National Republican., 1885-12-09


the forces Of the United States were with
drawn.
PtLding thcse occurrences question q
much importance was presented by decree
oi The Colombian government, pr6clalmm
lLe closure Of certain ports tucu in th
btIts OF Insurgents and declaring vessel
Lpu ~ The tcvuIutiuHs's to I've pruticl
aid liable 10 capture 10y any power 4,
neither Of these propositions could th.
United states assent An elective closure
OF loiis not in tha possession If Gtcgoyern
mtnt, hut held ly hostile pafiilus, coul.
rtt he recognized; neither could the vessel
ol insurgents against the Legitimate suyrr
eiguty lie deemed hualcs mmgM lunrs.
within tie prCcopts Of international law,
whatever might lc thc donU,'tlu and pcU.
atty Of their acts under the municipal law
tl TIC state against whose authority thcy
were in revolt. Tho denial Of this govern
iUCnt Of the Colombian prupusitiun did not.
lGwover imply the admission Of brIllrcr,
tht status on the part of the insurgents.
1he Colombian government has expressed
lls Willingness to negotiate conventions FOR
lie GGjustmCut hy arbitration Of claims by
loiitn citizens arising ont cf the destruc-
ton OF The city Of AspiuwaIi by the insur.
TcCt'Orary forces.
The interest Of the United States in a
plncticOlle transit for ships across the STRIP
ui land separating the Atlantic from the
facitc has been repeatedly manifested dur
lug Tie last half century.
My immediate predecessor caused to he
negotiated with Nicaragua q treaty for the
construction, by and at the sole cost OF the
thittd states, Of canal through Nicnra-
gum territory and laid il before the Scuatl.
ltnd.ng the action OF that body thereon, |
withdrew the treaty for rc-eXamination.
Attentive consideration of It's provisions
icHus me to withhold Il from rCsabmiss!uu
TO the Senate.
Maintaining, as do, the tenots of line
OF piccedents from WGsNiugton's day,which
liCstiilc cntaugliug alliances with Iorelgn
states, do not favor policy Of ac1ulsl-
tlcn Of new and distant territory or the
incorporation Of remote interests with our
own
The laws Of piogross are vital and or.
game, ara we must he conscious of that
irresistible tide Of commercial cxparsion
winch. US 'he cOncunitaut Of Our active civ.
i'i2gtion, day ly day, Is being urged onward
by those increasing facilities OF production,
transportation, and communication to
%h!ch steam aud electricity have given
lllth ut our duty In the present instri,ats
ne TO uGdrCsH ourselves mtiuly To the de-
NeiCpmcrt Of the vast Resources OF the great
area committed 90 Our charge, aud TO the
cultivation OF tue arts Of peace within our
own borders though icalously alert In pre-
venting the American hemisphere from
bcing involved In the political problems
Therefore, Gm unable IN racomm,nl
propositions involving paramount privileges
oI uWnGrchip or right outside OF our own
territory, when coupled with absolute and
unlimited engagements 70 defend the terri.
toiiul integrity OF the state where such In.
torcsts lie. While the general project Of
connecting tie two oceans by mc4usof.a
rtnual is To be encouraged, am OF ina op'p-
ion that any scheme tp that end In h. tnn.
Nuci'd with favor should be free from thp
features alluded to.
ilo 1cluGutCpCc route Is declared, by
chl neers Of tic highest repUte a1l hv
t'nlCtcut sciCutists, tl afford an cstir,Iy
Practical transit for vessels and cargoeg by.
mcars Of u ship railway from the Atlantic
10 tie Pacific. The Obvious ADVANTAGES og
such route, II feasible, over Other. moro
remote from the uN.al lines Of trall. be.
tween Europe aud the Paoillc, and plrtlcu-
Iully between the valley OF thr MiSss.Inrl
O. The western coast OF North aud South
AmCl.cH are deserving or consideration.
Whatever highway may to constructed
bciCss the barrier dividing the two rrcntcst
maritime areas Of the world must b. for
The worlds benefit, trust for mankind. to !
re removed from the chance OF domination
ty any single power, nor become 4 point of !
invitation Tor hostilitigs or prize for war |
IKE ambition. An engagement, combining
TIE construction, ownership, and Cper.tiou |
of such work by this government, with /
an offensive and defensive alliance for It's (
protection, with the foreign state whose re.
hponsit4lities and rights We would share, Is, |
III my Judgment, inconsistent with sucl I
dedication TO universal aud neutral use, and
Noulu, moreover entail measures for its re-
ahzation beyond the scope of our national
polity or present means.
HE lapse Of years has abuniantly con-
himed the wisdom and foresight Of those /
earlier administrations which. long before
the conditions Of maritime intercourse were
changed and enlarged by the progress of
ire age proclaimed the vital need of inter
oceanic transit GcrOss the American sthmus
aLd consccratod II in advance to the com
mon use of mankind by their positive de-
claratons and through the formal Obligation
OF treaties TOwar3 such realization the
cEoits Of my administration will be applied,
ever tearing In mind the principles on which
u must rest, and which were declared I'm no
nncei tain tones by Mr.. Cass, who, while
secretary OF state, In 1853, announced that
''WEat the United states want In Central
hnleticG, ,l next to the happiness Of It's peo-
l!e, is the security and neutrality of the in
ttf0ocGnic routes which lead through it.v
lhc construction of three transcuntinen.
Isi ines OF railways all IN successful opcra-
lli"n, wholly within our territory and uniting
Tie Atlantic and Pacific oceans, has been
sccompaniod by results Of most interest
ing and impressive nature, and has created
mcrce Cnly. INT IN noiItiooI "'vS W. cJli-
IicL on,,s ,,',t, Iii ~ Nv P,"iCicnl geography
ward, aud necessarily increase our interest
,' %,I rI"Is'stnIllihl ,,d route which may he
VI VI ~ ,i Gnu clhploSeu Tor tue enls OF peace
vs. ,Ir,n Trnr, T,' III utner contingencies, for
~ Tp.,'.rn,.n,t 'm.,r,,ni 20 DHtn'
Is actor IN the cost OK
rrdmction oI svItroiy seconh 10 mat OF their
ltusUinCr.
I
VT 'Sptt!Vhcc Girenuy has proven the ;
,,v,n! n!",'gHce Oh haV!n@ tAe competition
i, iI, KIN" S"IIIHIo anu water carriage
~ tio Gu, gnC.i aGI.lg Us protection