The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-12-02
EUROPEANS MUST KEEP OFF
Senator Morgan Says Foreigners Should
Not Control the Isthmus of Panama.
he Thinks Englands Purpose Is to Steal the
Great Key of the Western Hemisphere-Ar.
gument in Favor of the Nicaragua Canal.

NEW ORLEANS, Lee. l.-MOSt Oh tne
morning session of the Nicaragua canal
convention was devoted to laying out plans
of work. Senator Morgan. author of the
bill pending in Congress. delivered speech
in which he strongly favored the enterprise.
In 1S46. he said, before we had acquired
any foothold on the Pacific except Oregon.
when no part Of Mexico was ours. the
statesmen Of this country made q treaty
with New Grenada. That might have been
considered an entangling alliance. but the
people of America do not consider any sec.
tion of this hemisphere, from the Arctic
ocean to the Pacific ocean. foreign country.
In that treaty 1t was provided that the peo-
pie of the United States should have the
same transit and passage across Panama as
the citizens of Panama. There should be
no tolls or dues, demurrage or otherwise.
That was o very broad concession to us
the meaning of which was that the coast
line of the United States was extended
across the Isthmus of Darien. Might 1t not
happen. as o result of the building OF the
Panama canal by the French government,
that We should have trouble with that
government if it should find it duty. In
the protection of it's own citizens. to deny
the people of the United States o free tran
sit across the lsthmus.
Senator Morgan said guarantee Of neu-
trality on either side Of the isthmus was
great boon to commerce. We guaranteed,
also, to preserve the peace there. and we
have preserved the peace there. Why have
we undertaken to do this2 Because tho
isthmus geographically, in its relations. ls
identified so closely with the United
I'D 0knt ro
jeal ous of its control of the coast lines of
this hemisphere. The aim OF our great
statesmen had always been to preser We the
coast line for the benefit of the eople of
the United States. Coming down to
later treaty, this time with Nicaragua, We
provide for free transit for our people,
equal rights for the people of Nicaragua,
transit for our armies and munitions or
war. with other provisions. We further
speak of a canal to be run through Nlca-
ragua, and reserve our right to send troops
along the line of traye. 20 protect not only
our own people but other people whose
peace may be disturbed or whose property
may be threatened.
Speaking of the Clay tom Bulwer treaty,
Senator Morgan said that provisions had
been made that neither the United States
nor Great Britain should disturb the
sovereignty of Nicaragua down there by
building fortliications along the canal or
in any other manner. But who questions
the right of President Harrison to
send troops to Nicaragua, under the
earlier treaty. to protect our citizens and
their propertyf And the right to Garry troops
to Nicaragua carries with it the right to
protect those troops There Is nothing in
the Clayton-Bulwer treaty to prevent us
from going down into Nicaragua and build
ing the canal Great Britain has never de-
MED that We have q right and Great Brit
ain never sleeps. The lion never bats his
eye.
Senator Morgan referred to the view of
the Senate committee on the bearing of the
Clay -Bulwer treaty toward the question
of the control and building of the canal by
the United States The committee feels
that there Is nothing in an abstract visw
of the treaty to estop our construction and
control of the canal. But We must be care
ful and live up to our obligations to Mica
ragua in protecting her in her sovereignty
and in preserving her peace. We cannot
afford to yield our right of free transit
across Panama, Nicaragua or elsewhere on
this continent to any foreign government
and that was the point which the Senator
desired 60 make plain to the Assem- blage he
had the pleasure to address There could
be no doubt that Great Britains purpose
was to ultimately steal the great key of
the Western hemisphere. He did not blame
Great Britain, but he could not be blind or
shut his eyes to her purpose.
The Senator here advanced strong rea-
sons why the Nicaragua canal should be
built, and explained fully the circum-
stances under which the Senate committee
had Investigated the project The commit
tee represented all sections and political
views, hut they were united in recommend
lng government control of the Nicaraguan
waterways. The Suez canal charged g. so
per ton toll. and the Senate committee
found that charge of only 81 a ton col
lected for tolls by the NIcaraguan canal
would yield 600 annually TO pay in
terest on bonds. S3.000.0O0 for repair and
maintenance of the canal and s3 600 600 to
be divided among the stockholders.
At the close of the Senators address Judge
Estee. chairman of the committee on reso-
lutiohs, admitted q report, which closed
as follows:
Resolved. That Ii is the paramount duty OF this
government to aid in the construction of the
Nicaragnan canal
Resolved. That this convention respectfully
urge the Congress OF the United States TO take
such steps and give such financial aid az will
insure the speedy completion of such canal at
tho minimum cost thereof. taking proper secur-
ity for any credit pledged money advanced
for tiiis purpose, and retaining such control and
supervision OF the same will insure the peace
ful use OF the great enterprise to the commerce
OF the world and at the lowest possible rates.
The resolutions were adopted, and. after
appointing committees. the convention ad-
Journed.
Space for the Educational Exhibits.