The Portland daily press., 1897-09-01
THE NICARAGUA CANAL.
Director Smith Thinks the Administra-
ton win Prosecute the Enterprise.

washington, Aug. 0l-Ine BUREAU OF
American Republicsswill issue a bulletin
on the Nicaraguan canal in few days.
Director Smith, the author of the bulletin
in reply to question said he believed the
present administration would prosecute
the Nicaraguan canal enterprise.
1.-THE President said he, 'shas already
appointed commission under recent
&C t of Congress appropriating $3.50, 600 to
continue the survey with a view to select
ing the proper route and ascertaining the
feasibility and cost of construction of the
Nicaragua canal. The object is to for
mulate complete plans for the entire
work of construction. In my opinion,
she matter will be pressed upon the atten-
Sion of Congress as National undertake
ong, with the object of securing not only
great commercial advantages to all of the
American republics but that distinctly
American control of waterway between
4he Atlantic and Pacific which is so i'm
portant, in both diplomatic and a mill
Vary sense, to a proper enforcement of the
Monroe doctrine. I4have no information
Us to the Presidents attitude toward the
enterprise except such.as maybe obtained
by anyone from his public acts and utter
ances. The Republican National platform
adopted at St. Louis last year declared
that 1.-THE Nicaraguan canal should be
built, owned, and operated by the United
States I believe he will be found to be
an advocate of building the canal, because
:, 10, icfo II &c
to fully carry out the declarations of his
party, and also because II am satisfied
that, when he comes to consider the sub
ject, he will be impressed by the import
ance of an enterprise which, for many
years, has been. advocated by the ablest
minds of both the great political parties,
and presents itself as one of the necessary
features of a strong policy for securing
American control of American interests
without any outside interference. I don't
think that much is to be apprehended
from future political aggression on the
part of European countries but if any of
them should retain exclusive control of
the banking, the manufactures, or export
and import trade OF any OF the Latin
American Republics, the evil conse-
quences in certain contingencies could
not fail to be great. The United States,
it seems to me, is upon the Threshold of
a great development of its industries and
commerce. We offer to our Latin Ameri-
can neighbors the opportunity of kbenefit-
ting by our enterprise and activity,
augmented, and by diverting the chan
nels of their trade to our shores they
could emancipate themselves from Euro
pean influence, which involves more OF
less uncertainty and risk that would not
be incurred in dealing with the United
States. The closer the bonds of CONNER
eial enterprise and the greater the volume
of business between this country and
other Republics, -the vaster the practical
benefits which must follow to all the
undeveloped territories to the south Of
us from steady influx of the United
States enterprise and industry. Not only
our own capital, but European capital
also is assured of profitable employment in
the undertaking which our restless and
energetic people are sure to engage, in,
would rush to those countries, which at
present are developing but slowly. OF
course this would mean the closest politi-
cal utilization, and the realization in time
of the dream of every great statesman,
not only of our country, but of those re-
publics, Of solidarity, of influence and
power for America in the councils of the
world
"You regard the Nicaragua Canal, then
as something more than scheme or
mere partisan issue?"
Eyes, indeed. 1t is clear to me that it
ought not to be considered in specula-
tive light at all, and it has never been
a party question. No one can say how
far it is proper for the government of the
United States to go in assuming the cost
OF the construction of the canal, for it
ought to be built with the cooperation
and active support of all the American
countries concerned. AS to the party as
pect of the matter, a glance at the plat
forms of the two great parties for many
years back will show that thu Nicaraguan
route has commended itself equally to
both. The Republican platform of 1885
expressly Endorses the Nicaraguan canal.
1t will be remembered that Msjor' Nc
Kinley was a member of the committee
which reported this resolution, and that
it was unanimously adopted by the con-
vention. The Democratic platform of
1892 was also emphatic. To these official
declarations of the party platforms may
be added long series of quotations from
our leading Statesmen under various adj
ministrations in affirmation of the same
general policy. 1t may be said, indeed,
that every President of the I'm tied States
from the time of Monroe has favored the
construction of a canal across the isthmus
under American auspices. The canal
would be moresbeneficiaI to the commerce
of the world than anyone now thinks.
Its importance to the worlds commerce
is obviously greater than that of the
Suez canal, which has fully demonstrated
its usefulness and iits capacity to yield
rich returns to the investors. The Suez
canal is utilized chiefly for the commerce
of Europe. The Nicaragua canal would
not only bring Europe much closer TO the
Pacific literal Of the two Americas and to
the South Pacific Islands, but would be
of immense advantage in shortening dis
tanoes between the eastern and western
coasts of South America, besides making
tributary to America the whole field Of
Japan, China, Eastern Indo- China,
Malaysia, and Australasia. One Of the
most interesting facts in connection with
the Asiatic trade is the remarkable ad-
vancernent ofaRussia by means of the
great Siberian railroad into the northern
part of China. The completion of the
railroad will give an immense impetus to
Asietic trade, from which the countries
Of the two American continents would
hndoub tedly receive great benefit by
means of shorter route to the Asiatic
ports. The Nicaragua route offers to
the commerce of the eastern ports of the
United States trading to the Pacific norris