The Portland daily press., 1892-02-06

""e' WIN LudG QlSCiPAA-AS
was maintained at such high pitch it
was always ready for the command OF
war; that on a peace footing it was
ready to fight at the drop OF a flag, and
that whereas the French army could be
modified and prepared for the neld IN
six weeks or two months, the German
army was virtually sleeping on Its arms
and declaration of war at noon would
be followed by the loading OF 100000
troops into the cars before dark. Natu.
rally, under these circumstances added
nj. Washington, with rather grew.
some smile, that man Bismarck had
some advantages over me IN the confer
ence.'"
So in the recent negotiations between
Presidents Harrison and Montt, the for
mer had some advantages in the num-
Der and strength of his guns and ships,
and to these advantages and the manner
in which they were made to count we
must render our thanks for peace with
honor.
Another prophecy uttered by Mr..
Blaine IN the conversation which l had
with him three years ago is worth re-
calling at this time. "Before five years
have passed" said he in February, 1889,
'sthe people Of the United States will
perceive the necessity of building the
Nicaragua canal. They will see that
completion of this great enterprise is a
measure Of national protection which
must not be longer neglected. With
that canal completed and under such
auspices that m time Of war the United
States may take possession OF 1t and
close it to the vessels of the enemy our
position will be impregnable.
"By means of this quick and easy way
Of transferring our fleets from one ocean
to the other we shall gain tremendous
advantage over every other nation.
Moreover, we can make Lake Nicaragua,
which lies between the two oceans and
which could be defended against all the
powers in the world, great naval sup
ply and Quitting station That lake is
large and deep enough to float the navies
OF the earth, and there we can erect dry
docks and machine shops and store vast
quantities of coal and munitions With
this canal completed and under our con-
troll we shall, even with moderate
navy. be absolute masters Of the waters
of the West Indies and OF the two South
American coasts"
These words were prophetic, because
there is now in Washington a general
belief that before this congress adjourns
some action will be taken looking to
completion of the Nicaragua canal under
government auspices. Men of both po-
itical parties favor such action. There
is an honest difference of opinion as to
how far the government should go in
maintaining copartnership with a pri-
vate corporation for the purpose of build
ing the canal, but in all probability a
way will be found to meet these objec-
lions and to insure protection for the
capital which the government may in
vest or pledge.
The recent war scare has been of in
estimable value to the people of the
United States. q H. don't know how you
look at it out in the states and in the
cities, but here in Washington we can
see that the CHILEAN episode means the
rapid building of a great navy in this
country. We can look ahead ten years
and see with our minds eye an Ameri-
can navy great enough to give our dip
lomats some advantages over others
even in Berlin conference, navy with
battle ships as, well as cruisers, with
fleets of torpedo boats, with every ap-
pliance of offensive and defensive war;
fare which human ingenuity can con-
trive, and every ship and every gun
botA designed and built in this country.
One Of the most remarkable phases of
public opinion ever known in this coun-
try is the rapid rise of naval enthusiasm.
Ten years ago our navy was joke.
Only the people living along the sea-
board cared whether it ever became any,
thing better or not. Now the whole
country is reused to pitch in which
everything about the navy is read with
avidity, every picture of the new ships
and guns is carefully conned by young
and old, every step forward is hailed
with satisfaction and delight. We at
least have Chill to thank for giving us
impetus as naval power and sending
us rapidly toward that point at which
we shall have navy mighty enough to
assure us eternal peace.
Here in Washington we have another
thing to- thank our Chilian friends for.
They have given us an opportunity to
show ourselves our own unity, our own
patriotism. In the food of letters and
kilograms which have poured in upon
the navy department profering the serv-
ices of volunteers, Secretary Tracy says
many of the most ardent communica-
tons have come from the southern
states. In congress and every other
observer have been delighted to see
southern leaders even more outspoken
for unfolding the national honor and
dignity than the men from the north.
An explanation of this was given me
by one armed General Oates, the fighter
from Alabama. "War with Chill in de-
tense of our national dignity" said he,
"would be in one sense blessing. 1t
would give the men of the south a
chance to rush to the front and show
their loyalty and patriotism. 1t would