The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-09-01
A NATIONAL DUTY.


state convention of California a few days
ago contained the following:<
The necessities of war and the demands
of peace alike call upon the American peo-
pie to unite the Atlantic to the Pacific by
the construction OF canal across the istn-
mus of Nicaragua. 1t should be immedi-
ately commenced and vigorously prosecuted.
so that in the near future the commerce CT
the world may seek the Pacific slope and
the Atlantic coast through canal con-
Structed and maintained by the United
States with the American flag spreading its
protecting folds over its entire length. We
pledge our every exertion to secure this
ship, the Oregon that made so gallant a
sail around Cape Horn, may be the first to
bring the good news through this great
artery of trade.
One of the most marked results of the
national awakening caused by the recent
war is the decided impetus given to the
popular demand for the Nicaragua canal.
The American people are quick to see the
bearing of new situation and its effect on
the national welfare. They are equally alive
to the demands of patriotism and the pro-
lection of commercial interests. Whatever
they might have thought six months ago
regarding the acquisition of Porto Rico, the
annexation of Hawaii or the taking and
holding of an island in the Philippines, now
that these things are accomplished facts,
they recognize that the situation inr
wolves new duties and responsibilities. 1t is
no longer question of national expansion.
for that is already decided in the affirma-
tive: it is question of maintaining the new
standard of national interests and national
horCr which the new policy involves. Among
the plain duties of the situation thus rec
ognized is the construction of the Nicaragua
canal. Far-sighted men have for many
years past discerred the vast Importance
and coming necessity of the work, but the
people at large have been somewhat slow
TO see it. The recent war. our new acquisi-
tons of territory and the new position of
the United States as a world power have
opened their eyes. Regarding the situation
with the broader outlook and in the clearer
light of the new conditions, they see that
the protection of our new possessions and
coasts from foreign attack, the extension of
our domestic and foreign trade and per-
haps the maintenance of the present union
Of States, require the construction of a ship
canal which shall practically annihlate ma
lures barrier between the eastern and west
ern coasts of the Republic and complete
our control of strategic points necessary to
our national growth and safety.
1t would be difficult to make a clearer
or stronger presentation of the Nicarag Jan
canal question. in the same space than is
done in the resolution above quoted 1t is
more than distinct echo of the declaration
of the st. Louis convention on the subject
because it is more explicit and has the
added force of recent events and acquisi-
lions of territory to support it. The Re-
publicans Of other States could not do bet
ter than to accept it as a keynote on the
subject for while the whole country is in
terested in the construction of the Mica
ragua canal, no other State is better sit
uated to see its necessity or better quail
fled to speak of its benefits than California
Thirty-five years ago the country was
watching with deep interest the slow prog
ress Of the Union Pacific Railroad which was
to bring the Pacific coast States into closer
connection with the rest of the Union The
completion of that great work in 1869 was an
event of great Importance to the Nation
and has contributed very materially ia
strengthening the government and unifyine
the people. In spite of it's grasping and il
liberal management it has been of ines
Unable value to the Pacific coast States
and has contributed intellectually to the de-
velopment of national feeling in the western
portion of the Republic. 1t is fitting that
the State which hailed with delight the con
struction of the Pacific railroad as a means
of binding it closer to the Union should be
the first to urge the construction of the
Nicaraguan canal as a means of strength
ening the Union in peace and in war. The
declaration of the Republicans Of California
should be adopted by those of every other
State. The policy of national expansion, al
ready adopted requires it. and the logic OF
the situation points to the Republican party
as the one to carry it out. 1t is a national
duty whose obligation cannot be ignored
and whose execution should not be delayed