsthmus
one in which ships can pass expedi-
tiously from ocean to ocean, in the
water. The United States alone is
able either to build or protect such q
waterway. Private enterprise, un-
aided, cannot accomplish it. The mon.
ey wasted on Leatherskin rivers and
Stealmoney harbors during the past
few years would have accomplised this
grand undertaking.
The Nicaragua route is easy; most
provided by nature. 1t can be COM
pleted long before either of the other
projects, at immensely less cost. 1t is
Il question worthy of the attention OF
statesmen: equal in magnitude, almost.
to the grand acquisition of territory
made under democratic administration,
in the Louisiana purchase. While one
gave to the country the immense tract
of territory from the Mississippi rivel
to the Rocky Mountains, the other
would connect the grassy slopes of the
Atlantic with the golden sands of Cal
| iiornia by 4 route 10000 miles shorter
than the one now used by ships. And
no foreign power could then compel lis
at its pleasure to go around the Horn in
race, for life or death it might be, or
give up the contest.
The world moves. The laggard is
| loft in thp lurch