The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-12-11

The Canalization of the United States.
We have received from a distinguished
Western Democrat a communication in
which he sets down frankly his ideas re-
speeding future policies for the Government
and the safety of the country. While not
primarily intended for publication, these
suggestions merit attention., not only be-
cause they come from a veteran whose voice
in the past has been influential in Demo-
cratic councils, but also on account Of the
radical character Of his programme:
II accept 1t as a fact that we have entered upon a
new phase OF the national life, the main feature of
which is the beginning OF an agrarian war OF the poor
against the rich. which war has already begun
under the powerful lead OF ALraELD in the North. and
THLMAN. DANIEL, MONEY, and BUTLER in the South.
THE simple theories and economies Of the past can.
not be carried Into the future. the great voice and
vote OF the country against the cheap money illusion
apparently to the contrary Notwithstanding.
National prosperity and peace for the next nifty
years can be secured only by a bold and broad policy
for national defence and advancement through the
direct action OF the Government Itself. as follows:
II. Five hundred millions expenditure for seaconst
de'ences on lines laid down by Nj. TnpES in the
CARLISLE letter which you have so long advocated;
80. A great system of internal improvements In tho
way OF ship canals, of which the Hennepin Canal to
connect Lake Michigan with the Mississippi broad.
water to the Gulf ia an existing Initiative. The sys.
TEN should also include n canal rfd the St Lawrence
and Lake Champlain TO the hnrhor and estuaries OF
New York:
80. These broader canals to extend to the great Mis-.
SQUIRT basin. and perhaps TO the base OF the Rocky
Mountains: all 70 be reinforced by lateral cana's in
the various states. the latter to be supplied by State
credit upheld by the Federal credit. and subject to
Federal supervision; the people to pay low tolls on
MI canals 10 provide for 'o,c interest on money for q
period. and no tolls in the not far future.
II do not argue the cnse. ! foresee from an ever In
creasinR surplus OF agricultural staples In our coun-
try. and that OF the world ut large with which we
must compete, q real peril to tho peace OF the nation
and TO the integrity of the Union. l am looking be
yond 1900. and to a greater national development
md progress than any nation ever before saw in the
annals OF the world"
Barring the matter Of coast defence, a
necessary enterprise which is now likely to
be prosecuted to completion by whatever
party may be in power, and probably for
much less than the sum specified, the propo-
sition Of our friend resolves itself into n
gigantic scheme of socialistic ~patcrnalism,
Federal and State.
That Is to say, to avert what he regards as
the dangers of an agrarian and socialistic
movement threatening our established in
stitutions, he would transform this Govern
ment into q great socialistic concern, pro-
vidinG, at the public cost, work for the I'M
employed and free transportation for aRri-
cultural products.
1t strikes us that the peril which he desires
to avert would become actual the instant
his remedy was applied. The Government
would cease to be democratic and become
socialistic. His plan goes far beyond the
Chicago platform in its demand for Federal
waterways. No such scheme has ever been
tried by any nation on the face of the earth.
1t may possibly have been tried on the face
Of the planet Mars; the astronomers are yet
somewhat in doubt about that.
But suppose the anals were all dug;
what then? If the source Of impending
evil is, rs he believes, the "ever-increasing
surplus of agricultural staples in our coun-
try and in the world at large" Of what ad-
vantage would be free transportation to
markets that do not existf
Furthermore, how does he to raise
the hundreds of millions or billions needed
to gridiron the continent with waterways
of doubtful practical valuef BY taxation ?
Hardly, for he specifies that the interest on
the construction money is to DO "low."
Did our friend ever hear OF a Government
mighty enough to fix the rate of interest on
money borrowed by itf
With due respect to our friends fears and
opinions, it seems to us that it is much
better to trust to the sober sense of the
American people during the next fifty years,
and to meet OH troubles and dangers as
they arise, rather than attempt to stave off
socialism by surrendering to it in advance.