The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1885-01-21
TIE NICARAGUA SHIP CANAL.

facility. The route by water still remains the
same, unchanged, and involves yet voyage
through those straits which Magellan diseov-
cred in his first journey round the globe. To
shorten the way by water has been a stand
ing problem for all those nations who are
interested in the commerce of the world
That problem seems now to be approaching
q solution in,the project of NJ. Lesseps, by the
construction and com APPLETON OF q ship canal
through the Isthmus of Darien. But this
solution of it seems hardly satisfactory,
and is certainly not advantageous
to the people and Government of
the United States. Indeed, 1t appears as il
it would be far better and safer not to have
any waterway through the isthmHs than to
have one of which we could not at all times
and under all circumstances control the IN
disputed passage. The exigencies oil war
may at any time, upon short notice. demand
the transfer of the Pacific squadron of our
feet h the Atlantic side or the reverse.
Now If, in such 3 contingency, ourselves and
the enemy had to make the same voyage
around Cape Horn to effect the transfer, this
would be something like equality; but if
the enemy had control of the shorter route
while We had not, here would be an sdvan-
tage TO them which might be to us disastrous.
We do not know under what particular auspi-
ces the enterprise of NJ. Lesseps is being prose-
cuted. It may be q French work or an
English one, or joint plan by the associ-
ated capital of both those nations We
are very certain Of one thing; it is not
American. 1t will not be controlled by the
United States. The terminus on this side is
too suspiciously near the heavy and long
established British naval stations in Jamaica
and st. Thomas to fancy that they will not
control the entrance, and in case of hos
tilities close il against either neutrals or
enemies at their pleasure. Entrance into
the canal by us then would only folloE as
the result Of nsvsl campaign, in which We
should be st q great distance from our sup
plies and basis of operations, while theirs
would be near at hand. For these
reasons. although we do not oppose the
construction OF the Darien Canal, We do
most earnestly favor the building of anoth-
er In case Of its completion. We therefore
favor the early consideration and conclu-
sion OF such treaty with the Government
Of Nicaragua or Central America as shall
look to the prosecution of q waterway
through their territories under the control
and supervision of the United States, This
route should be, for all public purposes of
war and peace, sn established mail sud mil
ttsIy line Of the Government of the United
States. The effect of such an enterprise
would be TO shorten many months the voy-
age round Cape Horn, TO practically
move the Isthmus mere than q thousand
miles north, and to place the
means OF Communication between
our eastern and western shores by water,
wholly under our own control, much nearer
the lines of the United States boundary and
within easy supporting distance of the vessels
Of the Gulf squadron, stationed at Key West
or Galveston.
We ara not advised As 10 what the expenses
Of such work may be, but we think the
| immediate expenditure required can not be
very large; We mean the outlay necessary
TO conclude the treaty and acquire the terri.
torisl right Of way and the Jurisdiction Of
| the route for canal. The final expendi-
lures might for the present swat the contin-
! gency Of the success of the Darien scheme
But We ought to be ready for that emergency
and not tsrry too long to avail
ourselves Of the opportunities nov
offered to compete with and counteract It
We. think sincerely in the end that the Gen.
trail American canal route might not prove
even financially remunerstive. 1t Is certain
/ ly the best and easiest transit for anything
like northern sea trade France and Eng
land might discriminate against It for
awhile, throwing their traffic through the
Psnams route, bat this would not last al.
ways. It may be said this country ought
! not to own canal in foreign dominion.
/ This was said very often in England before
the Suez Canal became what il really is
. British channel, connecting the mother
country with the East Indian Colonies. 1t
must be recollectsd that this canal re-
ferred Ito. although in foreign domin-
ion, actually would connect the pub
lie waters of our own coast with
each other. It would be an American road
stead connecting the hsrbors Of New York
and San Francisco. This Is certainly q
necessity, measure of domestic safety and
commercial convenience. We must have q
water-route of our own, If one be made by
the way of the isthmus. We can not cut q
canal on the line OF our own boundary, up
the Rio Grande and so AGREES mountains
and deserts to the western coast. This is
impossible. Then let us take the necessary
steps to closely ally ourselves with the
people and Government of Central America,
who control the nearest and best route con-
Meeting the seas OF our distant shores with
each other. This seems to ne to be
work OF the highest expediency,
and one necessary to our National
safety and honor. Whether the actual
work of construction be undertaken by our
Government or by the Government of
Nicaragua, or jointly by both; or, whether
it may be Let to private capitalists under the
auspices and guarantee OF the United States,