The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1893-01-19
Discussion OF the Great Mic
arag,lan Canal Scheme
before the Conven-
ton at Louis
vile, Ky.
BY President Converse. OF the
National Association. and
John r. Proctor.
1t Will Cost s1o0, 900, 1000, but
It's Advantage to Ameri-
can Commerce
Will Be In
estimable.

On the 10th inst. the Kentucky Nicar-
aguan Canal Convention was held in the
Louisville Commercial Club rooms. The
construction Of this great canal, which
would he Of ines:imablc value 10 Ameri-
can commercial interests, was ably and
clearly discussed by President Converse,
of the National Association, and Hon.
John r. Proctor, Of Frankfort, Ky. Owing
to the fact that the public generally
has given this great scheme but little
thought, and Mr.. Procter's address so
clearly points out the many advantages
its construction would bring to the Amer
lean people. the Posr takes pleasure IN
presentin. his speech, as delivered before
the convention.
Mr. coNvERsE's REMARKS.
Mr. Converse was introduced by President Braden
and spoke ri some ength on the great undertaking.
The cost OF building e canal nc stated, was estima
ted q, SlU9. e1O09l II would take six years 70 COM
plcte In. work IT would I've ABOUT le9 miles IN
enul and n vessel could get through In twenty-ioar
h,ur, There Was no possibility of any apprehension
~, ,roc or moe>,a,ionir the matter by any foreign
,ow.r II vas ,Tonos.a to Issue 500 600 worth
Of stock Of which The United States Government WAS
W have $S00OJ,OJo Tor indo, sing the $iooo'ooo 70
b. issued Six AMI 1-haf millions OF the stock VIII
40 TO the Nicaragua Government. 81 700 70 COSTA
Hicn. and TIE remainder will be put on the market.
rhe money sprnt already the work will be rede'nl-
cd In ihr, ycar. il estimated that the canal vii!
nav all EXPENSES ard 3 per cent dividend on the
,ond.. which in thirty years will be redeemed and
leave the United States Government u control, with
the $50, 900 900 Of stock.
rRocrEE's SrEgCu.
Mr Proctor was t III introduced and spoke as iol-
lows:
I'm acuuatng myself as best could Win the VOL
terfui resources OF the South, became convinced
that no undertaking would be potential In It's ehec
upo Southern development as that OF the ouidliiS o.
IN. great sh;u canal about which you gentlemen have
assembled together 10 consider.
Our Southern representatives III Congress cannon
err il they follow the example OF the broad ana co'
rrchensye craftsmanship Of the able senators "ho
Representatives OF the Old South.
II has become fashion in these latter days Tor lneI
20 come to the front and flourish for time by oppos
inr every measure calculated to advance the puDhc
good II requires so much less ability TO pun dowf
than io build up Noi long ago heard one oil my
nrofaue friends in commenting upon the destructive
work OF one Of ts class OF politicians, whose ability
Isl always destructive never constructive say that
hog can root mp more potatoes In hish
than ten honest men can plant In day
We OF the South can point with pride 10 the c"h
strucive work OF Washington and Jefferson, Maoisoi
and Monroe, Clay and Calhoun, and the long ilSt
Southern statesmen in the building up and expanding
OF this great Republic
And when our friends Of the North boast to us tina
they ..savcd the Union," for which service some
them seem to think they are entitled to pefPe'un
mortgage upon the Public Treasury, we can ahs"e
that il was largely the work OF the Southern STATES
men, and the valor of the Southern soldieis that "o
this Union worth the saving.
From the time when Henry, rs Governor OF Virgin
ia sent the expidtion under that hero, George aos
ers Clark through the forests and swamps OF the "
hash to capture and hold the British ou:postS
yincenoe, anl kAskaskiG thus giving this Union I'LL
magnificent EniIive north OF the Ohio river, down Z
IN. civil war Southern statesmen and Southern
soldiers
WERE ADDING
q, tho bonnd,rps and TO the glories of this Republic
And-strange anomaly-New England, tue u'a'f
time region. dcpanling on commerce and the widening
OF the markets for the product OF her factofieS' o''
her early opposition the acquisition OF the territory
around the lower Mississippi down to MI. summer
defeat OF the purchase of the Island OF ST. Ihomas
Now England has persstentiy opposed this extehhoi
OF territory.
Jefferson ana his comfrercs from the South added tt
the Union the vast Spanish and French possessions
and secare 10 tbs country the ownership OF the MIS-
sissppl river
IT was Henry Clay who forced this country into the
war Of 1872, against the protests and opposition OF
New England II the war OF 1917 winch so'lu'
Hed a hitherto weak and disjointed confederation III
10 a powerful and prosperous Union
was CLAY who "a our representative in conference
AT Ghent BY his iiruness and pxtriottsn prevented
concessions to Great Britain concessions agreed 10 ny
tina Nav England representative i'll that conference
,h,t wopld hav, been damaging to our interests anu
humiliating 10 pride
TWAS the brilliant victory gained by southern
soldiers under jackson at New Orleans that wiped
OUT tho sting OF orr defeat in the Northwest ana the
HUMILIATION CAUSED
bf the Oarnug OF Our tap!toi ny 'o'e'p" Ne' -
was the work Of Southern statesmen oppased again
by New En- saad. aud of armies largely compose" oi
Southern soldiers aai commanded by Southern ''ef-
erals that added Texas and the grand empire extend
ing to the Pacific TO this Union.
lean not believe that the Southern statesmen "l to-
aav will prove recrean the glorious traditions OF
the past
hope Won, gentlemen OF the convention, will par
don few political references, made in no partisan
spirit. but in their bearings upon the border questions
you have assembled 10 consider.
Whatever may be the stand OF the party soon to
take control Of this Government on these questions
n would seen, BY It's traditions OF the past to be
nlcaced to the extension of our foreign commerce
carried In ships flying the flag OF this country When
that great party
the control Of The Government in 1851, Is per
cent, o. The foreisn commerce OF the United States
gas carried in American-buit ships carrying the
nag Of this country into every known part OF the
world.
when this party agaili resumes the administration
nm the Ath OF March nex it will find but II per cent.
NJ onr foreign commerce carried in American-bnilt
ships,
Itisiu the power Of the incoming administration,
by stroke Of s,atecrat 20 make The United States
the future mistress OF the seas to bring about con-
di.ions that viii eause the manufacturing interests
20 c.amor for ftce trade, and 10 nangura.e peril
Of prosperity riyuiiug that following the discovery Of
gold In California and Australia. The greatest under
taking remaining for mans accomplishment, laeas
med BIZ tbs esatsto follow, will be the completion
81 the ln,eroceanlc waterway throagh the San Jnan