The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-09-17
The Company Asks No Subsidy, but Merely
Desires National Recognition, Which Is
Strongly Opposed BY the Panama Lobby.
The Preside mt Loses Faith in the Polit-
ical Predictions of Subordinates.
The Chief Executiv We and His Cabinet Make an
Unhappy Sslection-Character of Sena-
tor Bsck's Washington Notes.
THE NICARAGUA CANAL.

Another Effort tn Secure . National Charter
from the Present Congress.
Special to the Indianapolis journal
WASHINGTON, Sept. 16.-Another effort is to
be made early this week to secure action by the
House on the bill to charter the Nicaragua Canal
Company. There are several opponents TO this
measure in Congress who assert that the fact
that the Panama Company is very anxious to
defeat this bill has nothing, whatever, TO do
with their attitude; still, the persistence with
which these men use every parliamentary de-
vice, and the determination with which they
fight the effort to pass the bill, would indicate
that the Panama lobbyists have been sufficient
~ persuasive in their arguments TO stifen up
the backs Of their friends In Congress. For
there can be no other reason for opposing the
great American enterprise than the desire 10 aid
the French scheme for a canal scross tho 18TH
mus between Panama and Aspinwall IL Con-
gress was asked 10 appropriate single dollar to
guarantee interest on any bonds or TO become
involved financially in anyway in the Nicaragua
project, there might be some GOOD reason for op-
posing the bill hut Congress is not asked to
contribute one cent. All that the projectors de-
sire is national reco gnition. in order that they
may have some status to maintain their rights
in foreign country. Tho benefits TO be de-
rived from the construction OF this canal can
scarcely be overestimated. From three to ten
thousand miles of distance will be savsd In sail
ing from points on the Atlantic seaboard OF
North America and from European ports to all
places on the Pacific coast, as well as to China
japan and places In Australasia Not only
10 h,rk e. hax al ha - IN,
mercial sense are almost incslculable All
the Central American republics Will be
brought into closer communion with the
greatest republic on earth as soon az the
canal Is completed. and the vast resources
OF those little countries. Costa Rica, San Sal
vador. Guatemala. Honduras, Nicaragua and
the United States OF Colombia will be opened TO
American enterprise and American energy for
development and progress. Each one OF the re-
publics named is as anxious for a canal connect
ing the two great oceans as any people In the
United States can be. In fact, they have moro
at stake than We. have, and. consequently, the
feeling In support of the Nicaragua scheme Is
much more widespread than 1t Is in the United
States. Americans are too much given 10 a
narrow view OF the possibilities or commerce.
IL is common to read in American papers OF the
insularism of the Englishmen, but English
enterprise has done more TO develop foreign
countries than any American far-siehtedness.
In individual cases Americans have been as
enterprising and SO adventurous. ana. in fact,
more so than any other people earth. but
when IL comes 20 question where a little ma
tional ambition is required we find ourselves far
10 the rear.
The moment that the Nicaragua Canal Com
pany can be organized with national charter
at its back millions of pital for the purpose Of
building the canal will be available In fact. il
Is understood that more than enough has already
been subscribed, and, further than this, that
three-fourths OF the sum required will be fur
nished by citizens OF the United States II the bill
come to vote il is doubtful IL there will
be dozen men TO oppose il. but the opponents
know this so well that they do not propose that
the voting stage shall ever be reached IL they
can possibly avoid it, Still, 1t 10 so well placed
on the calendar that its final passage seems TO
be only question of time, and while 1t is possi-
bic that action may be- delayed during the pres
ent session, it seems almost certain that before
the close Of the Fiftieth Congress the United
States will have recognized the fret great for
eign scheme inaueurated by Americans, and de-
signed to extend the commerce to our neighSors
outside.