Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-12-20
Phases of the Nicaragua Canal
Question.

Question.
The more the Nicaragua treaty is dis
| cussed the palmer it becomes that it in
wolves some very grave questions. For
that reason it is very doubtful whether
the Senate will be ready to act on 1t this
session Before its terms were fully
known there was some doubt whether the
government was t. build the canal or
whether il was TO be the work Of private
parties. According to the published text
the government is TO build the canal and is
to own it jointly with Nicaragua. The
tolls are. also. to be divided between the
two Z governments. The treaty imposes a
very important obligation on this coun-
try. Ii is to protect the integrity of
the territory OF Nicaragua. Such an OBJ
legation as this viii cause Senators to
think twice before giving the treaty their
approval. However. if this country is TO
control the canal it must protect it, and,
also. the territory through which it runs.
To do that means, practically, the protec-
lection of the territory of the entire Re
public Of Nicaragua.
1t is certain that any attempt to carry
out the provisions Of the treaty, if it should
be ratified, Will meet with the opposition
of England, and, per haps, OF other Euro
pean powers. England will insist that
the treaty violates the ClaytOn-Bulwer
treaty, and she will, doubtless, insist that
that treaty shall be respected. Secretary
Frelinghuysen contends that the action
Of England, in taking possession of a por-
ton of the Mosquito coast, released this
country from its obligations under that
treaty, but the English Government does
not admit that Mr.. FreliDghuysen's posi-
ticn is correct.
II the treaty Is to make trouble with
European powers we shall need navy.
We shall hardly be able to carry out that
part OF the treaty which requires Mica
raguan territory TO be protected and the
canal to be defended without war ships
capable CT coping with those OF European
pO wers. We haven't got much Of anavy
now. Secretary Chandler in his last re-
port said that the only first-class
war vessel in the navy was the Ten
nessee, and that she would be condemned
at the next survey. She cost, first and
teoA- euvul - HAuIu a. ul-t VI Lu-AaiLl .
greatest iron clads, but one Of those mag
nificent war vessels could easily destroy
a whole fleet Of such vessels as the Ten
nessee. II England shows a disposition
to be ugly the question OF building a navy
before building the canal may have to be
decided.
England, perhaps, would like TO be in
vited 10 help build the canal and share in
the tolls. Capt. PIN, an Englishman Of
standing and influence, at present on
VISIT to this country, made asuggestiOn OF
that kind when he returned from an in
spection Of the Nicaragua canal ro"te
few weeks ago. There are no indications,
however, that the United States wants
England for partner in the canal enter
prise. While this government has main
tanned the Monroe doctrine since it was
announced, the negotiation Of the Nicara-
guam treaty is the first assertion of it in a
practical way. II a navy must be built
before the CANALS begun it will be coed
while before the canal will be completed.
The cost OF a navy ard the canal will be
a matter that viii demand serious con-
sideration.