The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-01-24
THE NICARAGUA CANAL.
san lose Herald.

san Jose Herald
There is but one opinion among tne Peopio
of Californiaas to the advantages otthe Nlcar-
aqua canal. One and all are agreed that "
would be OF the greatest beneht 10 thls sla'e'
But there are great many people among tnen
rha do not .w9nt any more Creult Mooi,.er
schemes. in which the people furnish the
money and speculators and shysters OF various
kinds and degrees take the profits They nave
had enough OF this and they will insist that II
the United States government furnishes the
money to build the canal, tn Unlte otates
government shall have the control OF IT, aau
that all its benefits and all its profits shall go
to the people who paid for it,
A brief history of the enterprise, and OF those
who are connected with it, will be OF interest
just now, wnen mos; OF the facts in REGARD 10
it seem to be forgotten or ignored by the
schemers who are now demanding that the
people should furnish the money TO bulld IL,
and that they, the schcmers, shall take the
profits of it.
In 1S49 the United States entered into
treaty with Nicaragua for opening ship canal
from Greytown, on the Atlantic coast, to the
Pacific, by the way OF Lake Nicaragua Inc
eastern coast was inhabited by the Mosq ute
Indians, over whom Great Britain claimed TO
exercise a protectorate. In 1850 the United
States and Great Britain entered into treaty
canal which treaty, although having become
imperative, has not yet been abrogated. In
1872 a commission was appointed by President
Grant 10 examine into, make suggestions and
report upon intefoceanic ship canal COM
munication. Eight routes were Investigated,
and the commission reported unanimously in
favor of that by Nicaragua. In 1856 Mr. A.
g. Menocol made his second survey and re-
port of the Nicaragua route for the United
states, and located the canal on the ground.
During the term OF President Arthur treaty
was entered into between the United States
and Nicaragua, whereby the United States was
authorized to cut a canal and maintain it as
perpetual waterway. A grant OF several miles
of land on each side OF the canal was also
made, and other valuable inducements offered,
in consideration of cutting and maintaining
said canal, and guaranteeing the autonomy OF
the Republic OF Nicaragua. The treaty was
under consideration by the senate when Cleve-
land was inaugurated.
All negotiations concerning the building OF
a canal were afterwards abandoned by the
governme mt and the Maritime Cana company
OF Nicaragua, with such patrons as Warner
Miller OF New York as its sponsors and man
ages was formed and began operations. An
application for charter was made to congress
with the distinct understanding that no loan
or other financial backing would be solicited
from the United STAGES. IA soon, however, as
the company had fairly organized an effort was
made to induce the Unltel states government
to guarantee its bonds to the extent OF $780,
600 00) The truth is that the company had
no money with which to build canal, and
was unable u sci its shar-s. The only hope OF
its managers was to interest the venal mem
bers OF congress in its behalf, and WITH their
aid to loot the treasury, as had been done by
the promoters OF the Credit Mo ilier scheme.
OF course, this manifest venGlity and dis
honesty Disguised every honest tizen, ana
protests loud and deep came from every state
in the country against such combination OF
public interest and private speculation. Those
who were most earnest and most sincere III
their advocacy OF the canal were most bitter in
their hostility to the scheme that was pro-
posed, and nothing has been done, nothing
could be done honestly and satisfactorily to-
wards the building of the canal while its pro-
moters had any control OF the enterprise.
So the matter now stands The great major
ity of the people OF the United States and all
the people of California favor the construction
of the canal by the United States at the earliest
possible moment, and demand that the sole
control of it shall be in the hands of the gov
ernment. They see in its construction and OPT
Grafton as public highway one OF the most
promising means in the restorat OF the
prosperity OF the country; in the redemption
of trade and comm >rce from the eXtortion OF
the greatt portaton m onopolies and in the
welding OF the interests OF the eastern and
western states, now kept distinct through the
greed and rapacity OF the managers oil the
overland railroad systems