Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1885-12-10
Nicaragua Canal. he delivers himself
as follows regarding

Nicaragua Canal. He delivers himself
as follows regarding
OUR rsrER-ooRANIo ROUTES.
The lapse of years has abundantly con-
frmed the wisdom aud foresight of those
earlier administrations, which, long be-
fore the conditions of maritime intercourse
was changed and enlarged by the pro-
gress OF the age, proclaimed the vital
need Of inter-oceanic transit across the
American isthmus and consecrated in
its advance to the common use of man
kind by their positive declarations, and
through the formal obligation Of treaties
toward sucn realization the efforts of my
administration viii be applied, ever
bearing in mind the principles on which
| it must rest and which were declared in
no uncertain tones by Mr.. Cass, who
while secretary of state, in 1858, an
nounced that what the United States
want in Central America, next to the
happiness OF its people, is the
security and neutrality Of the, inter-
oceanic routes which lead through II
to the construction Of three transconti-
mental lines wholly within our territory
and uniting the Atlantic and the Pacific
oceans. This has been accompanied by
results Of the most interesting and i'm
| pressive nature and has created new con-
ditions, not in the routes Of the COM
merce only, but in political geography
which powerfully affect our relations TO-
ward and necessarily increase our inter-
ests in any transcontinental route which
may be opened and employed for the
ends of peace and traffic, or other con-
tingencies for uses inimical to both.
Transportation is o factor In cost Of
commodities scarcely second to that Of
their production, and weighs as heavily
upon the consumer. Our existence al
ready 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 of
monopoly which is inherent in the con-
solidation of wealth and power in the
hands of vast corporations These
suggestions may serve to emphasize
what ! have already said on the score
Of the necessity of q naturalization Of
any interoceanic transit, and this can
only be accomplished by making the
uses Of the route open to all nations,
and subject to the ambitious and war
like necessities OF none.
THE NICARAGUA CANAL.
The drawings and report Of recent
survey of the Nicaragua Canal route
made by Chief Engineer Menscal will be
communicated for your information.
The claims Of citizens OF the United
States for losses by reason Of the late
military operations of Chill, in Peru
and Bolivia, are the subject of the
negotiation for Claims Convention
with Chill, providing for. their submis-
sion to arbitration. The harmony Of
our relations with China is fully sus-
tanned in the application of the acts
lately passed to execute the Treaty Of
1880, restrictive of the migration Of
Chinese laborers into the United States.
Individual cases OF hardship have oc-
Cured beyond the power Of the Execu-
tive to remedy, and calling for Judicial
determination. The condition OF the
Chinese question in the Western States
and Territories is. despite this restric-
tive legislation, far from being satis-
| factory. The recent outbreak in Wyo-
ming Territory, where numbers Of nm
offending Cinnamon indisputably within
the protection of the treaties and law
we're murdered by mob, and the still
more recent threatened outbreak of the
same character in Washington Terri
tory, are fresh in the minds of an, and
there is apprehension lest the bitter
ness of feeling against the .Mongolian
race on the Pacific Slope may find
vent In similar demonstrations.
ALL the power Of this government
should be exerted to maintain the
amplest good faith toward China in
treatment Of these men. and the In
flexible sternness OF the law in bring
ing the wrong-doers TO justice should
be insisted upon. Every effort has
been made by this government to pre-
vent these violent outbreaks and to aid
the representatives Of China in
their investigation fthese outrages. and
il is but Just to say that they are trace
able to the lawlessness Of men, n ot
citizens Of the United States, engaged
in competition with Chinese laborers.
Race prejudice is the chief factor in
originating these disturbances, and it
exists in q large part Of our domain,
jeopardizing our domestic peace and
the good relationship we strive to
maintain with China. The admitted
right of a government to prevent the
influx Of elements hostile to it's in
ternal peace and security may not be
questioned, even where there is no
| treaty stipulation on the subject. That
the exclusion Of Chinese labor is de-
manded in other countries where like
conditions prevail is strongly evidenced
in the Dominion Of Canada, where Chi
nese immigration is now regulated BY
laws more exclusive than our own
If existing laws are inadequate to
compass the end in view, shall be,
prepared to give earnest consideration to
any further remedial measures within
the treaty limits which the wisdom Of
Cognress may devise.
THE CONGO STATE. sis.
The Independent State Of the
Congo has been organized as q gov
lernment under the sovereignty
Of his majesty, the King Of the Bel
gians, who assumes It's Chief magis-
tracy in his personal character only,
without making the new State q de-
| pendency On Belgium. Tits fortunate
that benig ghted reign, owing all IL has
| az uuickeninr civilization to the beni-