National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1886-02-06

The policy of this country is q canal under
American CONTROL The United States cannot
consent to the surrender Of this control to any
European power or to any combination Of
European powers. lrexisting treaties between
the United states and other nations, or IL the
rights Of sovereignty or property OF other ma.
tons stand IN the way'of this pOllcy-a contin.
gCnCy which is not apprehendCd-s
steps should be taken by lust and liberal ncso-
tiatiOnS to promote and establish the American
policy on this subject consistently with the
rights Of the nations to be affected by It, The
capital invested by corporations or citizens Of
other countries In such an enterprise must, In
a great degree, look for protection to one or
more Of the great powers of tho world No
European power can intervene for such pro-
lection without adopting measures on this con.
tiuent which the United States would deem
wholly inadmssDle If the protection OF the
United States is relied upon the United states
must exercise such control as vii! enable this
country TO protect its national interests aud
maintain the rights Of those whose private
capital is embarked in the work. a
repeat In conclusion, that Il Is tne right ana
the duty Of the United States to assert and
maintain such supervision and authority over
any inteIoceanic canal across the isthml5
that connects North and south America as will
protect our national interests.
Secretary Blaine, in a circular letter to
Minister Lowell and others Of our foreign
ministers, dated June q, lSsl, asserted the
intention and paramount right OF the
United States to exercise political control
and in connection with the government OF
the territory through which an isthmus canal
might he built, to guarantee the neutrality
Of the canal, without any interference or
participation In the construction or control
Of tie canal 10y any European government,
aud he added with directness and emphasis,
these words;
During any war to which the United states
Of America or the United States Of Colombia
might be party, the passage Of armed vessels
Of hostile nation through the canal a. Pan
anna would be 40 more admissible than would
the passage OF the armed forces of hostile
nation over the railway lines Joining the AZ.
lantic and Pacific shores oltha United ssucs
or Of Colombia. And the unllcd states of
America will insist upon her wight to take all
nGCdm. precautions against the possibility Of
the lsthmus transit being in ans event used
Extensively Ggains! her interests upon the land
! or upon the sea.
| The administration OF President Arthur
| followed up the policy thus announced by
making treaty with the republic OF Mica
| ragua, which authorized the construction
! IN thc Iuird suites of a canal, railway, and
! telegraph lire across the Nicaraguan terri
| tory. This treaty was In accordance with
the Monroe doctrine, and secured 10 the
! United States that control Of the canal
| which adherence to the doctrine required.
Senator E0yard opposed in the Senate the
adoption Of the treaty, and it was not con-
| firmed. One Of the first acts of Secretary
| Bayard was to withdraw the treaty from the
Senate, and in President Clcvcland's mes.
sage he announces that lie shall not resu0-
nit It TO the Senate.
The President further informs Congress
and the country that he is not in favor Of
the exclusive control Of any lsthmus canal
by the United states: that all the nations
Of the earth ought to have equal rights in
any such canal, and jointly, by treaties,
TO guarantee its neutrality. lie earnestly
argues that England, France, Germany,
and the other nations of Europe should
each have as much interest I'm and control
Of the canal as should the United States.
President Cleveland also expresses pref
crence for the Tehuantepec route and ship
railway over the same. He says "The oh.
vious advantages Of such route, II feasible,
over Others more remote from the aXial lines
of traffic between Europe and the Pacific,
and particularly between the valley OF the
Mississippi and the western coast OF North
and South America, are deserving Of con-
sideratiou.n
The position taken by the present adj
ministration may therefore be summed W
in four points:
!. The Monroe doctrine, so far as con,
Germs any isthmus canal, Is TO be aban-
doned, and all other nations invited to par
ticipate in the control Of it equally with the
United States.
ii. The Nicaragua route is to be given up
III. The Tehuantepec route is to be
adopted
". \ ship railway is to be constructed
instead OF a canal.
II Is certain that this programme Of Presi
dent Cleveland and Secretary Bayard vii
excite much discussion, II not opposition
The surrendered the Monroe doctrine ant
our claim Of exclusive American control O
the canal should undoubtedly be resisted
II will not be agreed 10 by the southern
states Of our Union, where lie the brains
and force Of the Democratic party. II vii
be condemned by the states Of the nortl
which are controlled by the Republican
party. If formally adopted by the Demo
cratic party, that party will disappear l.
history" as soon as the American people car
81 .. 40, ~ "a