The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-07-08
SEATTLE. MONDAY, JULY 9.
AN AMERICAN ENTERPRISE.

There IL talk Of a convention being called
10 meet In Washington City. TO which the
maritime powers OF The world are to be
invited. for the purpose of discussing Mic
aragua canal matters. The diplomatic
questions growing out or the canal project
will occupy Secretary olney's chief at.en-
ton this summer, Il is said. and already
he has come to the conclusion that an In
ternationai conference Is desirable.
II is to be deplored that the last congress
could not have seen its way clear to an in
augnration of substantial work on this
great waterway. The people OF the Pacific
coast are especially interested In IL. and
failure by the next congress to take the
matter up and settle IL in a businessIke
manner will most certainly bring forth ex-
pressions OF chagrin and disappointment
from all parts of the country. The work
has already been too Gong delayed. and II
our government Is unable TO undertake II.
there should he no further iily-dallying.
Let some other nation do II.
There are few, however. who do not feel
confident that our government can con-
struct the canal. and Furthermore insist
that work should be begun at once. SO
firmly welded TO this idea have our people
become that the suggestion of It's being
undertaken by any other power is almost
intolerable. We want 1T to he an American
canal, built by American brains. with the
proceeds OF bonds guaranteed by the
United States government. and its control
in the hands of that government.
The report. therefore. that an internal
tional conference may be held 10 discuss
the canal question IN relation TO the rights
and privileges OF the other powers of the
world is likely to be received with some
misgivings Unless the present secretary
of state is possessed OF a little more whole
some aggressiveness than his predecessor. a
meeting of maritime nations TO consider
this question bodies no good. With the
manifestly ciroumscribcd views which the
present administration has held on foreign
matters affecting this country. one can
look only with apprehension upon the re-
suits Of a deliberation by the great powers
on the canal project. So little American
spirit has been shown in the treatment of
matters beyond our border line. and the
belief that questions outside our geograph-
zeal boundaries do not interest us has ap-
parenuy become so deep-rooted that IL is
highly improbable the determinations OF |.
congress OF nations would be very salts
factory 10 the people of the United States
That the United States would ever desire
10 forilfy canal built under its auspices
is TO be seriously questioned: moreover.
we do not believe this government would
assert the right 20 take fun possession Of
the waterway for military purposes. II is
a peace project. Constructed principally
for the eenent Of the United States. bat
onen TO the ships OF all nations. The claim
that It should be formally neutrallzed 10y
an international treaty or agreement Is
unsahs,anttsi. II the United States. with
Nicaragua and Costa Rica. should see ct
90 make the canal free ard open in time Of
war as IN time of peace. well and good. II
these three nations should no, sec III TO
neutraliEe the waterway. there is no more
reason why they should hc compelled TO
do II than there Is why Germany should
no; declare The Kaiser Wilhelm canal free
and open.
There are innumeFahia instances of
waterways being opened 20 the world In
time OF war as well as peace bat usually
such naturalization has heen IN settlement
OF boundary disputes or dissgreenen,s OF
ownership, where several POWERS have sat
as arbltrators. The Rhine Was declared
free in isis. because II was az that time a
boundary tine. and al Europe had a finger
In the pie; SO were the Neeker. the Ne
selle. the Vistuia and the To opened The
Danube Was declared free in fSs. bet mere
~ "a an Incident 10 the treaty OF Paris. Ia
which Russia. England. France and Tur-
key brought the C-imean war 20 formal
close. Numerous river mouths have been
made general highways and straits have
heen declared neutral waters either xeluu-
tari~- ~ because OF coercion by the strong