New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-12-11
WILL HE RIGHT-ABOUT FACE!
THE PRESIDENT MAY THIS TINE REVERSE
HIS OWN POLICY.


HIS OWN POLICY.
SAID TO BE ANXIOUS NOW FOR THE GOVERN
MENr TO TAKE A MORE PROMINENT PART
IN THE BUILDING OF THE MICA
RAGUA CANAL-A BRILLIANT
STROKE EXPECTED.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRrBUNE.1
Washington, Dec 1O.-A brilliant stroke OF
policy Is said to be contemplated by president
Cleveland which will partly atone for his un-
popular course in relation to Hawaii. and also
to some extent compensate for his former in
dication of hostility to the Nicaragua Canal
when. in 1885, he withdrew from the Senate
the Nicaragua Canal Treaty which had few
months previously been negotiated by President
Arthur The anticipated brilliant stroke Is
momentarily expected, and Is described as
wise and popular measure, intended to give ma
teria aid in the construction of the great inter-
oceanic canal across Nicaragua, and to protect
the interests of the American company, which
holds valuable concessions from the Government
of Nicaragua. Secretary Gresham has been ac-
lively preparing for this mastery effort, and
has collected great mass of pertinent materiai
for an exhaustive report to President Cleveland
upon Nicaraguan affairs.
A marked change Is understood to have taken
place since 1885 in President Clcveland's views
respecting the Nicaraguan Canal project. Then,
as one OF the first acts after his Inauguration
as President he gave a deathblow to the treaty
that had been negotiated. by which the United
States was itself to assume the work OF con-
structng the Nicaragua Canal. which was to
be owned by the United States and the Repub-
lie Of Nicaragua. and managed by them jointly.
The treaty also made a perpetual alliance be-
tween the United States and Nicaragua, the
United States guaranteeing to protect the in
tcgrity of the territory of Nicaragua
Now Mr.. Cleveland finds that foreigners are
scheming TO capture the canal and he has
learned from the report made to him few days
ago by his Secretary Of the Interior that owing
to the serious financial embarrassment Of the
Maritime Canal Company OF Nicaragua mo
progress has been made in the work during the
last twelve months" simultaneously came the
published statement that the President Of Mica
ra qua had given instructions to abrogate the
valuable conce ssions to the American Canal Com
pany Although that runor has been denied by
President Zeaya he states that he heard that
British and German syndicates were about to
make propositions to his Government and that
he had telegra phed the representative OF his
Government at Washington. Senor Don Horacio
Guzman, directing him to ascertain what ar
rangements can be made for the prosecution OF
the work by the American company These
facts were officially communicated to President
Cleveland. and he was thus made aware OF the
necessity OF swing immediate attention to the
question OF protecting the interests OF the Ameri-
can Maritime Canal Company Of Nicaragua.
Mr. Cleveland's present hostility TO the Mica
ragua Cana! project Is warmly denied by his
party friends except In so far as he Is opposed to
"a policy OF acquisition Of new and distant terri
tory or the Incorporation OF remote interests with
our OWL Instead. they say, Mr. Cleveland Is
very friendly to the canal enterprise. in proof of
which they quote from his first message, in 1855.
when he announced that he had withdrawn from
the Senate the treaty negotiated with Nicaragua
by his immediate predecessor for the construc-
ton by and at the sole cost Of the United States
Of a canal through Nicaraguan territory" He
then said he was unable to recommend propo-
stlons involving ownership or right outside of
our own territory. when coupled with absolute
and unlimited engagements to defend the terri
torial integrity of the state where such interests
lic While the general project of connecting the
two oceans by means of canal is to be encour-
aged am OF opinion that any scheme to that
end 10 be considered with favor should be free
from the features alluded to-"
Just what action has been decided upon by
this Government is not clear. Some idea Of its
nature is obtained from n declaration made by
Mr.. Cleveland in 1885. in relation to the vital
need of interoceanic transit across the Ameri-
can isthmus, and what he said about the Mica
ragua Canal in his message last Monday. In
1885 he announced that the efforts of his Ad-
ministration would be applied toward the reali-
cation OF the efforts of earlier Administrations,
based upon the principles (which were declared
in no uncertain tones by Mr.. Cass. while Sec
retary OF state. in 1855" In his message last
Monday Mr. Cleveland stated that the Mica
ragua Canal Company has, unfortunately, be-
come, financially, seriously embarrassed, but a
generous treatment has been extended to 1t by
the Government of Nicaragua. The United
States are especially Interested In the success
full achievement Of the vast undertaking this
company has in charge. That II should be ac-
complished under distinctively American aus
pices. and its enjoyment secured, not only TO
the vessels Of this country as channel OF COM
munication between our Atlantic and Pacific sea-
boards but TO the ships of the world In the in
terest Of civilization. Is proposition which, in
my judgment does not admit of question:
noteworthy fact in connection with the canal
situation when is mentioned, in some measure
accounting for the willingness and vgorousness
with which Secretary Gresham has prosecuted
his part Of the work Of arranging for this bril-
liant stroke" by the Administration is that Cen
eral Gresham previously took keen interest in
the Nicaragua Canal while he was member OF
President Arthurs Cabinet. He was then under
stood to be in hearty sympathy with the policy
of President Arthur as illustrated in the treaty
the President had negotiated for the building
and control Of the Nicaragua Canal by the
United States
4 sWIyDLER WHO CAUSES HUGH ANyOYAyCE
Baltimore Dec 10 (SpeciaD.-The swindler who
has been imposing on New-York and Philadelphia
merchants by representing himself as the son OF
Henry Vessels a drygoods merchant of Baltimore,