The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1885-12-10
ton of the city Of Aspinwall by the iusur-
rectionary forces


The Nicaraguan Canal.
The interest or the United States Ia a prac-
t!cable transit for ships across the strip OF
land separating the Atlantic from the Pacific
has been repeatedly manifested during the
last half century. Ny immediate RI e ieccs-
SCR caused n be negotiated with Sicaraugan. 4
treaty for the construction by and at the sole
expense of the United States OF q canal
through the Nicaraugan territory. and laid
before the senate. Pending the action of
that body thereon. ! withdrew the treaty for
denomination. Attentive consideration Of
its provisions leads me to withhold II from re-
submission to the senate. Maintaining as |
do the tenets of line OF presidents from
Washington's day, which prescribe entan-
Cling alliances with foreign states. do not
favor policy or acquisition OF
q new and distant territory or
the Incorporation Of remote interests.
Our own laws OF progress are vital and or
ganic, and we must be conscious Of that ire
sistible tide OF commercial expansion which,
as the concomitant OF our own active ciyiliza-
ton. day by day Is being urged onward by
those increasing facilities Of production. trans
pOrtatiOn and communication to which steam
and electricity have given birth. But our
duty In the present instructs us to address
ourselves mainly TO the development of the
vast resources Of the great area committed
to our charge, and the cultivation Of the arts
or peace within our borders, though
jealousy alert In preventing the Amer
lean hemisphere from being involved In
the political problems and 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 and 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 Q canal Is to be encouraged. lam
Of opinion that any scheme 70 that end. to be
considered with favor. should be free from
the features alluded to. The Tehaantepec
route is declared BY engineers of the highest
repute, AMI BY competent scientific men.
to afford an entirely practicable transit
Tor vessels aud cargoes by means OF a ship
railway from the Atlantic to the Pacific. The
obvious advantages of such route, il FEAST
bic. over others moro remote from the axial
lines OF traffic between Europe and the Pa
citic. and particularly between the valley OF
the Missouri and the western coast of North
aud South America. are deserving of consid-
GRAFTON. Whatever highway may be con-
structcd across the barrier dividing the two
greatest maritime oceans or the world must
be tor the worlds benefit, a trust for man
kind to be removed from the chance of domi-
nation by any single power, nor become a
point Of invitation for hostilites or prize
for warlike ambition. An engagement cotD-
binng 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 my Judgment inconsistent with such deli-
cation to universal and neutral use. and
would. moreover, entail measures for its re-
alization. Beyond 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 administrations,
which. long before th conditions Of maritime
intercourse were changed and enlarged by
the progress OF the age, proclaimed the vital
need OF interoceanic traffic across the Ameri-
can isthmuS and consecrated in advance to
tie common use of mankind by their positive
declarations and through the formal ooliga-
ton OF treaties. Toward such realization.
the efforts Of my administration will be APP
piled, 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 1856
announced that ..What the United States
wants IN Central America next TO the happi-
ness of the people. is the security and neu-
tralty OF interoceanio routes which lead
through II.
The construction OF three transcontinental
lines of railway, Rll in successful operation,
wholly within our territory and uniting the
panied by results Of most interesting and
impressive nature and has created new con-
ditionS not only in the routes of commerce.
but on political Reograpy. which powerfully
affects our relations toward and necessarily
increases our interests In any transisthmun
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 faction 10 the cost OF COM
modities scarcely second to that of their pro-
duction and weighs as heavily upon the con-
sumner. Our existence has already proven
the great Importance Of having the compe-
titiOn between land carriers and water car
riers fully developed. each acting as pr0tec
ton to the public against the tendencies o!
monopoly which is ineerent in the consoida-
ton OF wealth and power in the hands of vast
corporations. These suggestions may serve
10 emphasize what have ALREADY said on the
score of necessity Of naturalization Of an,
interOceanic transit. and this can only be &C
compished by making the use of the route
open to all nations and subject to the ambi-
uons and waI-iike 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 Chill. providing for
tuSlI SupAAiSsiou W
The Chinese Question.
The harmony of our relations with China is
fully sustained in the application OF the acts
latel, passed to execute the treaty OF 1850
restrictive of the immigration of Chinese lab
orers into the United States. Individual eases
Of hardship have occurred beyond
the power of the executive to rem
edy, and calling for judicial determination.
The condition Of the Chinese question in the
Western states and territories is, &c spite this
restrictive legislation, tar from being salts
factory. The recent outbreak in Wyoming
Territory, where numbers of unotfeniing
Chinalnen, indisputably within the protection
of the treaties and the law, were murdered by
Il mob, and the more recent threatened out
break OF the same character in Washington
Territory are fresh in the minds OF all. and
there Is apprehension lest the bitterness
of feeling against the Monaghan
race on the Pacific slope may find
vent in similar lawless demonstrations.
All the power Of this government should he
eXertcd to maintain the amplest good faith
toward China in the treatment of these men,
and the intlexible sternness of the law in
bringing the wrong-doers to justice should be
insisted upon. Every effort has been made
by this government to prevent these violent
outbreaks and to aid the representatives of
China In their investigation of these out
RACES. and it is but just to say that they are
traceable to the lawlessness OF men,
NOT CITIZENS
Of the United states. engaged in competition
with Chinese laborers. Race prejudice Is the
chief factor in originating these disturb
ances, and Is. in large part of our domain
jeopardizing our domestic peace and the good
relationship we strive TO maintain with China.
The admitted right Of u government to pre-
vent the influx of elements hostile to its
internal peace and security may not be ques-
toned, even where there is no treaty stipuia-
ton on the subject. That the exclusion Of
Chinese labor Is demanded in other countries
where like conditions prevail Is
strongly eyinced in the Dominion OF Cam
ada, where Chinese immigration is no,
regulated by laws more exclusive than our
own. Ii 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 congress may devise.
THE INDEPENDENT STATE or CONGO.
The independent state OF tho Congo mas
been organized us a government. under the
sovereignty OF his majesty the king of Rel.