River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1885-12-10
ton of the city of Aspinwal by the iusur-
rectionary forces


The Nicaraguan Canal.
The interest of the United States in prac-
ticable transit for ships across the strip OF
land separating the Atlantic from the Pacific
has been repeatedly manifested during the
last half century. My Immediate piedeces-
sor caused to be negotiated with NicaruuEan,
treaty for the construction by aud at the sole
expense of the United States, OF a canal
through the NicaTaugan territory, and laid
before the senate. Pending the acuon OF
that body thereon / withdrew the treaty for
denomination. Attentive consideration of
its provisions leads me to withhold it from re-
submission 10 the senate. Maintaining as |
do the tenets of a line OF presidents from
Washington's day, which prescribe entan-
Cling alliances with foreign states, DO not
new and distant territory or
the Incorporation OF remote interests
Oar own laws Of progress are vital and or
EBriC ana we must be conscious OF thug irIo-
slstibc Lice OF commercial expansion when,
as the cuucom.tant OF our own active civiuAa-
ton, day by day IS Being urged onward by
those increasing facilities OF production. trans
p0StatiOu and communication "a which steam
aud electricity have given birth. But our
duty IN the present iustructS us 10 aCaFesS
ourselves Iualaly to the development ot the
vast resources OF the great area committed
10 or charge, and the cultivation OF the arts
OF peSCe within our borders, though
jca.0Gsly alert in preventing the Amer
lean hemisphere from being involved in
the political problems ard complications of
distant governments thereon. 1 am unable
to recommend propositions involving para
mount privileges OF ownership or right out
side of our own territory, when coupled with
absolute ana unlimited engagements TO de-
fend the territorial integrity of the state
where such interests lie. While the general
prospect of
CONNECTING 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 alluded to. The Iehuautepe1
route il declared by engineers of the highest
repute, ana by competent scientific men,
to afford an entirely practicable transit
foc vessels ana CargoeS by means of Il snip
railway from the Atlantic 10 the Pacific. The
obvious advantages of such route. II feast
bic over Others more remote from the aXial
lines of traffic between Europe and the Pa
cifc and particularly between the valley OF
the Missouri and the western coast OF Norta
and South America, are deserving or consld-
GRAFTON. Whatever highway may be cou-
structed across the barrier dividing the two
greatest maritime oceans of the world must
be for the worlds benefit, a trust for man
kind to be removed from the chance OF domi-
nation by any single power, nor become
point of invitation for hostilities or prize
for warl&e ambition. An engagement com
bining the construction, ownership and oper-
alton of such work by the government with
an offensive aud defensive alliance for its
protection with the foreign state whose
responsibilities and rights we would have. is,
in nv Judgment. inconsistent with such dedi-
cation 10 universal and neutral use, ana
would. moreover. entail measures for its re-
aI.zariOu. Bevond this scope our national
policy or present means do not extend.
THE LAPSE or YEARS
has abundantly confirmed the wisdom and
foresight of these earlier s administrations,
y-T,i haFnra tn 1itjOuS n maritime
intercourse were changed and enlarged by
the progress Of the age, proclaimed the vital
need of interOcCanic traffic across the Amer.-
can isthmus ami conseerated in advance 10
tue common use of mankind by their positive
declarations and through the formal o5liga-
ton OF treaties Toward such realization.
the efforts of my administration will be APP
piled, ever bearing in mind the principles on
which il must rest and which were declared
in no uncertain tones By Mr.. Cass, who,
while secretary of state in 1886.
announced that "What the United States
wants IN Central America next to the happi-
ness of the people, is the security and neu-
trality of interoceanic routes which lead
through it
The construction of three trauscontinental
lines of railway, all in successful opera ion,
wholly within our territory and uniting the
Atlantic and Pacific oceans, has been accom-
panied by results OF a most interesting and
impressive nature and has created new con-
ditionS not only in the routes of commerce,
but on political geograpy, which powerfully
affects our relations toward and necessarily
increases our interests in any transstanian
route which may be opened aud employed for
the ends of peace and tra1ic, or in other
contingencies. for uses inimical to both.
Transportation is a faction in the cost ofcom-
modities scarcely second to that of their pro
duction and weighs as heavily upon the con
sumer Our existence has already proven
the great importance of having the Dpe-
tition between land carriers and water car
riers fully developed. each acting as protec-
ton to the public against the tendencies of
monopoly which is ineerent in the consoiida-
ton of wealth and power in the hands of vast
corporations. These suggestions may serve
to emphasize what | have already said on the
score of necessity of naturalization of any
interoceanie transit, and this can only be ac
conplished by making the use OF the route
open to all nations and subject to the ambi-
tions and war-like necessities OF none.
the drawings and report of recent survey
of the Nicarauga canal route made by Chief
Engineer Menacal will be communicated for
your information. The claims of citizens of
the United States for losses by the means of
the late military operations of Chill in Peru
and Bolivia are the subject of negotiation for
a claim convention with Chilli. providing for
their submission to arbitration.