The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1894-01-16
PANAMA'S CANALS.
FOR a CENTURY THIS SCHEME OF
DITCHING HAS BEEN AGITATED.
1t was a Hobby of BOlivar's-The Great South
American Patriot Worked for the Pro-
feet FOreseeing the Benefits.

By Hon. VIM. L. Scruggs, ex- United States MIN
lister to Venezuela.
There seems never to have been a time IN
the national history of Colombia When the
project of an inter-ocean ship canal across
the isthmuS of Panama was not a subject Oh
discussion Even before the first 1ormaI
declaration of the independence OF the coun-
trv in 1910 the matter had been uppermost IN
the minds of Colombian statesmen; ana II
continued to be discussed by them uuflnS
the whole period of the twelve years strug-
gle which followed. .
But the first serious movement in that di-
rection seems to have originated with eell-
eral Simon Bolivar. soon after he became
amilitary dictator, towards the close Oh mat
memorable contest. He sent an agent 10
Europe authorized to propose an 1sthmeah
canal scheme to the merchants ana ciiPltai-
lists of London the real object OF winch,
however was to bring about recognition
of the new government by the commercial
mowers of Europe. After many repuilS anu
yexatious delays. the agent 1lnally succeeue''
in interesting some British caplkaIsts VINO
agreed to furnish the money necessary "
the success of the enterprise on the condl-
tion that the absolute neutrality OF the ca"
nal should be guaranteed by some MARI
time power able to MAINTAIN II. Inns guar
antee could rot then be obtained anu the
scheme failed. ,, MI,
limited States had at the instance OF MI.
CLAW and John Quincy Adams, formally rec
ognized the new republic but all the Siei.
maritime powers Of Europe held aiooi
through reference to the So-called Holy Al
lance In order to stimulate them 10 tor-
nal recognition. President Bolivar asked ana
obtained from the federal congress OF 90
lombia authority to open negotiations WIN
foreign capitalists, or, at his diScretioh VIZ
come foreign government, Tor opening d snip
channel across the isthmus. The authorlty
was readily granted but no maritime power
could be found willing to guarantee the heu-
trslitv of the transit or ColomblaS SoNer-
eighty of the isthmus and the schehe WIS
again defeated. , ~,
II. however, continued to be discussed by
the press and public men of COLOMBIA anu
was again revived in the proposed Pahar ANA
conference of American states IN IeZo. = ne
Colombian delegates to that flfst Ian-Aiilci
loan congress were instructed to favor any
reasonatle project looking to water trans
il of me American isthmuS;' but the con.
gress itself was a failure. ana the CANAL
Scheme was doomed TO indefinite delay
II was again revived in 1880, when Presl-
dent t5oIvar took active measures TO nave
the isthmIIS explored by corps OF compe-
tent engineers; but, even before the cofiiillS-
Sioners had reached the iSthmuS, INTERNAL po-
litical dissenson arose which resulted IN the
disruption OF the Colombian federal UNION.
In the partition OF territory which Hollow
ed the isthmuS Of Panama fell to the lot
of New Granada moW ColomDla), anu IN
a
capitalists, or rather to certain lndVlduais
who claimed to represent foreign capitalists,
VINO proposed to organize an International
company and open the canal. lhey never
orpanIZSd a company, and the scheme again
feiI dead But in the executive decree de
ciaring the concession forfeited an offer
vas made to treat with any company tinan-
cially able to fulfill the agreement. linen
followed in. quick succession d
which. however, ever amounted to
ANYTHING. Thus the matter stood in 1850,
when an American company obtained the
concession for the construction of the pres
Still the canal scheme would not down"
It continued to be talked about, both in Co
Iuubia and the United States, and flnaily,
In 1855 Mr.. Caleb Gushing was sent by our
government as special envoy 10 1920 tp GU M
vey of the isthmus looking to the construc-
ton of a ship canal by what is known as
tiating a favora BILE treaty, but the Colon
ban congress. to which it was referred tor
made it unacceptable. Negotiations We're
renewed in 1870 but failed of any practical
results. Meantime. the complexion OF our
American capital IN a different direction.
ant the canal project had been referred to 2
naval commission Instructed to survey and
report upon the Nicaragua route.
This stimulated activity among ,'a the pubic 1bH;
a msd to Earopean G ta for the consam
nation of their long cher shed scheme. The
result finally was tha c@aGessio w.t. OF dSS
tract" under which Count Ferdinand De
T.eeeeps a'oizo1 his Inflated company and
began work in 1885,
The history of this company is still fresh
in the public mind. In many respects it is
without a parallel in the annals of bold
and shameless rasCality. When the COM
pany finally broke down and became bank
rupt in 1888, comparatively little work had
been done, though fabulous sums of money
had been spent. No one who had taken
the trouble to famiiarize himself with the
origin and history of that company, or who
was cosnizant of its peculiar bus ness meth
DDS, was surprised at the result. No one
competent to Judge ever believed the canal
would be opened the route Indicated;
except, possibly, by the French government,
which seemed likely at one time TO fall heir
to the company'S concession and assets;
and III that case, international complca-
lions would be sure to arise, which would
seriously involve the United States govern
ment. For no matter by whom opened, the
canal would be merely artificial strait
communicating between ,WO open seas, and
its navigation would have to be regulated
by the same rules of international law
which govern the navigation of straits in
general. The only exceptions that could
be claimed for it would be such mOdifica-
tons as might become necessary for the
protection of individual rights.
Under the modern rules Of international
law. WI hen the navigation OF both seas are
free the navigation Of the connecting chan