Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1893-02-18
CHARACTERISTIC LEGISLATION


II seems to be characteristic of the
legislation of this country, both state
and national, that small matters which
promise little good to anybody except
ing to the little minds which originate
them, are pushed along to completion
and enforcement while the great pro-
jects in which the whole people are IN
terested are permitted to languish, ana
too often to die for want of attention.
There has not been a question pre-
sented to American statesmen ioF tleiF
consideration for years so fraught win
possibilities of great good to the whole
country as the construction OF the MIC
aragua canal, and possibly no great
question upon which the American
people so nearly agree will again be
suggested for years to come, and yet 1t
has been treated with neglect and in
difference not accorded to any of the
smaller or less important political sub
iects. The advantages commercially
are so thoroughly understood as not to
be longer argued but assumed as mat
ter of course.
As means of defense in cases of
necessity or emergency the rapidity
with which all points of our immense
coast line could be reached would rem
der one-half the navy more effective
with the canal, than the whole would
be without it. AS political measure
It is simply necessity that the United
States shall control that great highway
when the same shall be completed.
Commercially, politically and defens-
lively, the Nicaragua canal is recog-
nized necessity. One would suppose
that under these circumstances there
would be at least the usual activity in
passing a bill looking to the accom-
plishment of so great an enterprise. II
some of our senators or their wives
owned real estate at the ternini or any
where along the line, or Il there were
the usual number of votes in sight as a
reward, then indeed it would be a
canal worth considering, then it would
be the pride Of statesmen to have their
names enrolled as champions Of the
great cause.
No part of the country is so greatly
interested in this work as the people
Of the Pacific coast. Three thousand
miles of navigation cut off from from
the route around Cape Horn would put
US In the markets of the world by
water with all the heavy and bulky
produce of the country, Several days
ago, when the new rail tariff sheets
were given to the world, it was an
nounced that on those articles which
were classified as freights usually car
ried, or carried in large quantities by
water, the reductions were far greater
than on the Glasses usually carried by
rail, the roads thus bidding for that
class of freight. When the time shall
come, as come il will, when al classes
Of freight can be carried quickly and
cheaply by water, excepting only
such as require the most rapid trans
portation, and the railroads shall be
brought squarely into competition
with water transit, then the freight
question for this country will have
been solved. then will the products of
the West find their legitimate market
in exchange for the products Of the
East, then will the E0rk q develop
ment under the heslthful stimulus Of
trade enable the people q the North
west to realize the fond dreams which
they have so long cherished.