The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-01-10
THE NICARAGUA CANAL.
An Anglo-American Who Believes En-
gIish CauItal Will Co-Operate.


glish Capital VIII Cooperate.
The New York Erenina Post prints the
following letter from G. G. knight, con-
corning the Nicaragua canal
"The success of this enterprise with
out further delay is a matter of the great
est Importance to the United States, in
the first instance, and at the same time to
the world at large. So far l have only
seen and heard this matter discussed from
an American point of vieY, and l would
like to be allowed to offer J few remarks
from an English, or rather Anglo-Ameri-
can standpoint; and believe that an ap-
peal to that characteristic Of the people of
this country which eventually settles all
questions here, viz: common sense, viii
not be without good effect.
II have made the subject special study
and am IN communication with those here,
in England and in Nicaragua most inter-
ested in it, and think the time has ar
rived WHEN an understanding all round
ought to be reached, and the canal built,
without further loss of time in steps which
are not best calculated to produce that re-
suit. Nicaragua is a sovereign state,
separated from the United States by about
1000 miles of territory, owned by three
separate sovereign states. The canal, when
built, will be the highway of commerce
between the Pacific and Atlantic coasts OF
the United States; but it will also be the
highway of commerce between the whole
Eastern and Western hemispheres, to say
nothing Of its value for naval purposes to
all naval powers. 1t is to depend for its
revenues on the commerce of the world,
and should, therefore, be dealt with, in my
opinion, as an international undertaking,
in which, while the interests of the United
States should be fully and fairly protected,
the interests of England and other COM
mercial nations should be also cons idered.
$50 far the enterprise has languished
and proceeded very slowly, and President
Harrison in his last message suggests hat
if 1t cannot be carried through by private
enterprise, the United States should take
hold of it and complete it. There are many
reasons why this is undesirable. In the
first place, it has not been demonstrated
that il cannot be carried out BY private
enterprise. 1t only needs the exercise ola
little common sense ali round to make it q
success as private enterprise; whereas
the failure to keep it on that basis may
lead to complications which will not ex-
pediate the building of the canal. In the
second place, it is unlikely that the present
congress will consider it their business to
vote the public moneys toward the build
ing of a canal in foreign country. And
in the third place, do not think that
congress is likely to embark the United
States in an enterprise which is contrary
TO existing treaties as matters stand to-
day
why would it not be better to prodeed
at once, before bringing the matter be-
fore congress, to put the undertaking on
an international basis, and thus remove
all the difficulties which have so far inn
peded Its progress?
"On this being done the capital is ready
in England 10 cooperate, and if a half
interest in the canal is held here, and con-
sequently half control, surely the interests
OF American commerce will be sufficiently
protected, while the other half being held
abroad would insure the friendly eo-opera-
ton of all interests.
This is the inevitable final solution of
this question, and II seems to be better
and wiser to get TO work at once on that
basis than to waste further time in efforts
TO obtain government assistance. which
are not likely to end in effective success"