The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-12-01
The NICARAGUA CANAL.
The Delegates Held Their Conven-
ton Yesterday.
GOV. FOSTER MAKES A SPEECH.
This Canal 10 Said to be Necessary for
the Defence of the Union-Every State
and Territory In the United States
Were Represented.

| NEW ORLEANS, Dec. 1.-The Nicaragua
canal convention met yesterday in Odd
Fellows Hall with delegates present fro,n
every state and territory in the Union.
The hall was decorated with Nicaraguan
flags and the standards of the forty four
states.
When the convention opened George /
Converse, president of the convention
took his seat with Governor Foster
Louisiana, Governor Fleming OF Florit
| nd Governor Kenny OF Virginia. TT
| lIoceedings were begun by the playing
"Hail Columbia" and new air dedicate
| 20 Nicaragua. President Odendahl, OF II
| New Orleans board OF trade, made a speec
| OF welcome, after which DIR. Palmer, til
| distinguished Southern preacher, offered
| prayer.
Then City Attorney O'Sullivan well
coined the delegates on behalf OF the may
or. He declared that not one scrap OF pa
per showing any interest in the Nicara-
qua canal should be allowed to go beyond
the limits OF the United States and no Eu-
ropean power should be able to have the
least voice in its control. Imagine any
European government stopping our ships
In the Event of War
and declaring that we could not pass un-
less we paid tribute.
Governor Fosters speech, which can
next, stirred the convention deeply. II
; one OF the most conservative men in th
tate and has refused, up to the prese
ime, TO express any opinion upon u
'icaraguan project.
at gives me peculiar pleasure" said T.
pvernor, "to know that in this hall
presented the Northern patriotic state
anship OF this country, and the delibe
IONS OF this body ought to and will &C
force and earnestness to the mind
e whole country. The question OF
ter-oceanic canal across the isthmus
longer a probematic question. l
ssiblity and utility are now acknoW
ged everywhere.
The governor then read the endorse
Gnts and opinions of Presidents Gran
lirrison and Cleveland. The great que
IN for commerce today, he said, Is shol
routes, bringing the producer and cor
mer nearer together and saving the
ne cost OF transportation. This proje,
opposes to bring New Orleans 1000 mil
carer to San Francisco. BY whom sha
lis canal be builtf BY Americans.
BY whom should it be controlled? Y
lmericans. The enterprise and genius
Ortunity
Slip From Their Grasp.
yill this canal be protected? Certainly
Ill. We are living in a commercial az
America does not build a canal aero
his isthmus, we may rest assured that Il
emands of commerce will build 1t, eve
I q foreign power has to do 1t.
Right within our sight lies the veal
4 China, India, japan, Australia and
lands OF the Pacific. But this Is not
zeal or southern enterprise. 1t touch
gery section of the country. All IL
lonots, all the glories that surround I'll
az in peace or war belong to US in CON
non.
Mr.. Converse, responding to Governo
'oster's speech, referred to the tremend
rs growth of the United States and Il
ll-embracing productivenes5. Thi
liant, born and reared in the middle Q
'ew Orleans, he said, must have room q
each its arms out to India and the Orient
his inter- oceanic ship canal. We of tn
North have our common interests wit
vou OF the South, not only in commerce
at in the defence Of the country.
With this canal thirty ships of WE
gould be worth one hundred ships with
out II. IL is necessary for the defence
he Union, and 1t will assist this Christian
country to extend ite influence to the di
rect coast of South America and to the fa
East. This seems to be the destiny O
America. This canal will be the creates
y all diplomatic agencies for the preven-
to be dedicated to the commerce of tn
world, to the new civilization, to peac
n earth and goodwill to men.
After recess Judge John B. Jones mad
1 speech on the diplomatic aspects OF til
esponsibility which il Is proposed to pu
n the federal government. This speecl |
as intended to
Some Extent rs an Answer
the criticisms of Southern Democrat
udge Jones said:
"The Nicaragua canal will affect tn,
productive and industrial interests Of thi
ountry more than any problem that car
ONE before the American people for til, |
,ext century. The past few years have
vitnessed large overproductions in agri
ulture. While our system OF protection
rs affected tho exchange of our agricul |
ural products in foreign markets, II has
ot been the chief cause Of depression
Our soil produces more than we can con-
'ume, and more than can be consumed in
he markets we can now reach. We have
cached the limit Of our prosperity in
mere home markets. Nations rise In
ommercial greatness as the lines OF trans
,ortation give them control OF the mar
;ets OF the world.
At the evening session Judge M. +. Es.
zee OF California urged the great advan-
ages which would accrue to the nation IL
he government should construct and
control the canal. He declared that there
would be Americas greatest civic glory.
The convention win be continued to-
day.