The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-04-27
THE NICARAGUA CANAL.
Aext OF an Address That Has Been Pre-
pared by the Canal Committee.

AeAt OF an address That Has Been Pre-
pared by the Canal Committee.
The committee of nine appointed by the
otate Nicaragua Canal Convention to make
arrangements for The national convention to
meet In st. Louis next June, has prepared
Inc following address to the American
people:
Ihe state Nicaragua Canal Convention OF Cali
Ioinia. which recently met in san Francisco,
provided. among Other things. for the appoint
nit III OF an executive committee OF nine, which
committee was empowered 10 prepare and pub
usn an ADDRESS 10 the American people. showing
sohe OF the reasons why the Nicaragua canal
SHOULD De built, Why the Government should aid
10 us construction and control Tie work.
Inc committee thus provided for submits the
following address:
In THIS age OF commercial activity The Untcd
states must push It's trade and commerce, or IL
Will lose Its foreign markets and suffer financial
IMPRESSION. The advantageous position of this
country ought 10 make IL The first commercial
nalion OF The world. It's peculiar location on The
western continent. its vast agricultural and
mineral resources, the variety aud quality OF It's
The ex ent OF It's territory, IFS coast
rue lOntlug on both oceans and extending
hiohg each side Of the continent for thousands
vi niles, Tie amount OF It's wealth, its great and
increasing population and lis free Institutions.
all combine, if rightly directed. In placing this
nepuDlc IN Tie front rank among the commercial
nations OF The world
But even with these advantages il we would
succeed commercially We must overcome every
physcdI obstruction TO quick, cheap aud safe
r.
kets.
And thus the question OF the hour and the
greatest problem OF recent years Is one OF trans
portaton. In The near future success or failure
VIII depend more on cheap transportation by
ahu ana wafer than on The quafiy OF quantity
o. tne articles produced. Wafer transport alton
- ihe only competitor of railroads, aud The
snor.ef ihe water routes the gre, Ter and more
ehecuSe The competition. Railroads noy cross
tnS continent, distance OF more than 1000
miles, white the constructive portion of tile
Nicaragua canal is less than 261a miles; the
wh0ie length OF The canal Qncludlng The nav
,gaole PORTION OF Nicaragua Lake and San Juan
RIVER is only 1922 miles.
III lie American people would make water
transportation between The eastern and western
sIdes OF The continent n successful competitor TO
iahd transportation the Nicaragua Canal must
De constructed and IL should be built by Amer
lean capital end controlled -bv fha AmrrIcan
people.
Commercially, MOI hing within the range of
!hOheht Will accomplish 80 much for our coun-
Try as The building Of this great waterway. liz
WIZ shorten The distance by sea between the two
sldes OF our country about 10000 miles, aud
from the Pacific Coast 10 Europe ABOUT 7OOO
hiles. ~ WIN create greater commercial posi-
olttles between the different sections of our
country, ana IL will largely increase our trade
facilities with all foreign countries. Ii will make
competing route for transportation by WatOr
which will Deuiraze the combinations of land
transportation companies, aud yet il VIII tend 10
increase the business OF the very companies IL
completes With. Ii Will make secure 10 This re-
pubic much OF the commerce of The Pacific
ocean, now drifting into foreign channels. Ii
VIII DiHu together DN Inc lies oil common Inter
est all tie States OF The Union. Ii will open the
commerce OF the Pacific with the valley OF The
Mississippi The Gull States and the Far est
Will feel the vltallZiug forces OF new and better
markets for the products OF the soil. because
ehraper transportation by sea Will increase
prices and thus greatly benefit the interior and
producing states OF tie Union. while the oTlh
and the East will grow strong under the IN
creased demand Tor American shipping. aur the
manufacturing industries Of those sections Will
be greatly benefited by the improved home aud
foreign markets.
II will give renewed aud stronger expression
10 an American policy of maintaining peace
among DaiOns by building UP industries aud
creating trade aud commerce.
But more than this. The defense of the
Paclhc States In time Of war should demand The
thoughtful, patriotic consideration OF the whole
country. 1he Pacific Coast induslI les are now
so large ana varied, The population OF that part
OF Tie Union so sparse, the distance around
Cape HON 10y sea Is so great, the long time Ie-
0ulted 10 reach there by water. Tie Increasing
needs OF that nart Of The American Union, all
point 10 and make necessary, as d matter of
national safety, the building OF The Nicaragua
canal.
No more illustri0us example of the fostering
care which The most enlightened nations OF our
Time give TO The subject OF trade and commerce
can be found than IN tue history OF the COM
meTclaI supremacy OF England. Her keen BUSH
ness sense. her insuiar and yet midway position
between America aud the eastern continent.
her knowledge that the nation which controls
the carrying trade OF The world largely controls
It's commerce, her liberal policy In building up
the one. and thus sustaining the Other, and,
lastly ahu most conspicuous OF All, Tie COLI
slTuctlon Of The SueZ canal, have made Thar mar
Vicious country The commercial mistress OF tie
world.
Let America profit by her example. Let our
Congress aid In this-great work; not a menace
10 foreign nations, but as protection 10 our own
country aud blessing 10 all other countTes-so
that thts canal, which Is TO be built across the
American continent, shall be bun by American
capital and controlled by The American people.
Ana When completed u VIII unite, by the lies OF
commercial Interest, ali the American republics
giving greater stability aud renewed prosperity
10 each, Inspiring confidence aud insulting per-
petual peace among all Of them.