The herald., 1894-12-03
DEMOCRACY AND THE GREAT
CANAL.

Associated Press dispatches from
Washington confirm the statement re.
Gently made in these columns, based on
| private advices, that the Nicaragua canal
is to receive early, and, in all probabil-
ity, favorable consideration in the short
session which is about to convene. The
HERALD called attention to the fact that
as the tariff question was out OF the way
and the free coinage question likely to
be shelved for the present, there was
reason to hope that the Nicaragua canal
matter would secure the right Of way.
and hold it until some definite action,
favorable or otherwise, could be OBJ
tanned. We pointed out that even
refusal on the part OF congress to ao
cept the proposed arrangement, or to
legslate for the construction of the
canal under government control, would
be better than the persistent neglect
which the measure has thus far re-
ceived at Washington. If the plan has
serious draw backs. il there are good and
sufficient reasons why the government
should not assist the undertaking, let
the people know what they are. AS
long as there ia q hope that the canal
may be built by the nation. private
capital is slow to act. Whenever the
question 10 determined one way or the
other, as far as congress- is concerned,
then there is prospect that some def
mite results may follow, if not through
the government at least through the
business world.
The dispatch states that southern
congressman are practically unapimous
in favor of the construction of the canal.
No objection will be offered. even by
the most radical of Republican papers
on the Pacific coast, to the south being
"solid" on this point. The construction
of the canal means an industrial revo-
luton in the south-sspecially the gulf
etates-to almost the same extent that
it does to this coast. Here is a question
on which the two sections must stand
together. While the east and the mid
die west will be benefited by the build
ing of the canal, the advantage will not
be az immediate nor as direct, as it will
in other sections of hsunion. and oppo-
sition to the plan is more likely to
spring from those quarters.
1t is stated that certain members of
the house on the Democratic side have
expressed doubts as to the constitution
ality of the plan for government con-
etruction of the canal. 1t is not inn
! for ~ n
plan, that by which the government
was to guarantee the interest on the
bonds of the company, might be open to
objections on the score of constitution.
ality, but the direct construction and
ownership of the canal by the govern
ment. If considered strictly as war
measure, would be free from any such
difficulties. The secretary of the navy
has declared his belief that the govern
ment will some day be called upon to
choose between building two complete
and distinct Davies-one to protect the
Atlantic and the other the Pacific coast
and the construction Of the Nicaragua
canal, and the latter plan would prove
the least expensive of the two. Under
the present condition of affairs the Pa
cifc coast, with its 100000 population
and its 5000. 900, 600 of destructibe prop
erty. ie entirely without adequate pro-
lection. There are no coast defenses
worth discussing, other than such as
might be supplied by the navy, and in
the event of war suddenly precipi-
tated or carried on simultaneously on
both coasts, the utter devastation of all
this section Of the union would be in
evitable. To construct new navy
would cost $4,000. 600. and to build the
canal, which would render our present
navy very efficient for both coasts.
would call for an outlay, perhaps, twice
as great. But the canal would pay
fair interest on the investment, while
the increase in the navy would call for
enlarged annual appropriations for it's
maintenance.
The recent elections show very clearly
that the people at large are disposed to