Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-01-08
THE PANAMA CANAL.
Mr.. Edmund's Resolution Adopted by
the Senate in Secret Session.

cOmmlttee on foreign relatioUs IN reference to
the Panama canal lasted until $40 1t was
then learned that the discussion had been car
ried on by Senators Edmunds, Sherman, Nor
gan, Gray, and Jones, Of Arkansas, and that
the joint resolution was adopted-yeas, 40;
nays, Shaving been modified SO as to read as
| follows:
Resolved, ETC., That the government of the
United States will look with serious concern
and dlsapproval upon any connection of any
European government with the construction or
control OF any ship canal across the Isthmus of
Darlen or across Central America, and must re-
gard any such connection or control as injuri-
Gus to the just rights and interests Of the
United States and as a menace to their welfare
Section q That the President be and he is
hereby requested to communicate this express
sion of the views of the government of the
United States to the governments of the coun-
| tries of Europe.
was as follows democrats in italics):
feas-Messrs. Aldrich. Allison, Bate, Berry,
Broom, Chandler, Coclreu. Coke CoIquin, Gull
lom, Davis, Dawes, Dolph, Edmunds, Etlstis,
Evarts, Farwell, FdtaR,aer, Frye, George, Gib-
son, German, Hale. Hawley, Hoar. ingalls,,
Jones of Arkansas, Henderson, Mitchell, Nor
gan, Morrill,, Paddock, Palmer, Payne, Plat,
Plumb, Pugh, Quay. Ransom. SALISBURY, Saw
yer, Sherman, Spooner, Stewart, Teller, Vest,
Wdhhdu, Wilson of Iowa, and Wilson Of Mary
Nays-Messrs. Blackburn, Hampton, and
Vdnce-3.
POINTS FROM THE DEBATE.
The first speaker in the secret session was
MIR. Edmunds. He denied that the resolution
was intended to violate the now friendly rela-
tons between the United States and France.
The French government, as a government, had
no interest in the Panama canal scheme but il
would be only natural for that government to
attempt to prevent financial loss to many of its
citizens by taking charge of the canal project
and seeing it safely through. To prevent this
the United States ought to take immediate ac-
ton; its interests and dignity should be pro-
tected. The passage of this resolution was
really friendly act, for it warned France not
to put itself in position which this country
might declare to be untenable.
SENATOR GRAY's AMENDMENT.
Senators Evarts, Reagan, Hoar and Morgan
spoke in favor of the adoption of the resolu-
ton, and they were followed by Senator Gray,
who made lengthy argument in favor of his
amendment-to confne the scope of the reso-
luton to the political interests involved. He
thought the French government would only be
acting correctly if it defended the rights of
those Of its citizens who had invested in Pam
anna stock. Mr.. Gray's arguments were replied
to by Mr.. Hoar.
Senator Stewart held that
NOW WAS THE TIME TO BUILD THE NICARAGUA
CANAL.
The Nicaragua route was the only feasible
one, and the canal could be constructed for
less than 500, OOO, 900. The United States gov
eminent should at once set about the work of
construction.
Senator Eustis opposed Mr.. Grays amend
ment in long and eloquent speech The in
tegrity of the United States depended upon the
exclusion OF French power from Central Amer
lea. He referred to the fact that ambitious
Frenchmen are endeavoring to make the
French people disregard the pledges already
| made, but did not think that the revolutionists
could possibly succeed. France was too honor
able to be misled by such men. ''If the French
government" said the Senator under the
pressure of political agitation, should disre-
gard its pledge and change the status quo by
giving pecuniary aid to the canal company, or
by guaranteeing its bonds, it must inevitably
absorb the private interest ultimately. and we
would at once be confronted by the most se-
| rious complications. if not perils. While the
government of the United States can interpose
| no obstacle to the prosecution of the work by
private parties, it can, under no circumstances,
permit European governmental influence, au-
| thority and control either in this canal or any
other part of Central America. To allow such
| infringements and such absorptions by for
| eign government would be a discredit to our
own people and an offense to our pride as the
American nation, and for these reasons it is
| our duty to firmly and unequivocally announce
| to the world that
WE WILL PERMIT NO INTERFERENCE
| nor occupation so long as We have the power
to protect our interests and maintain our dig
nifty"
Senator Quay. after making a few remarks,
formally offered his amendment, which was as
follows:
That any connection of any European gov
eminent with the construction or control of
| any ship canal across the Isthmus of Darien or
across Central America, which involves any
political control whatever of the territory
through which such canal passes, or interfer-
| ence with the government or systems of gov
eminent OF any portion of this continent, will
be viewed by the government of the United
States with serious concern and disapproval.
and will be considered as dangerous to our
peace and safety"
vote was taken on the amendment and it
was tabled.
After some little discussion as to whether
the resolution ought not to be a concurrent one
instead OF joint, and which ended in its re-
manning as it was, the resolution was passed as
Forty-nine Senators voted in the afirma-
tive and only four in the negative-Messrs.
Blackburn, Hampton, Reagan and Vance.
After the vote was announced Mr.. Reagan said
he desired to make an explanation. and to
change his vote. This could not be done under
the rules but the Congressional Record has the
matter arranged by pairing Mr. Reagan with
Mr.. VOORHEES,, the latter being in favor Of the
resolution.
THE RESOLUTION IN THE HOUSE.
The resolution of the Senate asserting the
Monroe doctrine with relation to the Panama
canal has not yet got to the House foreign af-
fairs committee. They meet on Thursday and
expect to have it by that time. Chairman Nc
Creary says he expects prompt action by the
committee.
THE INDIGNANT DIPLOMATS.
The secret Legislative session of the Senate
yesterday raised miniature storm of indigna-
ton among the diplomatic corps, and especially
virulent was the outbreak in the midst of the
many representatives of foreign countries, who
were in the Senate diplomatic gallery, until
the doOrkeepers requested them to leave.
Complaints loud and deep, and uttered by a
Babel of tongues, sounded through the corri-
doris as the disappointed ones left the capitol
One Of the more prominent of those who
were anxious to hear the debate sent the fol-
| lowing dispatch to his government yesterday
| afternoon before the result of the discussion
had been made public:
THE American Senate to-day resumed con-
| sideration Of the Edmunds resolution of OBJ
struction to the Panama canal project. There
was a large number of foreign diplomats and
representatives present in that part of the
Senate gallery allotted to them, and among
them the representative of your government
Without notice the anti-Boulanger party in the
Senate secured an order to close the galleries.
Il fln Xl.A a.v. I,Sxv~ -.