The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-03-15
THE NICARAGUA CANAL.

Seattle. March II. 1897.
To the Editor: II was really painful to
listen 20 Mr.. Lewis last night. His open
ing statement that he considered himself
the representative. exclusively, q his dis
trsct. with no particular interest IN mat
te-s that concerned the rest of the Union,
was rather an tnauspicious beginning.
But when ne came 10 condemn the great
question OF a new commercial highway
for the world. simply because IL might in
jTrrfossiy affect the lumber and wheat
trade Of Seattle one could not help think
ing: What a contemptihly narrow point
OF yiewi" And then the question is not
al all about the Oil before the sonata 10
which Mr.. Lewis confined himself. He
ala not sesrn 20 be aware that the canal
question has entered into new phase
with ths advent no power ~ party which
alone of the three parties. declared in it's
rlatfu-gn: The Nicaragua canal shall be
built. owned and operated by the people
OF the United States" and with the late
adhesion of the state of Nicaragua 70 this
Arrangement. No. the canal question Is
ora Of those vital stages In civilization
THAT need broad minds 20 survey. n Is
~ supreme Importance from The local the
commercial and the patriotic standpoint
II was truly surprising that sixty-nve
thoughtful citizens ~ Washir gton could
b. found 10 condemn the canal Why are
pioneerS-satIiy disappointed al the Stow
growth % this Coast since II was frSt
settled IN 1857 e g. indeed. not dfsap-
VENTING that after nesry rail- a century
K has baFt two 20 three millions o. peop1a
while THE rest - our country has grown
80 sixtv-elga1t Millions IN spite OF seven
tranScoutinental railroad lines. And vet
our Coas-. with Sis 80 o0o - square miles
could rec@tve al the people now living tr
North ard SouFh America The canal vfv
~ 81 with workers snd with wealth. We
AZ expec1 tsaf tAe Pacifc ocean wfrf no.
alone equal but savpass. what the As,A,-
&c ruS Is and what tie Mediterranean,
once was In busting actisTty. The canal
VII accomplish Il. 7 don't know n a. NJ
Lewis informed rs. Bu~aio's Anss has ben
Cstrago's gain: hu' this we know. thas t~e
Erie ca1al hss butt III tAa wealth q ,Aa
Great lakes ard that the Ste Saul.
Marie canal has aevcAsu-ss the zyor,ssres,l
" ri~h Lake suv<rfor basin
Every rev htxHvav creates roy,af; s.ts-,
ard commerce. and th= Will - aore n
an eminent degree by tn@ proposed s.-.l
since y 49, the Saes canal are destined
% Re me two fs-i - TIRE co-nruAry- cry.
rsat ~ me giaes. New w@ have or as
ss3e Il 100 niles ~ Csosx. ane so-s -
from fhs }ee@ rufi@s ot Atlantic s~aaS. Tire
by lte'o mites a TIE roaxnesr kfra ~ s@7..
~ tie canal Ne shsl bs united and fern
N0n SRatslA1o-aa coast Inc. That VII ~
an immense benefit - IS .-4 nts- r~.gs
ues@-ENot slrEsp3y or present wheat ar4
tsuee-." bat Jh&t whi@a thea Ne shaa ~
ate 70 pEcalse. Again. fust as IN. A..
4Aaflc @eascsrc I'll k-e directly cpanA-,e9
Win iAe Western east ot Snuts AroaT~a
- NJ here saaa se 81 tntirnar> rslattor
N!.a i2e s~Asf eFn c1sst q tAst continent.
"@t ne pa SEio;sc reasons are stlu
stronger. TIE dawn ~ the tweatieth cen
t8Fy wtA BE car great crisis: wre shall
taeH haYe % choose whether We are % b.
q @o--a fso&eT, or merely aaersr~ parsa-
Efse cartet'esattou- TIE world vi have
% ooGn1 50 A2Ve. ths canal y e Be not
2Nrs, II ~.A p controlled tv some E.s~a-
seas power, thAt e. We aasteate ossr 81
fle1s r1lsste1 - bringing 20 mankind q
FeacsslsA democratic civilization. Bur fe~
tFn4tssy th@ power n~s.na evnsnsga~ vrfge
nos permit gs - ahficste- We csn-os hsia
e&+@Heiss-Ss are expanding. All sxgaa-