Evening star., 1894-02-26
THE NICARAGUAN CANAL
The Project to Be Pushed Through SEN
ator Morgan's Bill
Its Intimate Connection With the
Hawaiian Question Shown
by Testimony.

1t is the purpose of the Senate committee
on foreign relations to take up Senator
Morgan's bill for the reorganization of the
Nicaragua canal during the present res
sion. Senators Morgan and Frye are both
known to be anxious to promote this en-
terprise. 1t is understood that the Presi-
dent is convinced Of the importance of the
canal. and that Secretary Gresham is also
in accord with Senator Morgan this
subject.
The publication of the testimony taken by
| this committee in the Hawaiian investiga-
ton contains many illusions to the canal
brought out by questions asked by these
Senators to demonstrate the Importance of
controlling the islands in case the canal
should be built, and to show the dependence
| Of one interest on the other.
Commander Jewell gave considerable at
tention to this phase of the question. IS
will be seen by the following extracts from
| his testimony:
Mr.. Morgan-Do you know any place in
any of the seas of the world where greater
advantage can be bestowed upon the COM
merce of the world than can be obtained by
| the possession of the Sandwich Islands by
| great maritime power, one that had the
resources to preserve order and facilitate
commerce?
Mr.. Jewell-No; do not know any more
| important point; no place that occurs to
me at this particular moment.
Gibraltar and Hawaii.
Mr.. Morgan-Would you say that in a
| military sense, the possession of Gibraltar
would be any more important to British in
| terests than the possession of Hawaii TO
American interests?
Mr.. JEWELL consider that Gibraltar is
an extremely important point for the Eng
| lish to hold, because it is one of a chain OF
| forts which they hold, and which connects
ba wi he and
perhaps 1t would be of greater Importance
| to England to retain possession of Gibral-
| tar than that the United States should have
possession of the Sandwich Islands.
Mr.. Morgan-Because Gibraltar is one of
| a chain of fortifications held by England,
which protect England's access to and out
| let from the Suez canal?
MIR. MOrgan-SuppoSe that there was a
| canal under American protection through
Nicaragua of equal capacity with, or great
er capacity, than the Suez canal, as for
| titled port or place in a chain connecting
Hawaii, in the center OF the Pacific ocean.
| with our possessions in the United States,
| the mouth of the Mississippi river, and the
| various bays and harbors that we have
| here, and the Notifications at Key West,
would you then consider that Gibraltar is
more important to the British people than
| the possession of Hawaii would be TO the
American people?
Mr.. Jewell-It is hard to make a compari-
son of that kind; but IL the Nicaragua canal
should be put through, l consider that the
| possession of the Sandwich Islands by the
| United States would be absolutely essential.
Rear Admiral Bclknap.
While Rear Admiral Belknap was on the
stand Senator Morgan put the question to
him:
IF you desired 70 control the Pacific
ocean. north Polynesia. in a military sense,
either for an offensive or defensive opera
tion in reference to the protection CT the
| western coast of the United States. includ-
ing Alaska, is there any place on that Goa st
| or elsewhere in the Pacific ocean which you
| would consider 50 important to the United
/ States as the Hawaiian group If We had
! there fortified port or naval stationT' To
which Admiral Belknap replied: Il know Of
| no point in the Pacific ocean which we
should hold as good as the Hawaiian
| islands, especially Honolulu. Our flag
should be there. in my opinion"
Mr.. Morgan-Suppose some foreign power
| should close the question by coming in and
occupying the islands, If they saw fit 20 do
| II. as a base of operations against the
United States. would you not consider that
| q great calamity tc this country?
Mr.. Belknap-A very great calamity.
| Great Britain now has Puget Sound, which
she ought not to be permitted to hold a
| single day, in my judgment. Especially
with the Nicaragua canal. Honolulu will be
a port Of call of all the ships Of the Pacific
ocean.
Mr.. Spalding Comedies. --.
! Mr.. H. T. Spalding. who is the largest in
| diyidual sugar producer in the islands.
| coincided in opinion with the views ex-
pressed by Messrs. Belknap and Jewell, as
will be seen by the following extracts from
| his testimony:
The chairman-What made you an annex
| atiorist?
Mr.. Spalding-Be-ause / believe the pos
session of the islands by the United States
| would give the United States practical pos
| session of the Pacific ocean, commercial
| CONTROL military and naval control The
| islands are so located that an American
| fleet could be located in Pearl river harbor,
| and with cable from San Francisco those
| ships could be sent to any part of the ocean
| by the authorities at Washington.
Senator Frye-How would the building Cf
| the, Nicaragua canal increase the import
| ance of those islands to the United States?
Mr.. Spalding-It would make Honolulu
| just so much more important SIS a stopping
place In crossing the Pacific ocean.