National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1886-03-12

forged into the Ohio legislature by the
thugs Of Cincinnati. Let the reform wave
roll on
The United states ana Mexico Should
Make the Tehuantepec Isthmus u
Great Rail Highway.
This is the true American policy. In
this plan Mexico heartily coucurs, \ rail-
road with four tracks, open to the COM
merce Of the whole world at reasonable
rates for fares and freights, should be built
by the United States and controlled by us
and Mexico. There should be no delay.
The action of Congress should be imme-
date. We should not wait for the Panama
canal, nor for q Nicaragua canal, nor for a
ship railway over the Tehuantepec route.
These may all prove to be impossible or
unwise and one is surely hostile to our
interests. But four-track railway over
the Tchuantepec line can be easily and
cheaply built, and will best solve the diff
culties of the immediate situation.
Those difficulties are as follows:
]. The French are trying to build the
Panama canal. We have not sufficiently
protested against and opposed 1t. The
Hayes administration failed In its duty
to American interests, and, in consider
alton Of $4,000, which was paid as salary
to Mr.. Thompson, and Of its relations to the
sale of the Panama railroad to the French
company, 1t allowed the French enterprise
to 60 on to its present stage. The French
have virtually coloni2ed the isthmus. Our
government on proper and fortunate oc-
caslon, went there with its troops and soon
jumped out again like a scared rabbit. De
Lesscps is now trying to galvanize his ex-
pcnsiye job and to induce the French gov
eminent to actively aid in building the
canal. The United States must do some-
thing at once or France will soon tell us
that the work has gone too far, and that we
are cstopped from oblecting. By the mis-
conduct of the Hayes and Cleveland adj
ministrations our national rights are criti-
cally endangered
II. The Garfield. Arthur administration
proposed as an efrectual countermovement
TO the Panama canal the construction Of a
Nicaragua canal. 1t made a treaty and
presented 1t to the Senate. Senator Bayard
defeated II in the Senate. Secretary Bay
ard recommended to President Cleveland to
withdraw and cancel It, and the latter in his
message formally and in terms abandoned
the Monroe doctrine so far as an isthmian
canal is concerned If this policy of aban-
donmcnt is not reversed II will prove
most disastrous act Of blundering Demo-
cratic administration.
III. The only other proposition which
has been brought forward by the admins
tration as substitute Tor any protest
against the French canal and for the Near
qua project is the Eads ship railway oyerthe
Tehuantepec isthmus. Even this the ad-
mnistrOtion, although formally committed
TO it, does not seem to be pushing with any
yigor. 1t may or may not be practicable.
1t surely will be expensive, and it is not
likely to be adopted by Congress at this ses-
sion, If 1t may be at any future time. Mean
while crisis is at hand and we do moth
ing.
To meet the three difficulties rccitcd, the
fourtrack freight and passenger railway
across Tehuantepec, which we advocate
should he built. The very decision blythe
United States and Mexico to build 1t will
be fatal blow to the Panama canal. The
latter will stand still and will never start
again. The Nicaragua project can be de-
liberately considered. The merits of the
| Fads ship railway can be carefully investi-
gated. BY building the railroad we pre-
serve all our rights, improve and strengthen
our national position, and become masters
Of the situation, at 4 very moderate eX
pcnsc.
The distance over the Tehuantepec 18TH
mus is 134 miles; the highest elevation is
only 200 feet The line Is perfectly feasible
for railroad. Indeed, one has been already
constructed for third Of the way across by
| American citizens, which Mexico has seized,
and It is now in her control. Ten millions
| of dollars will probably build first-class
road 1t should he built by our govern
ment, and should he owned and controlled
| by the United States and Mexico. 1t should
he opened to the traffic of all the world at
low rates. This point we shall have occa-
sion to enlarge upon. II II were built by a
private company, aided by the two govern
ments, the company would issue, without
regard to its cost, one or two hundred
millions Of stock and bonds, and would
insist upon securing an income from
it which would pay interest or
these watered securities. such high charges
would prevent 1t from being freely used
But If built by the money of the United
States and Mexico and held by them to be
operated by transportation companies un
der rules prescribed by the controlling
governments, these companies paying suf
flcient toll to maintain the road bed anG
stations and pay an interest Of per cent
on the cost of construction the govern
ment board Of control to fix the maximum
rate which the operating companies may
charge per ton for transfer, making tht
rate for cereals not to exceed one dollal
per ton. Under this plan this rail high
way would easily secure the Amer
lean isthmus transportation Of the whole
world; would stop every other transit pro
ject; would give the United States the con
troll Of the whole subject, and would cnabl
us to reassert and establish elTectually tn
Monroe doctrne-namely, that the Unitet
States will exclude all European power
from control of any portion of the Mort
American continent south Of Canada
which doctrine has been so unpatriotieall
and almost fatally abandoned by the Cleve
land administration.
An Indiscreet DIplomatist.
Mr. West the British minister at Washing