New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-01-28
THE NICdR1G "a CANAL.

THE NIC1RAGU4 CANAL
The passage of the Nicaragua Canal bill ny 'he
United States Senate leaves the lower house Ill
a Dosition to decide the fate of this important
measure Five weeks Of the session remain, anu
if Is not probable that the Democratic leaders
will consider it either practicable or eNp"'leh'
to force the bill through the House. There Is
however. a strong force OF public opinion ne
hind the measure in the South. in the Pacific
States and in Ncw-England. and both parties
are committed by their National platforms 10
tbe general policy of opening waterway De
tween the Caribbean and the Pacific. 1t Is pare
" nossiblc that Congress which has conspic
uouslv demonstrated It's incompetence in deahnS
with large public questions may enact 'iils
noasnrc Inv n belated display Of energy
The Democratic platform declares that TOT
..nrrnoses Of National defence and the promo
..t;op ~ commerce between the States. we recos-
..pzo tho early construction OF the Nicaragua
..ConoI and its protection against foreign con-
..,roI nc of great importance To the tneu
"Statcs" The Republican platform contains 'nis
explicit declaration: "1hc construction OF '"c
..T;c,r,cu, Canal is of the highest importance
.to the American people both as measure OF
"American commerce, and it should he con.
..u.,,oa hr tho United States Government.
Roth platforms recognize the necessity OF 'he
o,,,orrr;so ON military and commercial grounds.
bu, one enters mild protest against foreign
control while the other has the sterling Ting VI
the Monroe Doctrine in unequivocally favorihs
,,or,co, control of the canal. Both platforms
orc silent respecting the ways and means OF
-1nfh
ownership guarantee of the bonds or Otherwise
The bill which has passed the senate ie"''s Inv
rros,,or of control of the canal inferentialiy
condition of ownership OF majority VI u"
stock but authorizes the issue OF @'"'""'"" ~
2 nor cent bonds to be guaranteed ny inc "o'
crument and the appointment OF Ten o"' Vi III
teen directors Nv the President Win inc ~"
sent of the Senate. The measure Wiiie !" NV
with the declarations Of both parties i ou'S''
each of them in the financial provisions lot sup
nortinc the enterprise with Government circuit
rbore are many questions TO be seriously COZ
s;dored in connection with the Nicaragua 'd"'i
hill Ought the United States Government ~
undertake the construction Of an interoc'ahc
canal in a foreign country? VIII the taclH''S
afforded by the canal for RAPID '"nc'h'"
ton If tho naval forces Of the Atlantic. Guli ann
pacifc spaboarls compensate Tor the hii''"i'
risks and obligations assumed in confronting
waterway. which will be in large part inc "o"''-
dairy between two Jealous Central Alh'rica" ~
,r,,,ics optircly apart from possible compiler
;oos with Europcau Powers prcdisposed TO de-
.,,,,1 ,bo absolute naturalization of the canal!
can there he any assuranc" OF ''overnm'n' '""
troI Of the canal built with guaranteed poh"s :"
long as the Clayton Bulwer treaty admi''i"s
England to joint partnership remalhS III WV
VIII the commercial benefits OF the enterprise
iustify the expenditure OF so enormous SUI"
as will be required for the complexion Oh NV
work? Is the canal feasible as an ensihc'''"-
work. or will the original estimates Dc hrs'N
exceeded. as at Panama, with financial mislnah
agement and scandal as probable CONTINGENCIES
These Questions are not asked with view
of discreditng the enterprise In whch ne III"
une has always taken strong syinpa'he''c il"
terest. Our object is merely TO Indicate 'h''
the subject is large one, and TO urge the HOUSE
to take it up promptly and to discuss IL III III
;,s osnects Senators Morgan, Butler. Frye
Sherman and Mitchell have made out Il very
strong case for the Senate bill. iuDnc interest,"
in the enterprise has been shown by the ac'loh
of chambers Of commerce and boards oi traue
throughout the country. 1t is matter OF pre-
eminent importance. and the majority Oh 'he
House. with its full command over time ana
business during the next five weeks, ought not
TO shirk the responsibility Of providing Tor
thorough. dispassionate and comprehensive dis-
cussion Of the Senate bill
Nature has done in Nicaragua large part OF
the work Of connecting the two oceans. Inc
waterway is already there for the greater part
of the way across Central America, ana only
needs to be deepened by the Ochoa dam ana
completed by cuts at each end. There Is ell
mate propitious for human labor; there are three
natural basins which can he flooded during the
rainy season; there IS only one serious rock cut
and that is insignificant in comparison with the
work rashly undertaken ut the isthmus; ana the
prevailing winds on both sides OF the isthmus
are in the right direction for sailing craft enter
ing or leaving the canal. The Nicaragua Canal
is not. like the Panama project. work running
counter TO Nature. The engineering features or
IT are all encouraging The important question
for Congress to decide is whether II Is a sound
policy for the Government to undertake the
work under existing conditions.