The Washington critic., 1888-07-18
WASHINGTON, July Is, 1ss8.


time Canal Company of Nicaragua,
now pending in the House, is in
tended to facilitate commercial inter
course by water between the Atlantic
and Pacific States. as well as with
foreign nations. 1t is the most
direct and practicable step which has
yet been taken to unite the waters of
the two great oceans in this important
interest, and to relegate the long
voyage around Cape Horn to the ira
ditions of the past.
The bill is simply in the nature of
an incorporating act. 1t does not
commit the Government to the ex-
penditure of dollar, but simply en-
ables the incorporators to avail them
selves of the concessions made to the
company by the Republic of Nicara-
qua. No guarantees are asked either
as to present or prospective expenses.
The bill, in short, amounts to nothing
more than a national recommenda-
ton of the enterprise, with provisions
as to how the business of the COM
pany shall be conducted.
1t is expressly stipulated that
nothing in the act shall be deemed
or construed to in any wise restrict or
impair any right of the United
States under any treaty in force with
the Republic of Nicaragua" and Con-
gress is Furthermore empowered 'at
all times to alter, amend or repeal
the act, when IN It's Judgment the
public good may so require"
The bill passed the Senate on the
9th of February last by the decisive
vote of So to 10. That it was not con-
sidered a partisan measure. is evil
denced by the fact that eleven Demo-
cratic Senators-Messrs. Brown, Col
quit, Daniel, German, Gray, Hearst,
Morgan, Payne, Pugh, Salisbury and
Turpie-voted in the affirmative. The
objections to it were mostly of a
technical character and not suggestive
of any intrinsic defect in the merits
of the measure.
That it will be passed upon with
equal favor by the House
No measure designed to facilitate in.
ter-oceanic commerce has ever been
presented to the consideration of Con-
gress that speaks so well for itself.
AS we have before stated, it is a thor
oughly American undertaking by
which not commerce merely is to be
benefited, but which carries with it
facilities for the proper defense of
both American coasts that in no other
way could be so effectively provided.
Mr.. CLEVELAND will attend the
Changers picnic at Carlisle, Pa, the
last of August. It's none of our bust
ness, but we think it would be good
plan for General Harrison to drop in
on the horny-handed agriculturists
about the same time.
IT APPEARS FRoM THE news thus far
received that the conspiracy at Chi
cago, having for its object the murder
by dynamite of Judge Gary, Judge
Grinnell and Inspector Boniield, was
wholly made up of citizens of foreign
birth--men who came here from
Europe to enjoy the protection of a
free Government and whose energies
ever since have been devoted to
undermining the very foundations of
the liberty they sought. No punish
ment can be too severe for revolu-
tionists of this fanatical and dangerous
type. But this is not the whole
question.
To hang few more Anarchists is
well enough as measure of retribu-
tive justice, but it is of more import
ance to bar the doors against their
further immigration.
In the adoption Of more stringent
immigration laws it will not be
enough to prohibit the importation
of paupers and contract laborers.
These are bad enough in their way,
and they can be kept out. But the
political agitators who fly to our shores
as fugitives from justice are much
more to be dreaded and guarded
against than any other of the vast
horde of "alien invaders" for the
reason that they render unsafe the
safest.G Government on earth, and place
the life and property Of every good
citizen in jeopardy.
Theories that are wrong in them
selves, even as opposed to the worst
forms of European depotism, become
absolutely satanic when they are per-
yerted to the overthrow Of institutions
based upon the unrestrained will Of a
free and enlightened people.
But there can be no safeguard
against them as long as our ports are
open TO the entrance Of thousands Of
men annually, who neither under
stand nor appreciate the principles of
Republicanism as interpreted by the
Constitution and laws Of the United
States. and there would be no injus-
lice in prohibiting absolutely the i'm.
mieration of all men not bringing
with them from abroad well-attested
certificates Of good and orderly citi-
zenship.
II would be out Of the question TO
require of intending immigrants any.
thing like comprehensive acquaint-
ance with the laws and Constitution
Of this country, but it is entirely
practicable to require Of them some