The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1885-12-09

the territorial integrity of the State where such
interests 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 alluded to. The Tehuante-
pee route is declared by engineers of the highest
repute, and by competent scientists, to afford an
entirely practicable transit for vessels and car
goes by means OF q ship railway from the Atlantic
to the Pacific. The advantage of such a route, il
feasible, over others more remote from the axia
lines OF traffic between Europe and the Paci ic
and particularly between the valley of the MissiS-
sippi and the western coast of North and South
America are deserving of consideration. What
ever highway may be constructed across the bar
rler dividing the two greatest maritime areas OF
the world must be for the worlds benefit, trust
for mankind, to be removed from the chance OF
domination by any single power nor become a
point of invitation for hostilites or prize of war
like ambition. An engagement combining the
construction, ownership and operation for such a
work by this government with an offensive and
defensive alliance for its protection with the for
eign State whose responsibilities and rights we
would share, is in my judgment inconsistent with
such dedication to universal and neutral use, and
would moreover entail measures for its realiza-
ton beyond the scope of our national poity or
present means,
The lapse of years has abundantly confirmed
the wisdom and foresight OF those earlier admin
lstrations which, long before the conditions OF
nlafitlme intercourse were changed and enlarged
by the progress of the age, proclaimed the vital
need OF lnteroceanic transit across the American
mon use of mankind by their positive declarations
and through the formal obligation of treaties.
toward sucn realization the efforts Of my admin
1stration will be applied, ever bearing in mind the
principles on which it must rest and which were
declared In no uncertain terms by Mr. Cass, who
Wnlle Secretary Of State in 1858 announced that
What the United States want in Central Ameri-
ca next to the happiness of its people, is the Sc
curlty and neutrality of the interoceanic routes
.l which lea. lead through it." The construction OF
Iree transcontlnental lines of railway, all in sue
cessful operation, wholly within our territory,
M ana uniting the Atlantic and the Pacific Oceans,
mas been accompanied by results of most inter-
eStlnS ana impressive nature and has created new
conditions, not in the routes of commerce only
put III political geography, which powerfully Ell
feet our relations toward and necessarily increase
our interests IN any, transisthmian route which
may be opened and employed for the ends OF
peace and traffic, or in other contingencies for
uses inimical to both, Transportation is a factor
In the cost OF commodities scarcely second to that
Of their production, and weighs as heavily upon
the consumer. Our experience already has PROV
en- the great Importance of having the eompeti-
ton between land carriage and water carriage
fully developed, each acting as protection to the
public against the tendencies to monopoly which
Is inherent to the consolidation of wealth and
power in the hands of vast corporations. These