The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1885-12-12

OF Deil2ereH STATUS Oh Tic PdIt vi 'n0 III
surgents.
The Colombian Government has expressed
its Willingness to negotiate conventions Tor
the adjustment by arbitration OF claims by
foreign citizens arising out OF the destruction
of the city of Aspinwall by the instruction
airy forces.
INFERocEANIc CANALS.
The interest of the United States in prac-
ticable transit for ships across the strip OF
land separating the Atlantic to the Pacific has
been repeatedly manifested during the last
half century.
NV Immediate predecessor caused to be ne
gotiated with Nicaragua treaty for construc-
ton, by and at the sole cost of the United
States, of canal through Nicaraguar terri
tory, and laid it before the Senate. Pending
the action Of that body thereon, Withdrew
the treaty for re-examinatien. Attentive con-
sideration Of its provisions leads me to with
hold it from resIIbmission to the Senate.
Maintaining, as do, the tenetS of line OF
precedents from Washington'S day, which
prescribe entangling alliances with foreign
States, do not favor policy OF acquisition OF
new and distant territory or the incorporation
of remote interests with our own.
The laws of progress are vital and organic,
and we must be conscious of that irresistible
tide of commercial expansion which, as the
concomitant of our active civilization, day
by day. is being urged onward by those in
creasing facilities of production. transporta-
electricity have given birth; but our duty in
the present instructs us to address ourselves
mainly to the development of the vast re-
sources of the great area committed to our
charge and to the cultivation of the arts OF
peace within orr own borders, thus jeal-
ously alert in preventing the American hemi-
sphere from being involved i'll the political
problems and complications of distant gov
ernments. Therefore, l am unable TO recon-
mend propositions involving privileges OF
ownership or right outside of our own
territory, when coupled with absolute and
unlimited engagements to defend the terri
torial integrity of the state where such inter
ests lie. While the general project OF con-
Meeting the two oceans by means OF a canal IS
to be encouraged, am of opinion that any
scheme to that end to be considered with
favor should be free from the features al
luded to.
The Tehuantepec route is declared by en-
gineers of the highest repute and by compe-
tent scientists, to afford an entirely practi-
cable transit for vessels and cargoes, by means
of ship railway, from the Atlantic to the
Pacific. The obvious advantages OF such
route, if feasible, over others more remote
from the axial lines of traffic between Europe
and the Pacific, and particularly between the
valley of the Mississippi and the western
coast of North and South America, are de-
serving of consideration.
Whatever highway may be constructed
maritime areas of the world must be Tor the
worlds benefit, a trust for mankind, to be
removed from the chance of domination by
any single power, nor become point OF lnyl-
tation for hoStilIties or prize Tor warllke
ambition. An engagement combining the
construction, ownership and operation OF
such a work by this government with an OF
sensive and defensive alliance for its protec-
ton, with the foreign state whose response
bilities and rights we would share, Is, III my
Judgment, inconsistent with such dedication
to universal and neutral use, and would,
moreover, entail measures for its realization
beyond the scope of our national polity or
present means
The lapse of years has abundantly con-
firmed the wisdom and foresight OF those
earlier administrations which, long before
the conditions of maritime interc purse were
changed and enlarged by the progress OF the
age proclaimed the vital need of interoceanic
transit across the American lsthmus and con-
secrated it in advance to the common Use OF
mankind by their positive declarations and
Toward such realization the efforts. of
my administration will be applied,
ever bearing in mind the princi-
pies on which it must rest, and which
were declared in no uncertain tones by Mr.
Cass, who, while Secretary of State i'll 1888,
announced that what the United States
want in Central America, next to the happl-
ness of its people, is the security and neutral
itv of the 'inter-oceanic routes which lead
through it,
The construction of three transcontlnental
lines of railway all in successful operation,
wholly within our territory and uniting the
Atlantic and the Pacific Oceans, has been ac-
companied by results of q most interesting
and Impressive nature, and has created new
conditions, not in the routes OF commerce
only. but in political geography, which pow
erfully affect our relations toward, and neces-
sarily increase our interests in, any translsth-
milan route VIII III may be opened and emf
ployed for the ends of peace and traffic, or
in other contingencies, for uses lnlmlcal to
both.
Transportation is factor i'll the cost OF
commodities scarcely second to that OF their
production, and weighs as heavily upon the
consumer.
Our experience already has proven the
great importance of having the competition
between land carriage and water carriage
fully developed, each acting as protection to
the public against the tendencies to monopoly
which is inherent in the consolidation of
wealth and power i'll the hands of vast cor
porations' .
These suggestions may serve to emphasize
what have already said on the score OF the
necessity of a naturalization of any inter
oceanic transit; and this can only be accom-
plished by making the uses of the route open
to all nations and subject to the ambitions
and warlike necessities of none.
y
of the Nicaragua Canal route, made by Chief
Engineer MenOcal, will be communicated for
your information.
The claims of citizens of the United States
for losses by reason ofthe late military opera
tions of Chilli in Peru and Bolivia are the
subject ofnegotiation for Il claims convention
with Chill, providing for their submission to
arbitration.
CHINESE IMMIGRATION.
The harmony of our relations with China
is fully sustained.
to execute the treaty of 1880, restrictive OF
the immigration of Chinese laborers in the
United States, individual cases of hardship
have occurred beyond the power OF the tx
ecutive to remedy, and calling for judicial
determination.
The condition of the Chinese question IN
tbe Western States and Territories Is, despite
this restrictive legislation, far from being sat
isfactory. The recent outbreak in wyoming
Territory, where numbers OF unotendlng
Cinnamon, indisputably within the protec-
ton of the treaties and the law, were muir
dered by mob, and the still more recent
threatened outbreak of the same character in
Washington Territory are fresh in the minds
OF all, and there is apprehension lest the Bit
terness of feeling against the Monaghan race
ON the Pacific slope may find vent IN slml-
| lar lawless demonstrations. All the power OF
this Government should be eXerted to main
tain the amplest GOOD faith toward emma IN
the treatment of these men, and the lnf1eXl-
BILE sternnesS of the law in bringing the
wrong-doers to justice should be insisted upon.
Every effort has been made by this Govern
ment to prevent these violent outbreaks and
to aid the representatives OF China IN their
Investigation of these outrages and 1t is but
lust to say that they are traceable TO the law
1essness of men not citizens of the United
States engaged in competition with chinese
labOrerS.