The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-08-01

Britain promised to refrain from the colonial
zion of British Honduras, yet it is
nevertheless true that, negatively, she
agreed in the Bulwer@C Clayton treaty,
not to possess herself of further territory on
this continent. That she has violated this
treaty from time to time is also true-as Eng
land has never refrained from violating any
treaty where her commercial interests were at
stake. The situation of our government in
reference to these matters is, to outward app
pearanees, in a state Of quietude and unconcern;
but assure You such is not the actual condition
of affairs. The construction of the Panama ca
nal, and the contemplated Nicaraguan canal, IS
viewed by our government with anxious SOIL
citude. The construction of one or both OF
these canals will unite the two oceans by sew
ering the continent, and will bring our Atlantic
seaboard nearer to the Orient than
England or any of the other foreign
the distance for our navy between our two coasts
5000 miles. The building of these canals is
destined to play an important part in the trans
portation OF commerce across our continent by
rail In other words, it will open up a new era
in the commercial world the results of which
FORE which we as a Nation, must ask ourselves
is, shall the hand of Europe construct and con-
troll these two great waterways. or small tne
United States, by reassertion OF the Monroe
doctrine notify the world that, as to this contl-
nent this Republic must be the controlling fac
tori These are delicate questions Questions
which affect every citizen of the Republic, which
affect our material progress, our present and
future industries, our farm products and our
manufacturing classes. The trade of the Span
ish American republics belongs of right to us.
The struggle of Great Britain is to maintain her
hold upon them and France has entered the
field in competition with both England and
America. / do not hesitate to say that the Re
publican party, if continued in power, will as
sert and enforce the Monroe doctrine, will re-
store our carrying trade, viii build up our mer-
chant marine, and establish friendly and COM
mercial relations with our adjacent sister re-
publics without causing international disturb
ance or changing the map Of the world. But
deny that the Democratic party has any power
within itself, or any disposition to preserve the
autonomy Of our government, its relations with
sister republics, or any regard for the industrial
and wage classes of our country.
charge that the Democratic party did it's best
during the last Congress to destroy the indus
tries of this country by threatening a twenty
per cent. horizontal reduction of impost duties,
without discrimination or good Judgment ]
charge, further, that the Democratic party re-
fused to make the necessary appropriations to
build up anavy, which is the only means that
any government has to enforce its policy with
other foreign powers 1t refused to place in the
hands of the President any money whereby he
might be able to successfully avert the Nicara-
guam canal from falling into the hands of English
capitalists or to take any step looking to the en-
foreement of the Monroe doctrine. With SUI
pine and nerveless indifference the Democratic
party, having control of the purse strings Of the
country, wickedly refused to grant relief in this
direction, although most earnestly requested by
the executive department to do so. Falsely pre-
tending to be in favor of the working classes Of
the country, they attempt to reduce them to the
level of the paupers of the old world. Falsely
pretending to be in favor of merchant marine,
they refuse aid to rebuild it. Falsely pretend
sing to be in favor of the Monroe doctrine. they
withhold appropriations which are necessary for
its assertion. Pretending to be in favor of a
navy, they refused to finish those naval vessels
now under construction, refused armament and
machinery to those that we're constructed and
refused sufficient appropriation to arm them
And our Nation to-day is left helpless, during
the most delicate discussion of international
questions that have ever been before the coun-
try