The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-04-27
The Nicaragua Canal In Favor as
a Route of the Greatest
Importance.
Col. John r. Irish, Of California. Takes the
Unpopular Side of tho Silver
Question.

ing TO the prosperity OF Great Britain.
John T. Irish, of California, argued that
the general prosperity Of the world would
be 10 enhanced by the building of the canal
that every part of this country would share
in it. Gov. Waite wanted the canal, if
built at all, to be absolutely owned and
controlled by this country in the interest
OF the people Of this nation. Hepburn, of
Idaho. spoke for his state in favor of the
canal. G. w. Cross. Of California, oppose d
the canal. While millions are asked for in
ternsl waterway improvements. he said.
which could not be granted. ii was folly to
build an artificial waterway. There was NO
certainty that the profts would pay opsrat-
ing expenses. How would it be protected
from the navies Of the world2 How would
our country be enriched by turning COM
merce. now passing across our country, into
a channel two thousand miles south of usi
W. II. Harvey, OF Utah, claimed that
government aid. without government con-
troll. would again repeat the history of the
Pacific Iailroads. Holmes, of Oregon, was
surprised to find that part of the state of
California was In favor of the canal, but
that the Southern Pacific was dead set
against it. Arthur II. Briggs, secretary OF
the San Francisco chamber of commerce,
told the story of the visit of DeLesseps to
San Francisco in the interest of the Pan
anna canal. DeLesseps was forced to ad-
nit that the people Of California we're bet
ter informed regarding the isthmus than
he was. He admitted to the chamber of
commerce committee that he had made no
able to give an intelligent explanation as
| to the methods of overcoming the natural
| obstacles on the isthmus.
o. w. Crawford. Of Texas. claimed that
the profit ON the cotton that could be sold
to China and Japan would alone paw the
interest on the bonds. Congressman. Eject
! Cannon, of Los Angeles populist, said that
he opposed governmental aid unless the
| original promoters were either bought out
or frozen out. If this canal is controlled
by a monopoly it will combine with the
railroads. just as the Pacific Mail has done.
| Il. M. Patterson, of Denver, for the inter-
ests OF his state, favored the canal. Gov.
Osborne, of Wyoming. arrived and received
an ovation from the congress-.
Gov. Prince. of New Mexico. introduced
the following esolution, which was adopted:
Resolved, That this congress ask the di-
rector of the Columbian exposition to set
apart day in the month of September
next to be known as silver day, when ad-
dresses on the silver question can be deliv-
cred and the day otherwise celebrated in an
appropriate manner. The chairman of the
| Texas delegation read q telegram from
Galveston announcing shat a vessel had
just crossed the bar drawing fifteen feet
and eleven inches of water.
| The chairman of the committee on reso.
| lutlens introduced resolutions on transpOr-
tation rates and the Nicaragua canal. The
discussion occupied the morning session,
as the latter opinions were greatly diver
| gent as to the benefits being expressed.
| RAaOlutiOna nara then passa5 folloup.
Resolved, That this congress- urgently re-
quests that rates OF fares on the various
Lines of railway be 40 fixed as to enable the
masses of the transmississippi region to at
tend the Worlds Columbian exposition.
Resolved, That the speedy construction
to the maritime commercial. industrial and
political interests of this country, and that
every reasonable endeavor should bs MADE
by the United States to obtain from Noar-
aqua an absolute title to construct suoh
canal the Same to be constructed and
owned by the United States.
Resolved, That it is the sense of this con-
gress that the law regulating commerce be-
tween states should be so amended as to
insure to the people OF every state and sec
tion equitable freight and passenger rates,
and that tribunal be created or designated
where questions between the people and
TRANSPORTATION lines may be speedily ad-
| justed.
The following resolutions on silver ooin-
age were introduced:
Resolved, That We demand that the con-
gress Of tho United States mediatsly re-
open the mints of our country to the FREQ
and unlimited coinage OF both silver and
gold on equal terms, at the present ratio of
sixteen to one, and thut the government use
coins of both metals without discrimina-
| tion.
Resolved, That wo are unalterably op-
i
sherman silver purchasing act, until 1t Is
r'I nced with law providing for such free
and unlimited coinage.
Col. lrlBlt of California, wanted to know
why silver and gold were selected instead
Of other nj etals. and why the ratio of one
to sixteen was mentioned. g. G. Goodwin,
of the Salt Lake Tribune, was called out
and said that the ratio of sixteen to one
WAS insisted on because that ratio existed
when sitver was demonetized.
Gov. Waite. of Colorado. rejoiced to sec
the silver question b. sooming Of interest to
men of all parties. j. A. Leet and A. G.
Fisk. OF Denver. spoke, the former against
the resolution. Holman. of Oregon, in his
emarks turned on the democrats and re-
publioans alike for Inconsistency. He fe-
ferred especially to an orator who had been
sent into Oregon to work for Cleveland
When he got through Oregon. gave 1900
inatead of :, 600 republican mn joritr.
Irish--"I suppose am tho emissary re-
ferred to. was not sent into Oregon. l
went of my own accord and paid my own
expenses, but l must say that did over
estimate the intelligence of the people OF
Oregon" Applause.
Holman said his efforts were not In vain
'He converted me. Applause. But do
not represent the average intelligence of
Oregon. lApplause.l We are called the
wild and woolly west. We nre wild because
VIC know no master. We are woolly he
cnnso our hearts nre wn med upon this
subject. We will yet win."
Judge Van WaEgener. o: Sioux City,
Iowa, declared That the agricultural inter
ssta OF Iowa had sustained II greater loss
through tho decentralization of silver than
had the mining interests of the western
states. lie was in favor of the free coinage
of the silver product of the void. Whit
more, OF Missouri. challenged tho state-
ment made by several speakers that silver
had been demonetized by trick. That