The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-12-02
A DEMAND FOR AID.
The Nicaragua Canal Convention
Has Adjourned.
Ringing Resolutions Calling Upon the
Government to Aid in the Great
Work of Wedding the Oceans.
Special to THE MORNING CALL.

NEW ORLEANS, Dec. 1.-At the session
of the Nicaragua canal convention to-day
". b. Cabell spoke in behalf OF the delega-
ton from the District of Columbia, urging
that an influential delegation be sent to
Washington TO urge upon Congress the i'm
portance Of the project and the necessity
for action.
S. A. Jones of Florida depicted the ad-
vantages of the canal from a Southern
standpoint
Letters were read expressing interest and
sympathy with the work of the convention
from many prominent men, traffic associa-
tions, etc.
In the afternoon Hon. M. NJ. Estee.
chairman Of the committee on resolutions,
submitted report. Ii sets forth the fact
that the distance by water from the Attain
tic to the Pacific side of our country is more
than 1900 miles; that to make this voyage
we must pass over tempestuou5 seas and
through every known variety of climate;
that mere thread of land separates the
two oceans; that the severirg Of this thread
and the opening Of a navigable water chan
nel across tho isthmus of Nicaragua wilt
unite the Atlantic and Pacific, aud shorten
the water route from one side of the coun-
try to the other 10000 miles; that the Pacific
States are now more remote from the At
lantic seaboard, and from the older and
more populous parts of the country than Eu-
rore. The construction of the canal will en-
courage closer relations with our sister re-
publics OF Central and South America ;
that cost of transportation of freight will be
cheapened; that as measure of national
defense it will be of infinitely greater value
than building forts or maintaining armies !;
that by it our navy can be concentrated at
any American port in one. third of the time
and at one-third of the expense now re-
quired that large and numerous coaling.
stations can be dispensed with; that the
Pacific Ocean, with its increasing COM
merce, its island and Asiatic trade. will
contribute TO our wealth and enlarge our
markets; that in this age of CONNER
eial activity, when the most enlight-
ened nations are seeking and creating
new markets. the great aim is to
shorten distances and cheaper transport
tation; that TO successfully accomplish
this, and to maintain large and varied in
dustries all over the country, and to give
better markets to our agricultural and man.
ufacturiug products, the shortest route by
land and sea must he created; that water
TRANSPORTATION is cheapest and that as
America is Il great producing country it
completes with all other countries in the
worlds markets. and thus inspires rivalry :;
that this is the greatest republic Of the
word, the OLD mnnarchies are jealous OF its
wonderful growth and splendid industrial
achievements, and the time has come when
America should prepare for and guard
against the necessities and the dangers Of
the future; that it would be unwise and un-
patriotic for this great republic to publicly
and quietly permit any foreign power to
either open for Itself the gates Of American
commerce, or close those gates upon us.
and hence that the American people should
build this canal when built.
The convention declares that ii is the
paramount duty Of this Government TO aid
in the construction of the Nicaragua canal
and urges Congress to take such steps and
give such financial aid as will insure the
speedy completion of the said canal at the
minimum cost thereof. taking proper seeur-
ity for any credit pledged or money ad-
vanced for the purpose, and retaining such
control and supervision of the same as will
insure a peaceful use OF this great enter
prise TO the commerce of the world and at
the lowest possible rates.
The resolutions were adopted and a num-
Der of speakers were listened TO. Chairman
Converse was added to the committee later.
Three cheers were given for Nicaragua,
Costa Rica and the United States, and the
convention adjourned.