Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1892-12-30
THE AMERICAN END"
OF the Scheme for Pan
anna Interests.
A BOSTON MANS TALE
Throws Light on the Methods Pur-

BOs rON, Dee. ~ Nathan Appleton of
this city steps suddenly into prominence
as figure in the great Panama canal
sensation. He is introduced by the New
York World in a three column history Of
what il calls the American End Of the
Panama Scandal" Mr. Appleton was in
teryiewed yesterday concerning the facts
set forth, aud gave an interesting account
of his relationship to the great enterprise.
The World story deals wi h DE Lesseps'
visit To this country In 1919 To overcome
the opposition manifested 10y the United
States government at that time. In
securing this end, it is claimed, some
-, 100000 was spent among Legislators,
lobbyists aud newspapers, and DE Lesscps
returned To France within eleven months
of his sailing thence with testimonials
and evidences of his having enlisted sup
port where had been open opposition.
One of these evidences was the organiza-
tion Of what was known as the "Ameri-
lean committee" The purpose. says this
historian, was chiefly To carry the idea
into France that this government was fa-
vorable 10 the scheme. the effect Of which
would be to boom the stock with the
French people.
General Grant was offered the chair
manship of the committee, but he declined
il, because of things he had seen and
heard about il Richard Thompsop. then
al the head II the navy departure was
offered il and eagerly accepted, resigaing
his place in the navy department under
the alu,ements OF the salary Of $:5,UOO
year.
1t was 70 this committee that DE Les
seps agreed 10 pay, IN six payments, the
sum OF -, 800 900, in French money, for its
Influence"
About Mr.. Appleton.
Mr.. Appleton il said To have become In
terested with DE Lesseps in Paris. and
ciceroned the great engineer through
his Washington experience; was the all
round agent in bringing about the con
summation reached Said Mr. Appleton:
DE Lc-seps came here To secure the CO
operation of this country. lie felt that
this country would receive by far the
greatest benefit of all others by the work,
and that it was fitting that the two great
est republics should join hands in IL. He
was very greatly disappointed that il did
not approach IL in that spirit"
"Do You Thick De Lesseps had knowl-
edge of and sanctioned Use Of money in
buying the approval Of newspapers and
legislators
81 do not | DO not believe that any
member Of the board of directors voted
dollar for such purpose The thing grew
To such pr, portions, so many wheels de-
veloped within wheels, until it got beyond
them. and intrigues brought about the
calamity
"Those dinners that you gavei"
II have no recollection Of them, aud
more than that | did not receive $1,000
I Il II.
years. or So, 900 in all up to the time the
company quit paying
what really broke the company" com
tinued Mr.. Appleton was the tremendous
interest It WAS paying, aud the sums de-
manded by
The Matchmaking Press.
Some s2OO. .Oa,OOO had been raised in
France, but it WAS the subscription OF the
whole country in small amounts, so that
the loss was rot felt much by individuals,
for few persons invested more than they
could well afford.
But the time has come TO build canal
through the isthmus This crisis | believe
Win Assist In Evolving 1t.
II will put the French people upon their
mettle and they viii 20 down into their
pocket aud build it, The whole French
nation is involved in this scandal, for the
reason that the press WAS subsidized. For
eigpt years they were paid money for
writing mp the scheme The press repre-
sents the people, AID this scandal touches
their pride. Already n new company has
been formed for the completion OF the
work.
81 believe that the thing for the United
Sta To do - To take this thing off the
hands of France. We owe the French "A
debt of gratitude for coming to our AS
sistance at n very critical juncture in our
history We do not half appreciate that
debt but IL is great one, aud here is the
opportunity to pay It in measure
About SsO.000O is legitimately repre-
seniei ia work done. The Panama rail
road with al its privileges, the Colombian
land grant, the buildings aud all the equip
meut for work will easily represent s3o,-
OoD,ooO more. THIS country could buy the
whole for about 500, ,OU,OW The work il
in a condition 10 be
Easily Pushed to a Finish.
~ we do not do 50 the French will
probably flush it. aud that will hurry up
our government at Nicaragua, and the re
suit may be that we will have two COM
peting canals instead of a monopoly.
Taking the II cures of the Suez canal II
will pay interest on ala investment Of
500 Wp,DO, aud there would no doubt be
busi .ess for two TO make them pay.
III our people really want the Mica
raguan canal, however" said Mr. Apple
ton IN concluding the interview, we
should buy the land outright-own it.
and suffer no protectorate, or private
company complications which are sure to
result In trouble. We should own IL, an
proprste some s2j,U0J,UJJ year for the
work aud require the army and navy d..
partments to push IL To completion. which
should he accomplished in five or SIX
years"