The morning call., 1892-12-30
IT'S AMERICAN SIDE.
How De Lesseps Corrupted This Re-
public Also

NEW YORK, Dec. 29.-In three e-cnlumn
article this morning the World alleges
that the Panama corruptionlsts and thieves
have expended over So. OOO, 900 in bribing
American legislators. In brief the article
says:
There is an American end to the Pan
ANA scandal. Two million five hundred
thousand dollars we're sent to this country
and no explanation has been given of what
use was necessary or made Of this vast sum.
The bribery and corruption practiced in the
United States were just as flsgrant, though
less in extent and in the amount of money
used. The French Spectators obtained
their rights from the United States OF Co
lomba. and purchased the services of
Ferdinand de Lesseps to give their scheme
eclat. The farce of the canal congress-
which met at PaIis oD May Is. 1879, was
enacted, and in the face of intelligent op-
position, packed committee on the selec-
tion of a location chose the Panama route
from sea to sea.
''Soon after the Paris canal congress-
was dissolved General A. L. Burnside. Sem
ator from Rhode Island. introduced a reso-
luton on the subject in Congress- 1t read
That the United States views with serious
disquietude any attempt by the powers in
and domination a ship-canal across the
IsthmCs of Panama
General Burnside. in private conversa-
ton with friends. indicated that he foresaw
an attempt would be made to influence Con-
gress, and he has stated that he introduced
the subject to national notice with the in
tention of anticipating any work Its pro-
moters might attempt at Washington"
The article then reviews the history of the
canal, with President Hayes message de-
claring the canal should be built only with
the United States preponderating in its in
fiuence: DE Lesseps and other Frenchmen
were then here. 1t was a staggerer for
them. but Do Lesseps cabled his son Charles
to give to the Paris newspapers the state
ment that this message had assured the
political security of the canal. To confirm
this idea in France he had an American
committee appointed to look after the neu-
trality question in connection with the
canal and to make the Americans feel their
interests were being served. The Ameri
committee was not disposed to work for
nothing and De Lesseps agreed to make,
when the company was organized, six annual
payments to this American committee. The
first was 3, 100000 francs and the year follow
Ing ,400, 600 francs, and subsequent payments
OF 100000 francs a year for FIVE years
This was about S2.506, 900 provided by the
head OF the Panama canal scheme to iDfiu-
ence the people of the United States and
their Government. Here was corruption
fund capable OF accomplishing great results
The organization Of the committee was
negotiated by New York bankers. The pur-
pose was to secure for chairman distin-
guished American, whose name would in
spire confidence and lend luster to the
Panama prl ject. The first chairman sug-
gested was General u. S. Grant The posi-
tion was rendered to the distinguished
citizen through the banking house of l. w.
Seligman 81 Co.. the annual compensation
offered being S25, 900, and the General was
assured the duties would be light. General
Grant saw through the Intentions of the
committee and declined"
Continuing. the article says: "Certain
public officials In the American committee
received $4,000 year for their services
The corruption which followed the organi-
zation Of the American committee and the
income OF the hard-earned money Of French
subscribers to the canal company is still
fondly remembered at Washington by some
Of those VINO received some Of the Doodle.
Certain newspapers in New York received
liberal subsidy 10 favor the canal. Two
congressman were bribed individuals who
possessed infiuence were pribed, and the
| money OF the French peasantry ran
Ike water at the national capital. An
| article In the Financial News OF London de-